Witherspoon v. Blewett

SlMRALL, J. : This is an action of trover, brought to recover damages for the conversion of cattle. It was incumbent on the plaintiff to prove property in the estate, of which he was the legal representative, and secondly, a conversion by the defendant. On the first point, the evidence was, that the cattle, when appraised .as the property of the intestate, were upon his plantation, and were pointed out to the appraisers by William Witherspoon, brother of deceased, and who seemed to have the management of the plantation since his brother’s death. Some time after the appraisement, the cattle were driven to the plantation of 'defendant, after Miss Ann Witherspoon had moved to town to live with her sister, the wife of the defendant. Dr. Toof stated that he thought or believed, but was not positive, that all the cattle on defendant’s plantation were his property, and that William Witherspoon was agent for his sisters, and also the plaintiff, in the years 1855 — ’56—’57. The defendant testified that the cattle were brought to his plantation by the order of Miss Ann Wither-spoon, who paid “ Laura ” for them. That a demand — 573 — was made upon him to deliver them up, by one Clanahan, who had a note from the plaintiff. “ He did not deliver the cattle, although on his plantation, because they were not there by his direction, nor in his possession, but they were in the possession of Miss Ann Witherspoon, and that he could not take authority or control over them, except by her direction.” He also said, if the plaintiff would make affidavit that he had property on his premises, he could take it away. It may be assumed that the testimony is sufficient to establish property in the plaintiff as administratrix. Has there been a conversion ? If the taking of the goods in the first instance was tortious, no demand is necessary, but where the goods have come to the defendant’s possession, from the plaintiff or a third person, and he simply detains them, in such case a demand and refusal is necessary to perfect the plaintiff’s title to recover. Baldwin v. Cole, 6 Mod. 212 ; McComble v. Davis, 6 East, 538 ; 3 Phill. Ev. 540. A tortious taking implies hostility and defiance of the plaintiff’s right, and indicates a purpose to apply the thing to the defendant’s use. But where the acquisition of the possession, is not in such circumstancse as asserts a claim to the thing in the defendant, or a repudiation of the plaintiff’s pretensions, the defendant ought, before suit brought, to have an opportunity of explaining his possession so that he may answer whether he sets up a claim of property in himself, and adversely to the plaintiff, as he may respond to the demand for the goods; he may or may not, according as he answers, furnish evh dence of a conversion. An unqualified refusal is not of itself a conversion, but evidence of it, if the defendant had it in his power to deliver up the goods. But if the refusal be put upon reasonable grounds, as that the defendant is not satisfied who is the real owner, or that the person making demand has not authority from the person he represents, in these and such like cases a — 574 — refusal comes short of proving a conversion. Green v. Dunn, 3 Camp. N. P. C. 215, n ; Watt v. Potter, 2 Mason, 77 ; Jacoby v. Lanpatt, 6 Serg. & Rawle, 300. The defendant must be held to good faith, and should be confined to the reasons which he assigns. Equivocation or evasion will not be tolerated. Ingalls v. Bulkley, 15 Ill. 225 ; Holbrook v. Wright, 24 Wend. 169. Was the refusal of the defendant absolute, or was it placed upon grounds negativing the idea of a conversion of the cattle to his own use ? The cattle were not taken from the premises of the plaintiff’s intestate by defendant or his order. They were brought on defendant’s plantation by direction of Miss Ann Witherspoon, who paid for their keeping. In the removal of them then the defendant was not a trespasser, and it was altogether proper that he should be applied to, to give them up before suit brought. Were the grounds of refusal reasonable ? If the claimant would satisfy him of ownership, by making affidavit of the fact, or if Miss Witherspoon, who placed the cattle on his premises, and under whose control they were, would consent and so direct, then the plaintiff could take them. In Jacoby v. Lampatt, 6 Serg. & Rawle, supra, the refusal was accompanied with the condition that if the claimant would make reasonable proof of ownership, he would surrender the goods. Such refusal was held not to warrant the inference of conversion. Here the defendant, Blewitt, professed a willingness to surrender on an affidavit simply of ownership. Being bailee for Miss Witherspoon, it would seem to be fair that she should be consulted before the cattle were surrendered. Blewett set up no claim adverse to the plaintiff, disclaimed title in himself, had not appropriated the property to his own use, and was holding