Jamison v. Moon , 43 Miss. 598 ( 1871 )

Simrall, J:

W. B. Moon brought indebitatus assumpsit against A. J. Jamison, for the value of three bales of cotton. The errors impugn the decision of the circuit court in overruling a motion for new trial, and in granting instructions asked by the plaintiff, and in refusing an instruction prayed by the defendant, and in rendering a judgment for gold.

We cannot notice the assignment of error, because of overruling the motion for a new trial. The office of the bill of exception is to introduce matter in pais into the record. Such papers and proceedings in a cause as are “ of the record,” need not be embodied in a bill of exception, such as the pleadings, process, and the orders and judgment of the court. If these exist at all, they must appear by the record, and cannot be proved by bill of exception. The order of the court overruling the motion for a new trial, must have been entered on the minutes — the official record of the proceedings and acts of the court, and that alone can supply competent proof that such order was made.

The testimony is embraced in the bill of exceptions, and it is proper to look to it, for the purpose of testing the applicability of the instructions to the facts in evidence. It is complained that there is error in refusing the second instruction prayed for by the defendant; which affirms that if Jami-son was not a trespasser, but received the cotton from Park, as his (Jamison’s) cotton, and the jury should further believe that the cotton really belonged to Moon, the plaintiff) the measure of damages is the value of the cotton at the time of the reception, by Flynn, for Jamison,

The second charge for the plaintiff was to the effect that although Jamison may have got possession of the cotton in the first instance Iona fide, yet if he detained it after knowledge of the plaintiff’s claim, then he became liable for the highest market price from the time of such knowledge to the time of trial. The general rule as to the measure of recovery in actions ex contractu, is the actual damages naturally resulting from the breach of the contract; if for non-payment of money, the principal sum with interest; if for nondelivery of property, its value at the time and place named for delivery; if for the price of property sold, and no price is agreed, then its market value, and interest in both cases. If the defendant has sold the plaintiff’s property without his consent, the plaintiff may waive the tort and go for the price realized; or, if there has not been an actual sale, then the amount of recovery to be fixed by the principle of the quantum valebat.

Conceding that the rules which govern actions ex delicto, as to the measure of damages, apply in this case — and on that point we express no opinion, as none is invoked by counsel — the question is, on the facts in evidence, was th e jury properly instructed? There is a diversity of opinion in the courts as to the measure of damages for the conversion, or for trespass done to personal property — some of them holding, as in New York and several of the New England states, that the jury are not confined to the value of the thing at-the time of the taking, and interest on such value, to the time of trial, but they may take the highest market value at any time between the conversion and the trial. However the courts may have varied in the application of principles, they all agree that the aggrieved plaintiff is entitled to such compensation, in damages, as will make full and complete redress for the wrong. The divergence begins in the effort in the different phases of injuries to lay down a rule which will meet and provide for each special case. The general rule is thus stated by Marshall, C. J., in Conrad v. Pacific Insurance Co., 6 Peter’s R., 273: “The value of the property taken, with interest from the time of taking, down to the trial. This is deemed legal satisfaction, which refers solely to injury done to the property taken, and not to any collateral or consequential damages resulting to the owner by the trespass.” In an active commercial country, where dealing in the barter and sale of commodities and stocks is the business of large numbers of the community, the tendency would seem natural to give to the party wrongfully deprived of his property or. stock, a compensation approximating the profits that might have been made out of it in the market. What are proper damages, depends very much on'the circumstances of the case. If the trespass is committed with a high hand, and without color of right, wantonly, rudely, oppressively, evincing a heart moved by malice or revenge, the jury ought not to stop at the point of the mere value of the property and interest, but may also take into account the mortified sensibilities and reputation of the party, and the evil example of such conduct to the public at large.

In Whitfield v. Whitfield, 40 Miss. R., 356-367, this subject was carefully considered and the authorities examined. The rule was declared to be, “ where no fraud, malice, or oppression, or wilful wrong, either in the taking or detention, intervenes, the measure of damages is the value of the property at the time-of the taking or conversion, or illegal detention, with interest thereon to the time of trial. Such were our views in Friedlander v. Pugh, Slocumb & Co.^*

The testimony shows that both Jamison and Moon .had bales of cotton on the same premises and under the same shelter; that Jamison sent a teamster to remove a part of his cotton, who took away three bales pointed out by one Park, as Jamison’s cotton. The bales owned by Jamison had been repacked. Those belonging to Moon were in the old packages. There was testimony to the effect that the bales removed belonged to Jamison. There was also testimony to the .contrary. It was the exclusive province of the jury to determine as to the conflict and credibility. But in any fair view of it, it is clear that Jamison dispatched the teamster to remove his cotton, and that if he took off Moon’s cotton, it was a mistake, to say the most of it. Jami-son might well hold on to the cotton as his property, under a claim fairly made, in view of the facts in evidence on this point, and such detention, would not put him in the attitude of a man who had done a wilful injury, and knowingly persisted in it, within the rule recognized in this court. His conduct was not characterized, by oppression, ill-will, or wantonness ; he seemed to have believed that he was dealing with his own, in the original taking, and in the doubt as to whether he or Moon was owner of the particular bales removed, is not obnoxious to the imputation of persisting in the wrong ; there was error therefore, in the second instruction granted for the plaintiff. The true rule to be applied to the condition of the facts, is embodied in the second prayer for instructions by the defendant, so far as it went; it fell short however, of communicating to the jury, an important adjunct, to-wit: interest on the value of the cotton down to the trial. If there has been a wrongful taking, the redress would not be complete in any state of circumstances, unless the trespasser paid the value of the property, as of the time of taking, and interest to the time of trial.

The transactions out of which this suit originated, occurred after the passage of the legal tender act by Congress; and under the construction recently given to that act by the supreme court of the United States, the defendant could have made amends and satisfaction for the plaintiff’s demand in currency.

It was error therefore, to render judgment on the verdict for gold. Judgment reversed, venire facias and new trial awarded.

* Supra, p. 111.