Case Name: The City Council of Charleston vs. John Duncan
Court: Constitutional Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1813-04
Citations: 1 Tread 436
Docket Number: 
Parties: The City Council of Charleston vs. John Duncan.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 436–439

Head Matter:
Charleston, April Term, 1813.
The City Council of Charleston vs. John Duncan.
Edwards, for the Motion,
Pringle, Contra.
Janies Duncan authorised Councii'to dispose of certain lottery tick-Ws’note. wardsdTed insol' ent. and the notes fell into the uands of the defendant, his administrator.
Held, tiia- the defendant could not retain the amount of the said note, and that the plaintiffs were entitled to recover.

Opinion:
Colcock, J.
The iury find, that James Duncan, . . esquire, being a city warden, was requested by the City Council, and did undertake to sell and dispose certain lottery tickets to them belonging, and that he did sell and dispose of fifty seven tickets 1 unto defendant, and did for the same take the within mentioned note of hand, which being unpaid, the sal(^ James Duncan died insolvent, and on his death it fell into the hands of the defendant, his adminis- ' trator. If the court should be of opinion that the City Council can legally demand the said note as their property, then we find for the plaintiff ¡8570; or the said note to be given up to the City Council: but if the court should be of opinion that the said note can not be followed and separated from the general mass, (as their property,) of the estates or assets of the said James Duncan, then,>_ we find for the defendant.
The fact being clearly established, that the note was taken by the deceased for lottery tickets, which, he, as agent to the City Council, had sold; the circumstance of his having taken it payable to himself will certainly not make it his property. I am therefore of opinion, that the plaintiff have judgment, and that the postea be delivered to them.
Brevard, J.
The verdict finds, that Mr. James Duncan, as city warden, took the promissory note for which this action was brought, for certain lottery tickets, which he was entrusted to sell on behalf of the corporation. And it may be fairly inferred that the note was taken as trustee, for the use and benefit of the corporation.
The action was trover for the wrongful conversion of the note. In this action, it was only necessary to prove property in the plaintiff, and a wrongful con-ersion by the defendant. If the note was taken in trust for the plaintiff as it appears by the verdict, then it was the property of the plaintiff. The conversion may be fairly implied, as the verdict finds for the plaintiff, u if the court should be of opinion, the plaintiff could legally demand the said note." From this finding, it maybe inferred that there was a demand and refusal, sufficient to evidence a wrongful conversion, provided the property was in the plaintiff. I am of opinion the plaintiff is entitled to judgment.
Bay, J.
The special verdict states that James Duncan, deceased, being a city warden, was requested by the City Council, and did undertake to sell and dispose of some lottery tickets, and' that he sold 57 tickets to the defendant, and took his note, for which this action was brought; which being unpaid, the said James Duncan died insolvent, and on his death, it fell into the hands of the defendant, as his administrator. If the court should think the note the property of the city, we find for them 570 dollars, or that the note should be given up. But if the court should think that the note cannot be followed up, and separated from the general mass (as the city's property) of the estate, or assets of the said James Duncan, then, they find for the defendant. From the foregoing special verdict, it appears to me, that the above named James Duncan, upon the delivery of the above mentioned lottery tickets for sale, became the trustee or agent of the City Council; and that the note (although taken in his own name) for the amount, became their property, the moment it was given for the said lottery tickets. He held in trust for them, and does not form any part of his private estate; consequently, it became so much money due to the city from the maker of the note, instead of being due to the representative of the said deceased Janies Duncan. I am, therefore, of opinion, that the postea, should be delivered to the plaintiff, in order that they may enter their judgment thereon. If James Duncan is considered in the light of a factor or agent for the city council, (and he may be very justly considered in that light,) the property to the last moment remains the property of the principal, and the tickets might have been recovered specifically if unsold, in whose hands soever they might have come. Even money for the proceeds (if in bags) may be recovered. 5 Term Reports, 215. 4 Burrows, 2047. If money received for the proceeds may then be recovered, it follows clearly, that a note given for the proceeds, may also be recovered.