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40 Wis. 468

Thomas v. Seely

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Decided August 15, 1876

Wisconsin Supreme Court · decided 1876-08-15

Trover, for twenty-three sheep of the alleged value of $150, and twenty-three fleeces of wool of the alleged value of $50, the property of the plaintiff, which, the complaint charges, was wrongfully converted by the defendant on or about November 1,1875. The plaintiff lost his sheep in October, 1874. It is not claimed that they came wrongfully to the possession of the defendant. The testimony and rulings of the court on the trial are sufficiently stated in the opinion.

Decided 1876-08-15

Lyon, J.

¶1The plaintiff was permitted to prove the weight and value of the fleeces of wool taken from the sheep in controversy at the shearing of 1875; and the court refused to instruct the jury that, if they found for the plaintiff, they could not properly include the value of such wool in the damages assessed by them. ¥e find no testimony in the bill of exceptions showing or tending to show a conversion of the wool by the defendant. So far as appears, the defendant may yet *469have tbe same in bis possession, ready to deliver it to tbe plaintiff on demand, and no action can be maintained for it without proof of conversion.

¶2The testimony of the value of tbe wool may bave been competent in tbe case as bearing upon tbe value of tbe sheep; but, in tbe absence of any proof of conversion, the jury should bave been instructed not to assess damages for tbe value of tbe wool. Tbe jury were liable to be misled by tbe refusal to give this instruction.

¶3Other errors are assigned, but it is not deemed necessary to pass upon them. For tbe error first above mentioned, there must be another trial.

¶4By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and new trial awarded.

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