Graham v. Northern Pacific Express Co.

BROWN, J. Plaintiffs, a co-partnership doing business at Brainerd, this state, on May 26 and 27, 1902, delivered to defendant, a common carrier, at Brainerd, several barrels and boxes of fish, consigned to one G. A. Castle, at Minneapolis. Defendant accepted the fish for transportation, and upon their arrival at Minneapolis they were seized and taken from its possession by a deputy game warden, acting in behalf of the state of Minnesota, who claimed and asserted that the fish were contraband, caught and taken in violation of law, and the property of the state. Thereafter plaintiffs brought this action to recover from defendant express company the value of the fish, on the ground that they were improperly delivered by the express company to the game warden. Plaintiffs had a verdict in the court below, and defendant appealed from an order denying its alternative motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial. The only question presented to this court is whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict of the jury. The point made by respondent that the burden of proof upon the question whether the fish were caught in violation of the statutes of the state was upon defendant, we need not determine. The court below ruled otherwise upon the trial; requiring plaintiffs to prove in support of their title to the fish that they were caught in the manner permitted by the statute, and not in violation of any of its provisions. The question presents some difficulties. We do not understand that it was determined in the case of Thomas v. Northern Pac. Exp. Co., 73 Minn. 185, 75 N. W. 1120; and, as it was not fully discussed in the briefs in the case at bar, we pass it for future consideration. As stated, the only question presented which we are called upon to consider is whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict. We have read the record with care, and conclude that the verdict should not be disturbed. Though in some respects the evidence may be said not to be minutely complete, it is substantially sufficient to answer every requirement of the law, and we sustain the verdict without entering into any discussion thereof. The order appealed from is affirmed.