Case Name: J. B. SHIFFER v. J. A. BROADHEAD
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1890-05-05
Citations: 134 Pa. 539
Docket Number: No. 362
Parties: J. B. SHIFFER v. J. A. BROADHEAD ET AL.
Judges: Before Paxson, C. J., Green, Clark, Williams and McCollum, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 134
Pages: 539–540

Head Matter:
J. B. SHIFFER v. J. A. BROADHEAD ET AL.
APPEAL BY PLAINTIFF FROM THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Argued April 16, 1890
Decided May 5, 1890.
Where the defendants, in an action of trespass for cutting and removing timber trees, had the right, under a contract executed by the plaintiff, to enter upon the plaintiff’s land and cut and remove trees of a specified size, but cut and removed, in addition, other trees they were not authorized to take, they were not liable for the unauthorized cutting, etc., to treble damages under § 3, act of March 29, 1824, 8 Sm. L. 283.
Before Paxson, C. J., Green, Clark, Williams and McCollum, JJ.
No. 362 January Term 1890, Sup. Ct.; court below, No. 22 May Term 1885, C. P.
On March 4, 1885, J. B. Shiffer brought trespass against John A. Broadhead, Abram Bellas and six others, filing a declaration containing four counts: the first, for treble damages for cutting and removing timber trees contrary to § 3, act of March 29,1824, 8 Sm. L. 283; the second, for double damages, under the act, for cutting down timber trees; the third, for damages generally for trees cut and grass and herbage destroyed ; and the fourth, for damages to trees cut and carried away. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The cause was referred to a referee, Mr. O. F. Nicholson. On the hearing, the defendants justified under a contract with the plaintiff authorizing them to enter and cut timber trees of certain sizes. The referee found, as facts, that part of the timber cut and converted by the defendants they were entitled to under the contract, but that other timber cut and removed by the defendants, the value of which was found, was not covered by the contract and belonged to the plaintiff. As matter of law, however, the referee found that, as the defendants had the right to enter and cut timber which belonged to them un der the contract, trespass did not lie for the cutting and removal of that which belonged to the plaintiff, and this ruling was sustained by the court below. On writ of error to this court, at No. 47 January Term 1889, Sup. Ct., the conclusion of law reported by the referee and affirmed by the court below was reversed, with a procedendo: Shifter v. Broadhead, 126 Pa. 260.
The remittitur having been filed in the court below, the plaintiff moved for judgment for treble damages, which was refused in the following order : *
“ The motion of plaintiff for judgment for treble damages is refused; and, in pursuance of the opinion and judgment of the Supreme Court in this case, it is now ordered that judgment be entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants, for the sum of one hundred and twenty-four dollars and fifty cents, that being the value of thirty-six thousand and seventy-one feet of lumber, at the price of three dollars and fifty cents per thousand feet, as found by the referee in his final report.”
Thereupon the plaintiff took this appeal assigning the refusal of his motion for error.
Mr. F. M. Nichols, for the appellant.
Counsel cited: Welsh v. Anthony, 16 Pa. 254; Hughes v. Stevens, 36 Pa. 320; Watson v. Rynd, 76 Pa. 59; O’Reilly v. Shadle, 33 Pa. 489.
Mr. William S. McLean, for the appellees.
Counsel cited: Wheeler v. Carpenter, 107 Pa. 271; Yeakle v. Jacob, 33 Pa. 376; Pattison’s App., 61 Pa. 294; Bowers v. Bowers, 95 Pa. 477; Boults v. Mitchell, 15 Pa. 381; Bush v. Gamble, 127 Pa. 43.
See Wheeler v. Carpenter, 107 Pa. 271. As to the writing of a syllabus in such a case as this, see Memorandum, 133 Pa., p. XXI., in- the preliminary matter.

Opinion:
Per Curiam :
It requires no argument to show that this was not a case for treble damages. The learned judge below was therefore right in entering the judgment for single damages only.
Judgment affirmed.