delivered the opinion of the Court. This is an action of the case in the nature of a conspiracy for a cheat practised on the plaintiffs, whereby they have been defrauded of their goods and have wholly lost the same. This is not a formed action of conspiracy, and therefore, although the plaintiffs allege that the defendants contrived and conspired together to commit the injury complained of, yet this averment is matter of aggravation only and need not be proved. The damage sustained by the plaintiffs is the ground of the action, and not the conspiracy. Skinner v. Gunton et al., 1 Wms’s Saund. 230, note 4.
It must be admitted therefore, that if the evidence offered by the plaintiffs proved only the conspiracy, it was improperly admitted, and the verdict must be set aside.
It was proved that the false declarations and pretences were made by Herschell, one of the defendants, the other two defendants not being present, but it was also proved, or the evidence tended to prove, that these false declarat'ons and pretences were made by Herschell in pursuance of a previous combination and conspiracy to that effect, had between all the defendants. And the jury were instructed to find for Myers and Joseph, unless they were satisfied that these false declarations and pretences were made by Herschell in pursuance of such previous combination. Under these instructions the verdict of the jury establishes the fact, that Herschell’s declara
This evidence the defendant’s counsel contend is not sufficient to sustain the action, and that the charge of the judge was incorrect. The case is likened to that of perjury, in which it is admitted the words of one cannot be applied to another, so as to authorize the conviction of two or more culprits on a joint charge. But it is easy to distinguish between the cases. Perjury and subornation of perjury are distinct crimes, and must be distinctly charged, and the same rule applies to principals and accessaries. But the case at bar more resembles an action of trespass, as to which the law is well settled. If A command or request B to take the goods of C, and B do it, trespass lies as well against A as against B. For in trespass there can be no accessary. 6 Bac. Abr. 589, Tresp. G, l.
So in the case of Gardner v. Preston et al., 2 Day, 205, it was determined, that the combination between the defendants being established, the acts and declarations of one, in pursuance
We are of opinion therefore, that the evidence offered by toe plaintiffs was properly admitted, and that the instructions o the jury were correct.
But the defendants’ counsel object to the form of action, on the ground that it is not conclusive as to the merits. A judgment m favor of the defendants, it is said, cannot be pleaded in bar of an action of conspiracy. If this were true, it would be no valid objection to the plaintiffs’ recovery.
And if they recover, they cannot afterwards maintain an action for the conspiracy. No civil action lies for a mere conspiracy.
We pass over the objections to the filing of the new counts, since, for the reasons already given, the other counts are sufficient.
Judgment according to the verdict.
Wilbraham v. Snow, 2 Saund. 47; Menham v. Edmonson, 1 Bos. & Pul 369; Rafael v. Verelst, 2 W. Bl. 1055; Smith v. Shaw, 12 Johns. R. 257; Van Brunt v. Schenck, 13 Johns. R. 414.
See Waland v. Elkins, 1 Stark. R. 272; Silver v. Kendrick, 2 N. Hamp. R. 160; Henry v. Henry, 1 Chipman, 265; Hastings v. Levering, 2 Pick, (2d ed.) 214, and note; Pease v. Morgan, 7 Johns. R. 468; Phelps v. Riley 3 Connect. R. 266.
Roscoe’s Crim. Ev. 60 to 64, 325; 2 M'Nally's Ev. 611; Rex v. Stone, cited in 2 Stark. Ev. (Metcalf’s edit.) 403; Rex v. Watson, 2 Stark. R. 140, 141; Ex parte Bollman and Swartwout, 4 Cranch, 75; Moore v. Tracy, 7 Wendell, 229; 1 Burr’s Trial, 21; 2 id. 401; Queen’s case, 2 Brod. & Bingh. 310; East’s P. C. 97; Commonwealth v. Crowninshield, 10 Pick. 497; American Fur Co. v. The United States, 2 Peters, 364; Snyder v. Laframboise, 1 Breese, 269; Commonwealth v. Eberle, 3 Serg. & Rawle, 9; Martin v. Commonwealth, 2 Leigh, 745; Gardiner v. Preston, 2 Day, 205; Collins v. Commonwealth, 3 Serg. & Rawle, 220; Hunt's case, 3 Barn. & Ald. 513; Clayton v. Anthony, 6 Randolph, 285.
Moore v. Tracy, 7 Wendell, 229; Addington v. Allen, 11 Wendell, 374; Adams v. Paige, 7 Pick. 542; Wilbur v. Strickland, 1 Rawle, 458; Reitenbach v. Reitenbach, 1 Rawle, 362.
Morgan v. Bliss, 2 Mass. R. 112.
See Standish v. Parker, 2 Pick. (2d ed.) 22, notes 1, 2, 3; Adams v. Pearson, 7 Pick. 341; Whitcomb v. Williams, 4 Pick. 228; New England Bank v. Lewis, 8 Pick. 113; Saxton v. Chamberlain, 6 Pick. 422; Briggs v. Richmond, 10 Pick. 391; Minor v. Walter, 17 Mass. R 237; Hodges v. Hodges, 9 Mass. R. 320; Rowe v. Smith, 16 Mass. R. 306; Loring v. Mansfield, 17 Mass. R. 394; Thatcher v. Gammon, 12 Mass. R. 268; Thorpe v. Cooper, 5 Bingh. 129; Ravee v. Farmer, 4 T. R. 146; Bagot v. Williams, 3 Barn. & Cressw. 235; Le Guen v. Gouverneur, 1 Johns. Cas. 436; White v. Ward, 9 Johns. R. 232; Grant v. Button, 14 Johns. R. 377; Canfield v. Monger, 12 Johns. R. 347; Wheeler v. Van Houten, 12 Johns. R. 311; Homer v. Fish, 1 Pick. 435; Offutt v. Offutt, 2 Harr. & Gill, 178; Young v. Black, 7 Cranch, 565; Vooght v. Winch, 2 Barn. & Ald. 662.
Morgan v. Bliss, 2 Mass. R. 112; Bridge v. Sumner, 1 Pick. 371; Knox v. Waldoborough, 5 Greenl. 185; Hull v. Blake, 13 Mass. R. 153; Standish v. Parker, 2 Pick. (2d ed.) 22, and notes; Parker v. Standish, post, 288; Spooner v. Davis, 7 Pick. 147.
The principle that fraud accompanied with damage is a good cause of action, is now well settled, both in the English and American jurisprudence. Bailey v. Merrell, 3 Bulstr. 95; S. C. Cro. Jac. 386; Com. Dig. Action on the Case for a Deceipt, A, 1: Pasley v. Freeman, 3 T. R. 56; Ward v. Center, 3 Johns. R. 271; Upton v. Vail, 6 Johns. R. 181; Young v. Covell, 8 Johns. R. 23; Russell v. Clark, 7 Cranch, 92; Gallager v. Brunel, 6 Cowen, 346, Allen v. Addington, 7 Wendell, 9; Moore v. Tracy, 7 Wendell, 229; Addington v. Allen, 11 Wendell, 374 ; Adams v. Paige, 7 Pick. 542; Pierce v. Jackson, 6 Mass. R. 242; Whittier v. Smith, 11 Mass. R. 211. Aliter, where no actual damage has been occasioned. Morgan v. Bliss, 2 Mass. R. 112. But where there has been damage, it is not necessary to prove any moral fraud on the part of the defendants. Adams v. Paige, supra; Bird v. Randall, 3 Burr. 1353 ; 3 Bl. Com. 122; Foster v. Charles, 7 Bingh. 105; S. C. 6 Bingh. 390 ; Tapp v. Lee, 3 Bos. &. Pul. 371.
