Whitmore v. Alley , 46 Me. 428 ( 1859 )

The opinion of the Court was drawn by

Kent, J.

Assumpsit for the value of one-half of a horse.

We may lay out of the question all in the case that relates to the lottery, and the drawing of the horse in question. It is not pretended by either party that any title passed by those transactions.

The case, as between these parties, stands upon the fact that Lord was the undisputed owner, and that he voluntarily, or for some reason satisfactory to himself, parted with his property, and delivered the horse to the plaintiff and defendant, who agreed that they should be joint owners, or owners in common, in equal parts, of the horse. At this stage, neither had the legal right to the exclusive possession, and but one could have such possession at the same time.

It was then agreed that the defendant might take possession of the horse for a time, with the agreement on his part that he would return with the horse the next week, and would either buy the plaintiff’s half, or sell his half to the plaintiff. The case further finds that the defendant has since refused to return the horse, or pay the plaintiff for the half claimed by him.

This action is Assumpsit. The writ and declaration, which are made a part of the case, show a claim on account annexed, “ for amount due for horse,” the money counts, and a special count, which sets out the agreement to have been that defendant was to return the horse to him, the plaintiff, on a certain day, and that defendant would then either pay to the plaintiff the value of one-half of the horse, or the plaintiff might pay the defendant one half of the value of the horse. The allegation of a breach is that he did not return the horse at the day, or since, and has not paid the plaintiff the value of one-half of said horse, or any part; by reason whereof, the defendant became the buyer of the plaintiff’s interest in said horse, to wit, one-half, and became liable to pay the value, which is stated to be sixty-two dollars and fifty cents.

The case as stated in the declaration, and the case as it appears in the agreed statement, vary essentially. The allegation in the writ, that defendant was to return the horse to plaintiff, is not supported by the agreed statement that he was to return “with” the horse. Nor is the allegation, that, on the return, he was to pay or receive the value of one-half of the horse, sustained by the fact agreed, that he was either to buy or sell one-half of the horse. In any light that we can view the case, this action of assumpsit cannot be maintained, on the facts agreed. It is not based on the non-return. If the facts proved a wrongful conversion by one joint owner as against his co-tenant, then trover would have been the proper remedy. It is unnecessary to determine whether an action of trover could be maintained on the facts agreed. The case, Dane v. Cowing, 22 Maine, 347, seems to be an authority against such a suit, until a sale by a co-tenant.

The other portion of the agreed statement does not show a sale or purchase of one-half, and this action rests entirely upon a contract of sale and purchase. It was, at most, a verbal promise to trade, or bargain, when they should meet, and either to sell or buy. No sale was made, and none of the indicia or legal requirements to constitute a sale appear. No request was made by plaintiff to defendant to determine whether he would sell or buy, and no offer by plaintiff to buy and pay an agreed price, or to sell his part. No price was named, no writing signed, no delivery or acceptance. It is no stronger case in law than one would be where a man says to another, I will come to your house to-morrow and bring my oxen, and we will make a bargain, and I will either buy your oxen or sell you mine. No action could be maintained on such a verbal understanding, which simply looked forward to a possible contract, and left every thing undetermined. It would not be an executory contract, for no contract is made. It would, at most, be a negotiation preliminary to a contract, of no binding force until legally completed. The fact that the defendant “ refused to deliver the horse when requested, and forbade the plaintiff’s taking him,” cannot make a contract of sale. It might be important evidence of conversion, in an action of trover, where such action would be the proper remedy. Plaintiff nonsuit.

Tenney, C. J., and Appleton, Cutting, May, and Davis, J. J., concurred.