51 Barb. 322 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1868
The nonsuit in this case was, I think, erroneously granted. The plaintiff gave evidence sufficient to take the ease to the jury upon every question essential to sustain the .right of action, except upon the point of conversion. In thyabsence of any proof that she knew that the plaintiff’s sheep were mingled with, hers and that she had received the profits thereof, I think it quite clear that an action of trespass or trover would not lie against her for such sheep, without proof of a demand distinctly made upon her for their delivery. The case, therefore, turns upon the question whether the demand made of her husband was sufficient to sustain the action. It seems to me that it was sufficient to take the case to the ' jury. . The plaintiff testified that after finding the sheep on the defendant’s premises, he went to the defendant’s,house and there saw the defendant’s husband, and that the defendant was standing by while they were talking with him. He says: “ Mr. Sahler asked me if I saw any of my sheep there ? and I told him, yes.” “ I told him that I wanted my sheep, and he told me that I could not have them ; that I had no sheep there.” The witness Redfield, who was also present at the same time, says he heard the conversation between the plaintiff and Sahler, and that .the defendant also came to the door at the time during the conversation, but could not say whether she stayed long enough to hear or not; she was there but a little while. 'Upon this evidence I think it was a question for the jury whether the defendant’s husband then and there refused
JE. D. Smith, Johnson and J. 0. Smith, Justices.]
. Upon this ground I think the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, to be had in the county court, with costs to abide the event.