Case ID: wis_101/html/0222-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BaedbeN, J.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Roberts, Respondent, vs. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company and others, Appellants.
    
      November 1
    
    November 22, 1898.
    
    
      Replevin: Abatement by pendency of another action.
    
    After A., the mortgagee of a carload of shingles, had shipped them-to M. billed to herself, one R., who claimed them-as purchaser from-the mortgagors, procured the car while in transit to he billed to other parties at 0., taking a receipt therefor from the station agent at M.; hut the carrier, on learning of A.’s claim, notified R. of its-refusal to carry the shingles on his bill of lading, and also refused' to deliver them to A. Thereupon A. brought replevin against the-carrier, getting possession of the property, and the carrier answered, that E. was the owner thereof, but neither party sought to have him interpleaded. Held that, on the carrier’s refusal to forward the shingles on E.’s bill of lading, it ceased to be his bailee, and the pendency of A.’s replevin action was not available in abatement of an action of replevin brought by E. against such carrier..
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Waupaca county: Chas. M. Webb, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    In 1893 the plaintiff and Aschinger Bros, entered into an agreement by which the former was to advance certain sums of money to pay labor, etc., in the manufacture of shingles at the Aschinger sawmill. The shingles were to be delivered at a station on the railroad, called Split Bock, as ordered by plaintiff, and he was to account for them at certain agreed prices, and give the firm credit on advances so made. The shingles were all delivered, except about one carload. In April or May, 1894, plaintiff notified the Aschingers to ship the remainder of the shingles, which they neglected or refused to do. Thereafter plaintiff went to the sawmill, and after some conversation with the Aschingers, he claims, the ■ shingles were turned out and delivered to him in the yard* and he wrote his name on a number of bunches. On June 18,1894, the Aschingers executed a chattel mortgage to their mother, Elizabeth Aschinger, covering these shingles, which was duly filed in the proper town clerk’s office. Later in the season, plaintiff notified the Aschingers to deliver the shingles, which they refused to do. On October 17, 1894, Elizabeth Aschinger, with the consent of the mortgagors, sold the shingles, had them loaded on the cars, and billed them in her own name to herself, at Marion, Wisconsin. While the shingles were in the possession of the railroad company, plaintiff went to Marion, and filled out a shipping bill for the car of shingles to Eadford Bros., of Oshkosh, and took a receipt from the agent. When the shingles arrived at Marion the agent learned that the shingles were claimed by Mrs. Aschinger, and immediately notified plaintiff that the company refused, to forward the shingles under the shipping bill. The company also refused to deliver them to Mrs. Asch-inger, whereupon she brought replevin against the railroad company, and secured possession of the same. The company made answer, setting up that plaintiff was the owner of the property. No effort was made by either party to have the plaintiff interpleaded, and that action is still pending.
    After obtaining possession of the shingles under her re-plevin, Mrs. Asehinger sold the shingles to the defendants Knapsteim,. The latter caused them to be loaded on the cars for shipment, whereupon the plaintiff brought this action of replevin. The defendants denied plaintiff’s title to the property, and set up the pendency of the former suit in abatement. The main question litigated was as to the title to the shingles. The verdict of the jury was in plaintiff’s favor, and the value of the property was found to be $210. A new trial was denied, and from a judgment entered on the verdict this appeal is taken.
    For the appellants there were briefs by Gerrit T. Thorn, attorney, and Gharles A. JEEobnes, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. Thorn.
    
    They argued, witer alia, that cross re-plevins between the same parties for the same property could not be maintained.. The only issue was the ownership of the property, and the parties were substantially the same, the carrier being the agent and bailee of liolerts. Larsen v. Tfiehols, 62 Minn. 256; Fisher v. Biosch, 64 Mich. 180; Beers v. Wuerjpul, 24 Ark. 272.
    For the respondent there was a brief by Goodrich & Goodrich, and oral argument by F. J. Goodrich.
    
   BaedbeN, J.

This judgment is sought to be reversed on the ground that the evidence under the plea in abatement shows that there is another action pending, wherein the parties and their privies are the same, and that the subject matter of the two causes of action is the same. The fallacy of this contention becomes evident from a mere inspection of the statement of facts. The shingles were loaded on the cars at Split Nock by Mrs. Aschinger, and billed to herself, at Marion. While so in the possession of the railroad company, plaintiff went to the station agent at Marion, and billed the car to Badford Bros., at Oshkosh, and took the agent’s receipt. As soon as the agent became aware of the true situation, he notified the plaintiff that the company refused to recognize any obligation to forward the car under the bill of lading. Whatever the relation was between plaintiff and the company, created by the bill of lading, it was thereby canceled. The company saw fit to deny the plaintiff’s right to have the car forwarded to his consignees,. and it could not thereafter be considered his bailee. We need not inquire as to the reasons for its refusal to deliver the shingles to Mrs. Aschinger. Its refusal to deliver the shingles on plaintiff’s order put an end to their relations, and they thereafter stood as adversaries, so far as the possession of the property was concerned. If Mrs. Aschinger had desired to test the question of title and possession with the plaintiff, she might have made him a party to her suit, and thus have made an end to the contest. Under the facts disclosed, we feel certain that the rulings of the trial court ought not to be disturbed.

It is further insisted that the evidence fails to show any sale or delivery of the property in controversy from the Aschingers to plaintiff. This was one of the sharply contested issues on the trial. It was fairly submitted to the jury, under instructions correctly stating the law. The evidence was in dispute, but to our minds it seems fairly to support the conclusion arrived at by the jury.

No other question in the case seems to call for discussion.

By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit1 court is affirmed.