Case Name: Kentish Artillery vs. George M. Gardiner
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1886-03-30
Citations: 15 R.I. 296
Docket Number: 
Parties: Kentish Artillery vs. George M. Gardiner.
Judges: 
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 296–296

Head Matter:
KENT COUNTY.
Kentish Artillery vs. George M. Gardiner.
A military company brought trover for he conversion of one of its uniforms. The trial justice before whom the action was brought, being a member of the company:
ITeldt that he was disqualified by his interest in the subject-matter of the suit, and could not take jurisdiction of the case.
Exceptions to the Court of Common Pleas.
Providence, March 30, 1886.
Albert R. Greene, for plaintiff.
Samuel W. K. Allen, for defendant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
This is an action of trover for the conversion of a uniform belonging to the plaintiff corporation, a military company. The action was begun in the Justice Court of Warwick. The defendant pleaded in abatement to the jurisdiction, on the ground that the justice was a member of the company, and, as such, interested in the event of the suit.
The question raised by the exceptions is, whether the plea is good. We think it is. The uniform, if recovered, will become serviceable to the company. It cannot be serviceable to the company without being serviceable to the members of the company. Each member, therefore, has an interest in its recovery. The fact that the interest is only for the time of membership, and is only usufructuary, if the word may be used, and exceedingly minute, makes the interest none the less an interest, and none the less such an interest as will disqualify the justice.
Pxceptions overruled, and judgment for defendant on said plea in abatement, without costs.