Russe v. Hendricks

Biggs, J. — This is an action of replevin to recover the possession of a lot of lumber. The property was taken from the possession of the defendant, who as constable had seized it under three executions against [390] Allen Gr. King, and in favor of Martin Brothers, Furlong Brothers and W. O. Rhinehart, respectively. C'p A T'T^^W'R' M*]1 The levies were made in September, 1896. The plaintiffs, who are doing business under the firm name of Russe & Burgess, claim title to the property under and by virtue of three bills of sale executed by King and dated respectively May 4, May 28, and July 20, 1896. The lumber was accepted and the bills of sale executed and delivered in pursuance of the following contract, to wit: “This agreement made on sixth day of April, 1896, between Russe & Burgess and Allen Gr. King. “Witnesseth that said Russe & Burgess hereby agree to purchase of said King 120,000 feet of first and seconds plain red oak, and 80,000 feet of common plain red oak, to be sawed as Russe & Burgess may direct. “It is mutually agreed between the parties that the above lumber shall be inspected by the Cairo rules of inspection. [391] Evidence. [390] “It is further agreed that as soon after the signing and delivering of this agreement, as the said King shall have cut and stacked the sum of 50,000 feet of said lumber in dimensions and qualities and kinds mentioned, he will notify Russe & Burgess, and it is made the duty of said Russe & Burgess to proceed either by one of their officers or- agents and inspect or estimate the number of feet of said lumber, and upon the estimate of the number of feet of lumber, the said Russe & Burgess shall, as soon as practicable, pay to the said King $11.20 for firsts and seconds, $3.20 for commons per thousand feet for the lumber so stacked and estimated and delivered to and marked by the said Russe & Burgess. That upon the payment of $11.20 and $3.20 per thousand the title to all lumber so [391] stacked, inspected, estimated and marked . shall immediately vest m the said Russe & Burgess free from all liens and incumbrances of every nature whatever, and said Russe & Burgess agree to pay the said King the sum of $1.80 per thousand feet, for all of said lumber which he shall haul and place upon barges or boats for them, to be in full for his services. “It is agreed and understood that after the stacking and inspecting or estimate and payment of $11.20 and $3.20 per thousand feet as aforesaid, that the title to all of said lumber so estimated and paid for immediately and absolutely vests in Russe & Burgess, free from all liens, demands and claims of all persons whomsoever. “It is hereby further agreed that the said King shall pay interest at 8 per cent per annum on all moneys paid, from time paid up to time the said lumber is removed. * * * Upon the removal of said lumber Russe & Burgess shall pay in cash to King all money due for sale of lumber or services rendered in loading the same, less 2 per cent for cash. “The total amount to be paid for the lumber and loading the same shall be $16 for firsts and seconds, and $8 for commons per 1,000 feet.” In defense of his right to hold the property the defendant introduced evidence tending to establish these facts: King was operating a saw mill. He bought timber from Martin Brothers of the value of $79, Furlong Brothers of the value of $175.57, and Rhinehart of the value of $66.70, and that the judgments upon which the executions were issued were obtained upon these claims. The logs furnished by these parties, as well as those sold to King by others, were hauled to the mill, sawed into lumber, and the lumber intermingled and stacked together. Some of the lumber [392] levied upon came from logs furnished by the plaintiffs in the executions, but the amounts the evidence does not disclose. In purchasing the lumber the plaintiffs were notified of the claims of parties for logs furnished King, and they stated that they would apply a sufficient amount of the purchase money for the lumber to the discharge of these claims. The plaintiffs attempted to remove the lumber from the yard of the mill, where it was stacked and marked “Russe and Burgess,” and the levies under the executions were then made. The cause was submitted to the court without a jury. No instructions were asked or given and no exceptions saved as to the evidence. The- court found the issues for the defendant. It found the value of the property to be something less than the amounts due under the executions and it entered the usual statutory judgment for the return of the property or the payment of its assessed value if the defendants should so elect. The plaintiffs have appealed and urge that under the conceded facts the judgment ought to have been for them. [393] Wtvac™aUe¡dmony incompetent to vary or [392] Where was the title of the lumber when the levies were made! If it was in the plaintiffs, then the judgment is wrong. If there was evidence tending to prove that it was in King, then the judgment can be upheld. The attorneys for the appellants urged at length that the plaintiffs in the executions had no venders’ lien or other claim on the lumber as security for their debts. That proposition is very clear, and the respondent concedes it. His attorneys attempt to justify the verdict and judgment upon the ground that there was evidence tending to prove that the sale of the lumber to plaintiffs was conditional and that until the purchase price was fully paid the title of the lumber remained in King. There was no such evidence. Adopting a view most favorable to the respondent the [393] evidence only tended to prove an agreement or understanding between King and the plaintiffs that the debts due the parties who had sold logs to King should be paid out of the purchase money of the lumber. Besides if there was such testimony it could not be considered, for its effect would undoubtedly be to vary the written contract between King and the plaintiffs. It is undisputed that prior to the levies the lumber in question had' been separated from other lumber; that it had been measured and accepted by the plaintiffs; that it had been marked as their property, and that the full purchase price had been paid, except for hauling it to the river, which had not been done. When the lumber was measured, , it iji /•»•*. i acooptod, inarfced and til© first Instalment of the purchase price paid, the written contract expressly provided that the title to the lumber so accepted should vest absolutely in the plaintiffs. It is incompetent to vary or contradict this stipulation by oral testimony. It is clear we think that the judgment' can not be upheld on this theory, and as none other is suggested, we must reverse it. It may be that the plaintiffs have rendered themselves personally liable for the debts of these execution creditors, but as the latter have no claims on the lumber itself, and as King has none, the defendant acquired no title or interest in it by virtue of the levies. It is true, as suggested by counsel, that in replevin suits .the equities of the parties may be adjusted, but by this is meant only that all claims or liens on the property itself will be considered and their priorities determined. With the concurrence of the other judges, the judgment of the circuit court will be reversed and the cause remanded. It is so ordered. Judge Bland concurs; Judge Bond dissents.