Case ID: dc_5/html/0462-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "(Thurston, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Dorcas Walker v. Alexander Hunter.
    The Court -will not, in replevin, order a nonpros at the motion of the defendant after the jury is sworn.
    In replevin the plaintiff may recover according to the extent of his title proved.
    Torm of verdict when the plaintiff proves a title to apart only, of the goods replevied.
    Beplevin; pleas, non cepit, and property in the defendant. The defendant, as marshal of the District of Columbia, took the goods in execution as the property of Bichard Ballard. The plaintiff claimed under a deed of trust to the plaintiff, dated June 19, 1834, to secure her about $900, due upon two promissory notes of the same date. By the terms of the deed, the property was to remain in the possession of Ballard, until the plaintiff should think proper to take possession of it to execute the trust.
    After the jury was sworn, and the plaintiff had adduced her evidence, Mr. Morfil, for the defendant, moved the Court to order a non pros, because the plaintiff had shown title only to part of the goods replevied.
   But the Court,

(Thurston, J.,

absent,) refused.

Mr. Bradley, for the plaintiff, contended that the plaintiff may recover as much of the property as he proves title to; and that the jury should in their verdict specify the property to which the plaintiff has made title, and the value thereof, and of the goods replevied, and assess the plaintiff’s damages. Rogers v. Arnold, 12 Wendell, 30; 2 Evans, Harris, 342, No. 152, and No. 153, for the form of the verdict.

The jury found the following verdict: “We do say that the property in the declaration mentioned was taken by the defend-' ant; and we further say that, as to the goods and chattels in the declaration mentioned, except one cane-seat rocking chair, two sets of castors, one work-stand, one side table, two foot-stools, and tray and snuffers, the property in them was in the plaintiff, as she hath alleged, and the value of the said goods and chattels is $413.75, and we assess her damages by occasion of the premises to the sum of ten dollars; and we further say the property of the said cane-seat rocking chair, two sets of castors, one work-stand, one side table, two foot-stools, and tray and snuffers, was not in the said plaintiff as she hath alleged, and the value of the same is seventeen dollars and fifty cents.”