possession as agister of cattle for another. We do not think the evidence of force enough to prove a conversion. It might be quite enough to L. — 575 — sustain the action against Miss Witherspoon, who drove or caused the cattle to be driven from the plantation of the intestate, and placed on the farm of the defendant to be supported. This would seem to be a tortious taking and asportation. The evidence might warrant a recovery in the action of detinue, where the points to be proved would be, property in the plaintiff and detention by the defendant. Blewett-was objected to as an incompetent witness, because he was proposed to testify to facts which tended to relieve him from liability to the estate of plaintiff’s intestate. Article 190, p. 510, of the Code of 1857, was expounded in the cases of Griffin v. Mixon, 37 Miss. 458 ; Lamar v. Williams, 39 ib. 347, and Faler v. Jordan, 44 ib. 289. These cases declare the policy of the statute to be, that “ a living party, plaintiff or defendant, in a suit in which the representative of a decedent is a party, is not competent to establish his right or demand” against the estate. Nor does it matter whether the “claim” be set up by the living plaintiff against the estate, or whether it be by way of defense to a “claim” preferred by the legal representative of a decedent. The manifest reason for the exclusion of such witness is to shut out ex parte evidence touching matters and transactions which transpired in the lifetime of the deceased, after death has sealed the lips of one of the parties, so that his version and explanations and statements cannot be heard. It was, too, to prevent the establishment of false and simulated claims, by such ex parte and interested testimony, against estates. But, does the reason and spirit of the proviso to the section apply where the facts to which the witness testifies arose after the intestate’s death, touching, too, a cause of action which had its inception posterior to his death ? The interpretation put upon the statute is broader than its words, but was demanded by its reason- and intendment. Thus much is plain; if the suit be for a — 576 — tort or a contract done or made in the lifetime of the intestate, the survivor is incompetent to prove the one or the other against the estate; so, if he is sought to be charged by the administrator with either, he cannot testify in his discharge. The wrong and injury complained of by the plaintiff, were committed after her intestate’s death, and her possession as administratrix was invaded ; against her right as such legal owner, was the conversion commited by the defendant. All the parties connected with the transaction, as owner and wrong-doer, are living persons. The administratrix, as owner ofthe cattle, caused a “ demand” to be made of the defendant; the matters about which he was permitted to testify, connected themselves with the demand, his response thereto, the character of his possession, how acquired, and how held. If the controversy had been exclusively as to the title of the estate, to the property, the witness would have been incompetent to show title out of the intestate, for that would have embraced matters occurring in the lifetime of decedent. The plaintiff and the defendant were both competent to respond as witnesses, touching the matters of defendant’s examination. Such testimony does not come within the mischief which the statute guards against. If an administrator sues upon obligations given for property sold by him, or to enforce the statutory mortgage, it would seem that the reason why the parties are excluded does not apply. Following in the line of the liberal exposition which has been given to the statute, we have been brought to the conclusion that, when . no cause of action existed in the lifetime of the deceased, but originated afterwards, either for or against the estate, the parties to the suit are competent witnesses as to those matters which originated after the intestate’s death. In order to quiet doubts on this point, the Code of 187.1, § 758, allows such interested persons to testify, — 577 — “ in. support of a demand against an estate, which originated after the death of such deceased person, in the course of administering the estate.” This, because the administrator or executor may be supposed to be conversant with such demands; and the reason for the exclusion, where the cause of action existed in intestate’s lifetime, has no force. We think the third instruction propounded the law correctly. There is some obscurity in the eighth charge, as read in the record, perhaps it may be inaccurately transcribed. A demand is not necessary where the property has been tortiously taken from the plaintiff’s possession. We have already said, that it was necessary in this case to prove a demand. The terms of this instruction, if we understand it aright, are too broad. The verdict, however, we think is right, on the evidence. Judgment affirmed.