Case ID: mo_13/html/0028-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Judge Birch", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

REED, guard'n of TOLSON, vs. WILSON & GARNER.
    1. A suit on behalf of a lunatic must be instituted in the name of the lunatic, and not in the name of the guardian.
    2. In an action of replevin, “where the plaintiff fails to prosecute his suit with effect,” the assessment of damage is imperative, and may be made-by the court, if neither parly requires a jury.
    APPEAL FROM HOWARD CIRCUIT COURT.
    Clark for Appellant insists:
    1. That in this State, the action of repleviifcan be brought by any person having the right of the possession of the property sued for, and that either a general or special property, coupled with the right of possession, is sufficient to maintain this action. See Rev. Code, Title Re-plevin, Broadwater vs. Darn, 10 Mo.' Rep. 277, 1 Chilty’s pi. 82,3, 138,187.
    2. The guardian in this case was by law entitled to the possession of the estate of the lunatic, and he was bound, in the discharge of his duty, to take possession of and manage it for the benefit of the lunatic according to our statute on that subject. Rev. Code, Title Insane Persons, sees. J3 & 14, p. 595. Having the charge and control of the person as' well as the os-late of the lunatic, the guardian had more than a naked right to the possession. He acquired by virtue of his trust a special vested interest in the estate, and after the appointment of the guardian and his qualification, the detention was against his right of possession, bared upon this special interest and the suit was consequently brought properly by the guardian. Story on Bailments, 109 ; 19th Wendell 30(3, 3rd John, cases, 53, 3 Watts & Sergt. 4jG, 2 Ark. Rep. 326.
    3. The court erred in assessing the damages — this is like all other cases, the court we think, has no power to assess the damages againstthe consejil of either parly. 9 Mo. Rep. 163.
    Leonard for Appellees insists:
    1. The amendment of the plea and the refusal of Ihe court to render judgment or for want of a plea, are matters within the discretion of the circuit court, and there is nothing in the record to show that the decision was improperly exercised, even if these matters are proper subjects for a writ of error.
    2. By the express terms of the statute, if the plaintiff fail to prosecute his suit with effect and without delay, the court or jury may assess the value of the property and the damages for the use of it. Rev. Stat. ’45, Replevin Sec. 8.
    3. The action in behalf of a lunatic must be in the name of the lunatic and not in the name of the guardian or committee. Co. Little 135 6, (i Bacon’s Abr. “Idiots and Lunatics.” G. Shelford on Lunatics, 395; Thorn vs. Corrard 2 Siderfin 1 24, Drury vs. Fitch; Hutton’s Rep. 1(3, Fulcher vs. Griffin; Pohnam’s Rep. 140, Coke vs. Daxston; 1 Brown & Golh 197, Knipe vs. Palmer, 2 Wilson 130 Cox vs. Dawson, Hoys Rep. 27, Lane & Gross vs. Shemerhorn; 1 Hill (N. Y.) 97, Long vs. Whidden 2 Ncw-IIampshire Rep. 436; McICnight vs.' Aiken, 3 Hill (S. C.) 337, Crane vs. Anderson 3 Dana R. 119. If the present were even the case of the guardianship of a minor, this aclion could not he sustained in the name of the guardian, Dearman vs. Deannan 5 Alabama Rep. 202, Sutherland vs. Goff, 5 Porter’s Rep. 508, Fugna vs. Hunt, 1 Alabama Rep. 197, Barrett vs. Commonwealth, 4, J. J. Marshall 389, Barnet vs. Commonwealth, 5, J. J. Marshall 286, Long-street vs. Tilton; 1 Cox N. J. Rep. 38.
   Judge Birch

delivered the opinion of the court.

Reed as guardian of Tolson, a lunatic, brought an action of replevin against Wilson & Garner for the detention of slaves and other personal property. At the return term the defendants pleaded the general issue, entitling it “at the suit uf Tolson, by her guardian,” upon which the plaintiff took issue. At the trial term, the defendants had leave to amend their plea, by entitling “at the suit of Reed guardian of P. Tol-son,” corresponding with the declaration. The plaintiff having ineffectually objected to the amendment, thereupon moved for judgment against the defendants for want of plea which was overruled and the parties went to trial. It was properly proven that Miss Tolson had been declared a lunatic, that Reed was her guardian and had demanded the property in suit which was refused by the defendants. It is deemed unnecessary further to recapitulate the testimony, it being apparent from the record, that the issue in the court below was finally narrowed to the legal ¡right of thé guardian to. institute a suit in his own name, instead of that of his ward. Upon this point, the current of general authorities seems unbroken and conclusive, and we do not perceive that the reasoning ■upon which they are predicated is impaired or affected by the provisions •of our. statute, “regulating the action of replevin” or the duties of the guardian as prescribed in the “act relative to insane persons.” We ■perceive therefore, no error in the instructions of the circuit court, upon which the plaintiff took a non-suit; these instructionshaving simply asserted tlie legal conclusion, that the plaintiff could not recover the property of his ward in an action in his own name but that (aeon verse,) ■such a suit must be. instituted and prosecuted in the name of the lunatic, by the guardian.

Upon the other- points in the case, as the bill of exceptions, contains nothing upon which we can predicate an opinion adverse to the recovering, upon which the judge proceeded in the exercise of the discretion he was clothed with respecting the motion to amend the pleading and the antagonist o,&e for judgment by default, the legal presumption arises that he used it legitimately and soundly ; and the plaintiff having “failed to prosecute his. suit with effect,” the assessment of damages, &c. would seem, not only regular but imperative and surely may bo done by the court, if either-party require a jury.

Upon the whole- record therefore, the judgment must be affirmed.