Cable Piano Co. v. Estes

The action was of detinue, in two counts, based upon an alleged conditional sale contract in writing. The contract purporting to retain title to property sued for is exhibited as a part of count two. Demurrer eliminated all of defendant's pleas except the general issue and special plea F.

In this state it is the law that a reservation of title is more than a lien in the holder of the title. The reservation prevents the title from vesting in the party contracting for the purchase until its purchase price is fully paid. And on default detinue is a proper remedy for its repossession by the vendor. Alexander v. Mobile Auto Co., 200 Ala. 586, 588,76 So. 944; Bishop v. Minderhout, 128 Ala. 162, 29 So. 11, 52 L.R.A. 395, 86 Am. St. Rep. 134.

By statute it is provided that upon the trial of an action in detinue the jury must, if they find for plaintiff (1) assess the value of each article separately, if practicable, and (2) also assess damages for its detention; and if they find for the defendant (a) they must likewise assess the value; and (b) if it is in the possession of the plaintiff, assess the damages for its detention. The burden is on the plaintiff to show the value of the property sued for and the value of its detention by defendant, if recovery is to be had for such detention. The evidence shows that the property sued for "is reasonably worth the sum of $100"; that the same was taken by plaintiff as provided by statute and retaken by defendant by giving bond, etc., as required by statute. Code 1907, §§ 3780, 3781; Gwin v. Emerald Co., Inc., 201 Ala. 384, 78 So. 758; Montgomery Enterprises v. Empire Theater, 204 Ala. 566, 86 So. 880; Nixon v. Smith, 193 Ala. 443, 69 So. 117. The judgment entry sufficiently assesses the value of the property, its alternate value, in compliance with the statute.

The contract under which plaintiff seeks to rest its retention of title and right of recovery of possession of the property sued for stipulated that the contract made with the salesman was "subject to the acceptance of the Cable Piano Company, and contains all the agreements pertaining thereto, and no agent or salesman is authorized * * * to make any promise or contract differing in any wise from that which is written or printed hereon." The subsequent transaction or correspondence between plaintiff and defendant was competent as tending to show the agency and extent thereof of O. E. Sosebee pertaining to the sale of the piano for the plaintiff and subsequent collection for the amount due on the contract, if such contract was binding under the facts of the particular case. In plaintiff's letter of date January 13, 1915, a short while after the maturity of the first note, was the request that payment of the amount due be made to "our agent Mr. Sosebee, on receipt of this letter." Lawrenceburg Roller Mills Co. v. Jones, 204 Ala. 59, 85 So. 719.

Appellee further insists that, aside from the several rulings of the court, in which it was insisted there was error, in no event was appellant entitled to recover, and, whatever action of the trial court was erroneous, it would be without injury. Lawrenceburg Roller Mills Co. v. Jones, supra. Amended count 2 avers that plaintiff was a body corporate, exhibits an Alabama contract of conditional sale by which the title was sought to be reserved in plaintiff, and locates the situs or home of plaintiff corporation at the time of the contract as being in Atlanta, Ga.

Since the pleading and evidence show that plaintiff was a foreign corporation with its principal place of business without the state, that the contract was an Alabama contract, and fail to aver and show a compliance with the laws of this state by said corporation before and at the date of the contract, it falls within the provisions of sections 3642-3645 of the Code of 1907, and section 232 of the Constitution of 1901 — that is, self-executing. Farrior v. New England Mortgage Security Co., 88 Ala. 275, 277, 7 So. 200; Christian v. Am. F. Land Mortgage Co., 89 Ala. 198, 7 So. 427; State v. Bristol Savings Bank, 108 Ala. 3, 18 So. 533, 54 Am. St. Rep. 141; Muller Mfg. Co. v. First National Bank of Dothan, 176 Ala. 229, 231, 57 So. 762; Peters v. Brunswick Co., 6 Ala. App. 507, 511, 60 So. 431; Coburn v. Coke,193 Ala. 364, 69 So. 574. Where the bill or complaint does not show the facts of nonresidence at the date of the contract on which the suit is based, to be available as a defense the fact must be raised by a plea. Ashurst v. Arnold-Henegar-Doyle Co.,201 Ala. 480, 78 So. 386; American Amusement Co. v. East Lake Chutes Co., 174 Ala. 526, 56 So. 961. The instrument under which plaintiff based its title and right of possession was in contravention of law, and appellant was not entitled to recover thereon. For this reason the judgment must be affirmed.

Affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and McCLELLAN and SOMERVILLE, JJ., concur.