29 Wash. 133 | Wash. | 1902
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action was brought by respondent against appellant to recover the value of a certain piano- alleged to- have been the property of respondent- It is also alleged that the appellant unlawfully converted and dis^ posed of the same t-o its own use, to- the damage of respond
The evidence introduced by respondent was to the effect that she was the owner and in possession of the piano in the city of Seattle; that she shipped it to Nome, Alaska, for the purpose of selling it; that while it was in charge of her agent at Nome for that purpose, it wras, at the instance of appellant, seized by a special deputy United States marshal under a writ of execution issued out of the United States commissioner’s court at Nome, in pursuance of a judgment rendered in favor of appellant and against one Adolph Spdtzel; that the piano was sold at public sale under said execution, and was purchased by appellant, notwithstanding the fact- that respondent’s agent notified the officer in writing before the sale, and publicly announced at the sale, that it was the property of respondent, and not that of Spitzel. There was testimony that the piano was worth $750 when it was seized. Appellant introduced no- evidence in denial of respondent’s ownership, and offered no. evidence as to the value of the piano- at Nome. An offer was made to prove its value at Seattle, which was. denied by the court. The court, instructed the jury to- return a verdict for respondent for what they should find to. he the value of the piano under the evidence, not exceeding $1,000, the value alleged in the complaint, together with interest.
It is assigned as error that the court permitted respondent’s counsel to- interrogate the witness Jaffe as to. the value of this piano. The witness resided in Nome from
“There is. no'rule of law, and there can be'nonei, defining how much a witness shall know of property before he can be permitted to give an opinion of its value. He must have some acquaintance with it, sufficient. to> enable him to form some estimate of its value, and then it is. for the jury to determine how much weight to attach to such estimate.” Bedell v. Long Island R. R. Co., 44 N. Y. 367, 370 (4 Am. Rep. 688).
Tt is next assigned that the court erred in denying appellant’s motion that the jury be instructed to return a verdict for respondent for nominal damages only. This assignment is urged on the theory that there was no evidence as to' the value of this piano, and that respondent could therefore recover no- more than nominal damages. The witness Jaffei was asked the following question: “You may answer what in your judgment was an upright piano1, stool and cover, standard make and in first class condition and in good tone — what it would be worth in July last year in Home, Alaska.” His answer was: “I should judge about $750 in Home.” There can be no doubt that thei witness intended the above valuation for this particular piano. He knew it was the subject, of inquiry, and his further examination showed his familiarity with it. In
The last assignment of error is that the motion for new trial was denied. The only suggestion made in the brief under this, head involves the same questions which have already been discussed under the last assignment above.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reavis, C. J., and Fullerton, Anders, Mount and Dunbar, JJ., concur.