Thompson v. Duff

119 Ill. 226 | Ill. | 1887

Mr. Chief Justice Scott

delivered the opinion of the Court:

This suit was brought by M. M. Thompson and David Lipe, against J. F. Duff, in the circuit court of Jackson county. The action was in replevin, and was brought to recover the possession of a portable saw-mill and fixtures pertaining to it. On the trial of the cause, before a jury, the issues were found for defendant, and the judgment rendered upon that verdict was afterwards affirmed in the Appellate Court for the Fourth District.

The question of ownership was the principal one tried in the circuit court. That is simply a question of fact, and concerning which the evidence, as found in this record, is quite conflicting. Upon the issues made, the findings of the trial and Appellate Courts were against plaintiffs, and, of course, the finding of the latter court is conclusive in this court, and the question made as to the ownership of the property is not open to further discussion.

The transcript of the record has been examined, and no serious error has been discovered, either in the admission or rejection of evidence, or in the giving or refusing of instructions.

It is objected there is no evidence upon which to base the 11th instruction, given on behalf of defendant. Although the evidence touching the facts stated in the hypothetical case mentioned in the instruction, is very slight, and even unsatisfactory, still it is thought there is enough to warrant the court in giving the instruction, as was done.

Objection is also made to the refusal of the court to give plaintiff’s instructions numbered 21 and 24. Without considering whether these instructions contained correct propositions of law, it is a sufficient warrant for the action of the court in refusing them, that it had already given more instructions for plaintiffs than the nature of the case required. Everything embodied in these instructions that had any application to the case, had been contained in other instructions given for plaintiffs, and the court was under no duty to give the same thing a second time, although expressed in different language.

The judgment of the Appellate Court must he affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.