Litterel v. St. John

¶1This was an action of replevin for a commenced by St. John against Litterel. The declaration states that the defendant was lawfully in possession of the horse, but that he unlawfully detained him from the plaintiff, &c. Plea, property in the defendant, concluding with a verification. The replication denies the plea, and concludes to the country (1). Yerdict and judgment for the plaintiff.

¶2Evidence having been given on the trial, relative to a purchase of the horse by the plaintiff from the defendant, and the testimony being closed, the defendant asked the Court to give the following instruction to the jury:—“That if they believed from the evidence, that the horse was purchased by St. John of Litterel, and that the latter had never parted with the possession, the jury must find for the defendant, unless, before the commencement of the suit, the plaintiff had demanded the horse, and the defendant had refused to deliver him, or had otherwise tortiously detained him.” This instruction the Court refused, but instructed the jury that, under the issue, the suit could be sustained without proof of a demand.

¶3There is no error in this part of the cause. The only question to be tried was, did the horse belong to the defendant? It certainly did not follow, because the plaintiff had bought the horse of the defendant, and the latter had not given possession, that the horse continued to be the defendant’s property until the plaintiff demanded him. It does not appear that a demand was indispensable to a change of the property; and we must presume, in favour of the opinion of the Court, that it was not. We are, however, not to be understood as supposing, that the defendant might not, by some other plea, have put the plaintiff upon proof of a demand of the horse. All we say is, that the issue in this case does not require that proof from the plaintiff.

¶4The defendant also asked the following instruction:—“That if it was agreed between the parties, that St. John was to give his note for 80 dollars for the horse, before he was entitled to the property or possession of him, and a note was executed for eight dollars, instead of 80 dollars, by a mistake of the parties, and St. John, knowing of the mistake, did not, before the commencement of this suit, execute and tender to Litterel a corrected note for 80 dollars, agreeably to the contract, he cannot sustain this action.” This instruction was refused; but the *3280Ourt charged the jury, “that if such note was executed by mistake, the plaintiff could recover, if it was proved that the plaintiff had been always ready, upon demand, to correct the mistake.”

¶5The instruction thus givén by the Court cannot be sustained. It refers to, and recognises as proved, the facts contained in the last instruction which was refused. The execution of a note for 80 dollars by the plaintiff to the defendant, was a precedent condition, to be performed before the right of property or of possession in the horse was to vest in the plaintiff. That condition has not been complied with. It is not sufficient for the plaintiff to say, that, when he discovered the mistake relative to the note, he was ready, on demand, to correct it: that is not a performance of his part of the contract.

¶6The judgment is reversed, and the verdict set aside, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.