Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

88 Mass. 412

Burge v. Cone

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided September 15, 1863

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1863-09-15

Tort against a deputy sheriff for the conversion of certain articles of household furniture. At the trial in the superior court, before Brigham, J., it appeared that the defendant attached the property in question on the 30th of July 1860, on a writ against Allen N. Smith, and subsequently sold the same on the execution which issued in the suit.

Relies on Lanfear v. Sumner

Decided 1863-09-15

Hoar, J.

¶1It is the settled law of this commonwealth that the sale of chattels without a delivery, actual, constructive or symbolical, does not pass the title as against an attaching creditor of the vendor. Pratt v. Parkman, 24 Pick. 42. Carter v. Willard, 19 Pick. 1. Packard v. Wood, 4 Gray, 307. In this case there was no actual delivery; and none constructive or symbolical, except the delivery and recording of a bill of sale. This was not sufficient, because there was nothing to prevent an actual delivery, either by transfer of the manual possession, or by notice to the person in whose custody the chattels were, that the sale had been made, and that he should hold them for the vendee. Lanfear v. Sumner, 17 Mass. 110. Gardner v Howland, 2 Pick. 599.

¶2Exceptions overruled.

/88/mass/412 · .json · Public domain