Case Name: Milton J. Hardy & another vs. Jotham E. Munroe
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1879-06-25
Citations: 127 Mass. 64
Docket Number: 
Parties: Milton J. Hardy & another vs. Jotham E. Munroe.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 127
Pages: 64–64

Head Matter:
Milton J. Hardy & another vs. Jotham E. Munroe.
Suffolk.
March 27.
June 25, 1879.
Ames & Lord, JJ., absent.
One who “ consigns ” goods to another, to he paid for only as they are sold hy him, has not such possession or right to immediate possession as will support an action of tort for the conversion of the goods.
A. A. Ranney, for the plaintiffs.
T. L. Livermore, (F. P. Fish with him,) for the defendants.

Opinion:
Colt, J.
The declaration in this case is in tort for the conversion of the plaintiff's goods; it is for an injury to the possession, not for a wrongful act affecting only a reversionary interest in property, the possession of which was then in another. It was necessary for the plaintiffs, therefore, to show possession, or the right to immediate possession in themselves.
The uncontradicted evidence was that the goods alleged to have been converted were consigned by the plaintiffs to one Harvey to be paid for only as they were sold by him. This gave the legal possession of the property to the consignee. Fair-bank v. Phelps, 22 Pick. 535.
The ruling of the court, that the plaintiffs could not maintain their action, was clearly based upon the pleadings, and is fully supported by the decision in Winship v. Neale, 10 Gray, 382. See also Ring v. Neale, 114 Mass. 111.
Exceptions overruled.