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24 Tenn. 56

Pollard v. Thomason

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided September 15, 1844

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1844-09-15

This was an action of trover by Pollard against Thomason, Sheriff of Grainger county, for the seizure and sale of a horse by fi. fa. against said Pollard. The declaration did not aver that plaintiff was the head of a family. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and at the trial it appeared that Pollard had but one horse, and no mule or yoke of oxen; that he was engaged in agriculture, and was the head of a family, and that the horse was worth $30.

Decided 1844-09-15

Reese, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2This is an action for selling the horse of the plaintiff contrary to the provisions of the act of 1833, ch. 80, sec. 5. The declaration does not alledge that plaintiff is the head of a family; and the court charged, that the jury would not regard any proof they might have heard on that point in the absence of any such allegation. This is assigned for error. If the declaration be necessary to maintain the action, its omission in the declaration cannot be supplied by the proof. If it was not necessary, no injury was done by the charge. But we think it was necessary. It was incumbent on the plaintiff in such a case, to make *57it appear in his declaration and proof, that his condition and attitude placed him within the provisions of the act of assembly. If he were not the head of a family, the act of assembly had nothing to do with him. Aside from this point, the proof in the bill of exceptions shows that the plaintiff was not entitled to a verdict.

¶3Affirm the judgment.

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