Paul v. Hodges

" The opinion of the court was delivered by Horton, C. J.: This was an action of replevin, brought by Hodges against Paul. To obtain an order for the delivery ■of the personal property, the plaintiff filed his affidavit containing the requisite averments, excepting that he omitted therefrom the words that “he is entitled to the immediate possession of the property.” Afterward, defendant presented his motion to quash and set aside the affidavit and order of delivery, because of the insufficiency of the affidavit filed in the case. The court overruled the motion, and herein committed error. Sec. 177 of the code, among other things, requires that the affidavit shall state that the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of the property. This is omitted, and no other equivalent words are used as a substitute. For .all that appears in the affidavit, the plaintiff had no right to the immediate possession to the property, and therefore was in no condition to maintain the action of replevin. The de [226] fendant may have wrongfully detained the property from some one, but the statement in the affidavit that the plaintiff was the owner thereof, does not show the property was wrongfully detained from him. It may have been leased, or in other ways in the rightful possession of a third person. Hence, the necessity of the statement that the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of the property before any order of delivery shall issue. The order of the court below, overruling the motion to quash and set aside the order of delivery, is reversed, and the cause remanded. All the Justices concurring.