Case Name: SCOFIELD against WHITELEGGE
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1871-01
Citations: 10 Abb. Pr. 104
Docket Number: 
Parties: SCOFIELD against WHITELEGGE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Abbott's Practice Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 104–106

Head Matter:
SCOFIELD against WHITELEGGE.
New York Superior Court;
General Term, January, 1871.
Pleading.—Complaint for Wrongful Detention of Chattels.
In a complaint for the wrongful detention of personal property, an al legation of demand and refusal before suit, is not necessary; but an allegation of ownership in plaintiff is necessary.
Alleging detention “ from the plaintiff ” is not enough.
A complaint which does not aver ownership in the plaintiff is fatally defective, and may be dismissed on motion at the trial.
Appeal from a judgment.
Cyrus Scofield sued James H. Whitelegge, to recover the possession of personal property.
The complaint was as follows :
“ The above-named plaintiff, for a complaint in ibis action, alleges that the above-named defendant has become possessed of and wrongfully detains from this plaintiff, the following property, that is to say: one rosewood Ernest Gabler piano, No. 6604 (Ernest Gabler, maker), of the value of four hundred dollars. Wherefore the plaintiff demands judgment against the said defendant for a return, and for damages,” &c.
The answer was a specific denial.
At the trial before Mr. Justice Freedmah and a jury, a motion was made to dismiss the complaint, on the ground that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
The motion was granted. The complaint was dismissed, and judgment entered for costs.
The plaintiff appealed.
Oscar Frisbie, for the plaintiff, appellant.
A. H. Reavey, for the defendant, respondent.

Opinion:
By the Court. —Monell, J.
The objections of the complaint in this case are, that it does not. allege Ownership of the property by the plaintiff, or a demand and refusal before suit.
The latter allegation is not necessary, where the detention is alleged to be wrongful. In that case a demand and refusal must be proved as evidence of a wrongful detention, but need not be averred.
It is otherwise with the allegation of ownership, or what is its equivalent, a right to the possession of the property. Ownership, or a right to the possession of the property claimed, must be averred as well as proved. Such is the text of the elementary writers (Grah. Pr., 2 ed., 897; 2 Burr. Pr., 2 ed., 13), and the books of precedents conform to the text writers (see also Prosser v. Woodward, 21 Wend., 205).
The affidavit which the Code requires, to obtain a delivery of personal property, must contain an averment that the plaintiff is the owner, or is lawfully entitled to the possession of the property; and it seems to me a complaint would be insufficient without a similar ' averment. It was contended by the appellant's counsel that the allegation "detains from the plaintiff f was sufficient as a pleading,, and would let in proof of ownership. It might, perhaps, be implied from such an averment, that it was the plaintiff's property, as otherwise it could not be wrongfully detained from him. But facts so essential should not be left for implication; and it would form a bad precedent to allow such loose pleadings to pass.
The plaintiff could have brought another action, or, perhaps, have obtained leave to amend his complaint.
The omission of it was fatal, as it stood, and the judgment dismissing it must be affirmed.
Jones, J., concurred.
Judgment affirmed.
Present, Monell, Ch. J., and Jones and Spencer, JJ.