Newlin v. Webb

McCulloch, C. J. Appellee instituted this action against appellant in the circuit court of Desha County to recover possession of five mules and for damages for detention in the sum of $35. It is alleged in the complaint that appellee sold the mules in controversy to appellant, and that the latter executed to the former a promissory note for the sum of $500 for the balance of the purchase price, and that in said note there was a stipulation that the title to the mules should remain in appellee until the note was paid in full. The note was exhibited with the complaint. Appellant filed an answer and cross-complaint in which it was stated that the purchase price of the mules was the sum of $1850, of which $1350 was paid in cash, and that the note was executed for the balance ; that in the sale of the mules appellee orally gave a warranty that each of the mules “was sound and free from any and all defects.” It is further alleged that two of the mules, of the value of $800, “proved to be dis-eased, crippled and absolutely worthless, and that the plaintiff was informed of said facts and failed and refused to make good his warranty.” The prayer of the cross-complaint is as follows: “Defendant says that by the failure of the warranty of the plaintiff, as aforesaid, and because of the condition of the mules described, he has been damaged in the sum of eight hundred dollars, for which he prays judgment as a set-off, or counterclaim, against the demand of the plaintiff; prays that the note be satisfied in full by cancellation, and for judgment over against the plaintiff for $300, and for all other proper relief to which he may be entitled. ’ ’ The court sustained a demurrer to appellant’s plea, and, on failure to plead further, rendered judgment against appellant and in favor of appellee for recovery of the possession of the mules, without damages. Counsel for appellee defend the ruling of the court, first, on the ground that the contract of sale was in writing and that the writing can not he varied ngr anything super-added by proof of an oral warranty. The contract of sale was not in writing as tbe note for tbe purchase price. containing reservation of title did not constitute a contract of sale. Parrett Tractor Co. v. Brownfiel, 149 Ark. 566. It is next contended that the ruling of the court was correct, for the reason that, this being an action for the recovery of possession of personal property, a counterclaim or set-off could not be asserted. This contention is not well founded for the reason, in the first place, that the action was one not only for the recovery of personal property, but for the recovery of money as damages for detention of the property in controversy. We held in Smith v. Glover, 135 Ark. 531, that in an action for recovery of real property, where damages for detention were also sought to be recovered, the action was in part one for the recovery of money, and that a counterclaim could be pleaded. The fact that the court did not render judgment for the recovery of damages does not deprive appellant of the benefit of his counterclaim, for the admissibility of his plea must be tested by the state of the pleadings at the time same was filed. Appellant could not cut off the right to assert a counterclaim by withdrawing his claim for damages after the counterclaim was filed. Crawford & Moses’ Digest, § 6236. There is still an other, conclusive reason why the ruling of the court was erroneous. Appellant had the right to establish his counterclaim in order to show that the debt evidenced by the promissory note, which was the basis of appellee’s right to recover the possession of the property, had been extinguished. Ames Iron Works v. Rea, 56 Ark. 450; Ramsey v. Capshaw, 71 Ark. 408; Jones v. Blythe, 138 Ark. 81. The case of Ames Iron Works v. Rea, supra, was one like this for the recovery of possession of personal property, and there was asserted a counterclaim for unliquidated damages, and Judge Battle, speaking for the court, said: “The right to the possession of property sued for is essential to a recovery in actions of replevin. Any state of facts which will show the existence or nonexistence of such a right is, as a rule, pleadable in such actions. Thus, in an action of replevin by a mortgagee against the mortgagor to recover the possession of the goods mortgaged to him, the mortgagor can successfully defend the action by showing that the debt, which the mortgage was given to secure, has been paid.” For both of the reasons set .out above, our conclusion is that the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to appellant’s plea. The judgment is therefore reversed, and the cause remanded with directions to overrule the demurrer.