Case Name: Hastings against Wood and Curtis
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1816-10
Citations: 13 Johns. 482
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hastings against Wood and Curtis.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 482–483

Head Matter:
Hastings against Wood and Curtis.
In a declaration in trespass on the case, it was alleged that the deferidant,bv false represen tations, procured ceitain cattle belonging to the plaintiff to fee seized by a custom house officer, under pretence that they were about to be smuggled into Canada, and then proceeded to state that in consequence of those representations, *he cattle mere convert eil and disposed of to Hie ■use of Hit Untied States; it was held, that after a verdict for the plaintiff, it could not he intended from this allegation, that-the caiile were condemned as forfeited to the United
IN ERROR, from the court of common pleas of ti e county of Franklin,
This was an action of trespass on the case, brought by the defendants in error against the plaintiff in. error.' The declaration contained two counts : 1. A count in trover, for five yoke of oxen and five cows. 2. A special count, which state.d that the plaintiffs below were possessed, as of their own property, of one yoke of oxen and one cow, which were feeding on the commons and public highway of the town of Constable, and that the defendant took up the said cattle, and impounded them upon his .own premises; and while they were in his possession insinuated, represented, and affirmed, to one Danforth, then an. inspector of the customs for the district of Champlain, that they-were intended to be smuggled, and had been smuggled, into Canadaby reason of which false representations, Danforth was induced to seize the cattle, as forfeited to the use of the United States, and, as inspector of the customs, did seize them, still being in the possession of the defendant, and at his instance; in consequence of which false and malicious representations, they were converted and disposed of to the use of the United States,
The cause ivas tried at the June term, 1815, of the court below. At the trial, the plaintiff having closed his evidence, the defendant moved for a nonsuit; but the court permitted the cause to go to the juay, who found a verdict for the defendants in error. The counsel for the plaintiff in error excepted to the opinion of the court, and the bill of exceptions, with the record and pleadings, were removed into this court, by writ, of error,
Wendell, for the plaintiff -in error,.
Walwmih, contra.

Opinion:
Per Curiam,.
This case comes before the court on a writ of error, to the common pleas of Franklin county. The record is accompanied by a bill of exceptions. But the counsel, on the argument, abandoned all objections growing out of the bill of exceptions, and relied entirely upon an alleged defect in the se cond count in the declaration. This is a special count, for having fraudulently procured certain cattle belonging to the plaintiff to be seized by a custom house officer, under a pretence that they were about to be smuggled into Canada, contrary to the laws of the United States ; and alleged, that in consequence of such fraudulent conduct, the said cattle were converted arid disposed of to the use of the United States. This, as is contended on the part of the defendant, is equivalent to an averment, that the cattle were condemned as forfeited to the United States, and, of course, that the plaintiff had no interest or title to them. This allegation will not fairly warrant the construction, that the' cattle had been condemned as forfeited, but only that by the representations of the defendant, they had been seized and taken possession of by an officer of the United States, under a pretence of their being forfeited, and by such seizure were converted and disposed of to the use of the United States, and the plaintiff thereby deprived of them; We ought not to pretend, after verdict, that there was any proof or suggestion- upon the trial of a condemnation. The judgment of the court below must, accordingly, be affirmed. ,
Judgment affirmed.