Hanway v. Wallace

Davison, J. Hanway, on the 14th of January, 1859, sued Wallace in the Marion Common Pleas, alleging, in his complaint, that he was and is the owner of a certain sorrel horse, now in the possession of the defendant, and unlawfully detained by him from the plaintiff. In his answer, the defend [378] ant denies that the plaintiff is the owner of the horse, and avers that said horse was the property of Abram Swisher, and, as his property, was, on the 4th of January, 1859, attached at the suit- of Dandridge Oliver, and taken into possession of the defendant, then the sheriff of Marion county. Reply in denial of the answer; verdict for the defendant. Hew trial refused, and judgment, &c. The evidence proves, substantially, these facts: On the 1st of September, 1858, Abram Swisher and Andrew Smithson came to the plaintiff’s store, at Indianapolis; Smithson brought with him a sorrel horse, (being the same now in controversy,) which Swisher desired to purchase. While at the store, Smithson drew a note, payable to himself at six months, for 75 dollars ; Swisher signed the note and requested the plaintiff to sign it as his surety. “Plaintiff refused to become surety for Sivisher, but stated that he himself would buy the horse at 75 dollars. He then signed the note and, thereupon, Smithson delivered the horse to the plaintiff, who led him around the store house and hitched him to a horse rack. Plaintiff then said to Swisher: “You can take the horse and use him, and if you pay the note when it becomes due, the horse shall be yours, but if not the horse is mine.” Swisher afterwards took the horse away and had possession of him until he was siezed by the defendant, as sheriff, upon the writ of attachment. When the note was executed, and also at the time the horse was levied on, Swisher was insolvent. ' The note referred to was in evidence, and is as follows: “ $75.00. Indianapolis, September 1,1858. “ Six months after date we, or either of us, promise to pay Andreio Smithson, or order, 75 dollars, with interest, value received, without any relief whatever from valuation and appraisement laws. Abram Swisher. “James Hanway.” [379] Swisher failed to pay the note; but the same was, after it matured, in March, 1859, paid and taken up by the plaintiff. It was admitted on the trial that the plaintiff, prior to the commencement of this suit, demanded the horse of the defendant. Erom the facts thus stated it may be readily inferred that the plaintiff*, by the purchase from Smithson, became the absolute owner of the horse; that he sold him to Swisher, to he his absolutely in case he paid the above recited note when it became due, and that, until the note matured, Swisher was to have the possession and use of the horse. The note did not mature until the 1st of March, 1859, and this action was commenced on the 14th of January next prior to that date. The general rule is that, to maintain an action for the recovery of personal chattels, the plaintiff must show “a right of possession as-well as a right of property.” But here the-contract and delivery, as we construe them, constituted a conditional sale, the condition to be performed within a definite period. During that period the property in the horse remained in the plaintiff, though the vendee had a right to the possession. It follows that, as against the vendee, the plaintiff had no right of possession. Had he such right against the defendant, who, as sheriff, claims to hold the horse by virtue of an execution against his, the plaintiff’s, vendee ? This inquiry must receive an affirmative answer. The sale, by Sioisher, was to become absolute upon the performance of a condition precedent, which had not been performed, and he had no right of property, hut a mere right of possession, and, consequently, no vested interest in the horse. Hussey v. Thornton, 4 Mass. 405; Marston v. Baldwin, 17 id. 606; Smith v. Dennie, 6 Pick. 262; Reed v. Upton, 10 Pick. 522; Hill v. Freeman, 3 Met. 257; Heath v. Randall, 4 id. 195. The defendant, then, having no right to hold the property for the purpose of sale on execution, is, in our judgment, liable to [380] the plaintiff who had the right of property, and, against him, the right of possession. And this suit, being against the sheriff, and not against the vendee of the horse, the fact that it was instituted prior to the maturity of the note, on the payment of which the property was to vest in the vendee, is not important, because, as we have seen, the plaintiff, as against the sheriff had the right of possession as well as the right of property. Thomas D. Walpole and P. L. Walpole, for the appellant. Per Curiam. The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded.