Case Name: Daniel Goodrich vs. Sherman Willard & others
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1856-10
Citations: 7 Gray 183
Docket Number: 
Parties: Daniel Goodrich vs. Sherman Willard & others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 73
Pages: 183–184

Head Matter:
Daniel Goodrich vs. Sherman Willard & others.
An agister of cattle has no lien upon them for their keeping.
Action of tort for the conversion of cattle. At the trial in the court of common pleas, the plaintiff, in whose possession the cattle had been placed to be depastured, claimed a lien on them for their keeping, and proved no other title. Mellen, C. J. ruled that the plaintiff, as agister of the cattle sued for, had no such lien, and directed a verdict for the defendants, which was returned, and the plaintiff alleged exceptions.
B. Russell Sf C. R. Train, for the plaintiff.
B. F. Butler, for the defendants.

Opinion:
Metcalf, J.
The sole question on these exceptions is, whether an agister of cattle has a lien on them for their keeping. He has, by the law of Scotland; 2 Bell Com. 110 ; but the common law authorities are uniform that he has not, except by special agreement with the owner. No such agreement appears in this case, and the ruling at the trial must therefore be sustained. Chapman v. Allen, Cro. Car. 271. Jackson v. Cummins, 5 M. & W. 342. Cross on Lien, 25, 332. 2 Saund. Pl. & Ev. (2d ed.) 299. 1 Dane Ab. 232. 2 Kent Com. (6th ed.) 634, note. Grinnell v. Cook, 3 Hill, 491,492. Miller v. Marston, 35 Maine, 155. We notice in the editions of Story on Bailments, which have been published since the author's decease, that this settled rule of law is put (we know not why) under a " query," in a note to (j 443. It was not so in the editions published during his life.
Exceptions overruled.