Case ID: me_9/html/0021-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Weston J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Dwinel vs. Fiske & al.
    
    The Stat. 1821, ch. 158, sec. 11, creating a lien on mill-logs, against the general owner, in favor of those who float them to market with their own timber, in which they happen to be intermingled, does not apply in favor of a wilful trespasser, against the owner of the land on which he had cut the logs.
    Tills was a review of- an action of replevin for 166 mill-logs, originally sued out by Fiske &/■ Bridge against Dwinel. It appeared, at the trial, that the logs were cut by Dwinel, on the land of Fiske and Bridge, without license; the lines of which land he previously well knew, and was thus a wilful trespasser. He after-wards drove'the logs down the Penohscot river, intermixed with a larger number in which he claimed a special property; and he resisted the action of replevin on the ground that having driven them with his own, he was entitled to. detain them till the expenses of driving were paid, pursuant to Stat. 1821, ch. 158, sec. 11. But the Chief Justice, before whom the action was tried, instructed the jury that the provisions of the statute were not applicable to cases like the present; and a verdict being returned for the original plaintiffs, the point was reserved for the consideration of the Court.
    
      J. McGaw, for the plaintiff in review.
    
      Allen, for the original plaintiffs.
   Weston J.

delivered the opinion of the Court.

If the logs in question were put into the Penohscot river, for the purpose of being floated to marker, and were mixed with other logs in such manner, that they could not be sparated, it was be- , cause they were voluntarily and unlawfully put into that condition by the original defendant, in violation of the rights of the original plaintiffs. To allow him to predicate rights, upon a trespass of this sort, would be to permit him to take advantage' of his own throng, against an ancient and well established maxim of law. . The statute was intended to provide for a reasonable compensation to a party, who in driving his own logs, renders a similar service to other owners, whose logs are casually so intermixed with- his, that they cannot be separated. It does not allow him to meddle with the logs of others, until so intermixed with his own. Otherwise any one without interest and without right, might unnecessarily and voluntarily intermeddle with property of this description, belonging to various owners, with whom he has no connexion, and claim of all compensation, for services thus obtruded; which the statute never could have intended. The section in question, could never have been designed to favor trespasses,

There is no just analogy between this statute, and those which have been made for the settlement of certain equitable claims, arising in real actions. A title to real estate, commencing by dissei-sin, is one well known in law. By lapse of time it may become - indefeasible, entitled to complete legal protection. And the legislature have thought proper to recognize certain equitable interests of this sort, at an earlier period.

Judgment on the verdict.