Court Opinion

ID: 7935437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:09:01.334099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:31.350668
License: Public Domain

Grant, J.
Beplevin for a horse.
In 1888, one Samuel Mannausau brought an action of replevin for this same horse, in a justice’s court in the county of Wayne, against the plaintiff in this case. In the former suit judgment was rendered for the defendant, who took judgment' for the return of the property. Samuel Mannausau, upon the delivery of the property to him by the officer, took it to the county of Washtenaw, and sold it to the defendant. McGlora Mannausau, being unable to obtain the property under an execution in Wayne county, went to the defendant in Washtenaw county, made a demand of defendant for its possession, and, upon his refusal, brought this action of replevin. Verdict and' judgment went for the plaintiff.
Samuel Mannausau did not, by his action of replevin, obtain the title to the property; The Michigan replevin statute expressly provides for a return of the property to the defendant if he so elect. The bond also expressly provides for a return of the property. These provisions of the law were idle if it were the intention to give to the plaintiff the absolute right to a disposal of the property. Although, the property is delivered to the *545plaintiff, still it remains in the custody of the law, and, if judgment be for the defendant, he- may recover it by execution if found within the jurisdiction of the defendant: if not, then by replevin. If a person has no title, he cannot obtain one by suing out a writ of replevin, and, having no title, he cannot convey one. It is immaterial, therefore, whether the defendant purchased in good faith or not. Possession is no more conclusive evidence of title in such case than in any other.
Cary v. Hewitt, 26 Mich. 236, is not decisive in favor of the defendant. The question was not directly involved, and the facts in that case were entirely different from those in the present case. The language there used must be construed in reference to the facts. The Court there hold that the bond “in a special se?ise”. becomes a substitute for the goods. This is very far from saying that the title had passed.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.
The other Justices concurred.