Church v. Bender

HENDRICK, J.

The complaint is in conversion, alleging the value of the horse converted as $300. The answer is a general denial. John Church, a cousin of plaintiff, purchased from defendant a number of horses. He entered into a written agreement, wherein it was agreed that:

“Title to the horses shall remain in defendant until such time as the full amount, as represented by notes given, shall be fully paid; and on the failure to pay said notes, or any or either of them, or any part of any or either of them, at the date and place therein specified, it shall and may be lawful for defendant, .his agents or attorneys, with the aid and assistance of any person or persons, to enter upon the premises occupied by said John Church, or any other place or places wherein the said horses may be placed, and take therefrom said horses, and to sell the same without further notice. * * * ”

On February 24, 1910, defendant’s employés entered the stable of John Church and took away six horses, which defendant claims were the horses sold to John Church under the terms and conditions of the agreement set forth. Plaintiff, Albert G. Church, claiming to own one of the horses taken, brings this action for damages for' the conversion of his horse. Albert G. Church is a merchant tailor. He bases his claim to ownership of the horse on the fact that in 1908 he gave his icousin, John Church, $125 to buy a horse. He says:

“It was my horse until I got my $125. I did not give him the horse. I did not sell it to him. He gave me a demand note. I was to be the owner until he paid for it. He has paid me nothing.”

John Church says he was to keep the horse and use it until he paid for it. At the time defendant took the horse, it was in the stable of John Church, being used by him daily in his business. The note given to plaintiff had not been paid. The agreement between plaintiff and his cousin amounted to a conditional sale, liable to be defeated upon the nonperformance of the condition. John Church, after delivery of the horse to him, had a rightful possession, with which plaintiff could not interfere until a failure by John Church to perform the condition. The latter’s interest could ripen into an absolute title by the performance of the condition. An early English decision, followed and approved in a number of cases in this state (Hull v. Carnley, 1 Abb. Prac., at page 164; Schryer v. Fenton, 15 App. Div., at page 159, 44 N. Y. Supp. 203), holds that, in order to maintain trover the plaintiff must have a right of property in the thing and a right of possession, and that unless these rights concur the action will not lie (Gordon v. Harper, 7 Term R. 9). Follett, C. J., in Deeley et al. v. Dwight, 132 N. Y. 63, 30 N. E. 258, 18 L. R. A. 298, holds that:

“An action to recover damages for the conversion of chattels is a strictly legal one, which cannot be maintained unless the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of the property, if in existence.”

The plaintiff has failed to show his right to immediate possession, and under the authorities his action must fail. The judgment should be reversed.

Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event. All concur.