Davis v. Hill

| Superior Court of New Hampshire | Feb 15, 1826

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Harris, J.

To maintain trover, the plaintiff must prove, that, at the time of the conversion, he had a property, either absolute or special, in the goods, which are the subject of the action, and must also shew his actual possession, or, at least, his right to immediate possession of them.

To prove these necessary facts, the plaintiff relies on the bill of parcels, signed by Benjamin Stevens, produced at the trial. The question is, whether that bill shews any such property and possession or right of possession of the hay, a!-:?⅞0(1 to have been converted, in the plaintiff? Had it beea for a specific lot of hay separated and distinct from all other property of Stei>ens, it might have been sufficient evidence. No act on the part of the seller w ould then have been necessary ; and- Davis might have taken the hay at his pleasure.

When goods are sold, if any thing remain to be done on the part of the seller, as between him-and the buyer, before the commodity purchased is to be delivered, such a right of property does not attach in the buyer as to enable him to maintain trover for the goods. 6 East 614, Hanson et a. vs. Meyer.—1 Holt 18, Withers et a. vs. Lys et a.

In the present instance, the hay, for which the plaintiff paid, was part of a large mow, and was to be weighed out to him. There was no specific appropriation of any part. — - Weighing and separating must precede delivery. This was to be, in part at least, the act of Stevens. Before the hay was weighed, Davis was not authorized to take it, by his own act, from the mow, in which it was with other hay of Stevens.

No part of the hay being particularly appropriated to Davis, there was not that separation from the general mass, and distinct specification and delivery, which the law requires ⅛ order to vest the property of the hay in the plaintiff.

Upon a fair legal constiuction, the bill of parcels amounts to nothing more than a contract to deliver the quantity of hay therein mentioned. If Stevens had weighed off several parcels, each containing the stipulated quantity, he might have delivered either of them ; and this would have been a performance of his contract. 1 Taunt. 318, Mucklow vs. Mangles.—4 Taunt. 644, Austen vs. Craven.—5 Taunt. 176, White vs. Wilks.—5 Taunt. 617, Shepley vs. Davis.—1 D. & E. 64, Owenson vs. Morse.—1 Johns. Rep. 473, Merritt vs. Johnson.—15 Johns. Rep. 349, McDonald vs. Hewett.

It is the opinion of the court, that the evidence offered ⅛ this case was altogether insufficient to support an action of trover.

According to the agreement of the parties, the verdict must be set aside, and a verdict entered for the defendant-