Court Opinion

ID: 7160106
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:15:30.538146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:20.848944
License: Public Domain

Bullard, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff, in his own right, and as curator of the succession of his fo'rmer partner, alleges, that in 1835, they purchased of the defendant a schooner, called the “ Pomona,” for twelve hundred dollars, on certain terms of credit, and that they continued to navigate the same in the coasting trade, until some time in January, 1837, when his partner, Facundus, died, at which time one-half of the price had been paid; that the defendant, at that time, without right or authority, took possession of the schooner, and claims to be the owner of her, and has refused to deliver her, notwithstanding his tender to pay the balance due of (he purchase money. He prays that the defendant may be condemned to restore the schooner, or to pay her value, together with damages, for the use and detention of the same.
The defendant admits that he sold the schooner to the plaintiff, but not to him and Facundus, as alleged ; and that two of the notes given for the price, remain in his possession, unpaid. He alleges, that the plaintiff afterwards agreed to' retrocede to him the said schooner, in discharge of the last notes, amounting to six hundred' dollars together; one hundred and forty-five dollars and seventy-eight cents, which he had paid on account of the vessel. He denies that the plaintiff ever offered to pay him the balance of the *521price, and he offers again, in his answer, to give up the schooner, on the payment of six hundred dollars, together with the amount due for advances.
It is not clearly shown, whether Meyers alone, or Meyers and Facundus, made the purchase, although it appears that she was navigated for their joint account, and commanded by Facundus up to the time of his death. The production of the notes yet remaining in the hands of the defendant, would probably have shown who was the real owner. It is for Meyers to prove that the schooner belonged to the firm by purchase. It is certainly proved, that on the death of Facundus, the schooner remained a considerable time abandoned in the basin ; that the defendant took charge of her, without any pretension as owner, but rather, as negotionm gestor. One witness testifies, positively, that the captain of the port came to the defendant, while the schooner was in a state of abandonment, and inquired what was to be done with her, and the defendant replied, that she did not belong to him. He further states, that some time afterwards, Meyers came to the defendant, Guesnard, and asked him to take the schooner back for what he owed, as he had no money to pay bis notes. Guesnard told him to sign an act of abandonment, and lie would do so. Meyers said he would. The act was drawn up, but plaintiff went away, and never signed it. The witness further states,' that" about ten months afterwards, the plaintiff came to Guesnard, and asked him to give back the schooner. The latter reminded him that he had abandoned her to him. A dicussion then arose between them, and Guesnard asked him why he put it off so long — why he did not come before, and claim the vessel 1
The District Court concluded, fromjbis evidence, that the defendant had made good his defence, and gave judgment against the plaintiff, who thereupon appealed. His counsel has insisted strenuously, that the statement of this single witness is not corroborated by any circumstances, and is consequently insufficient under article 2257, of the Louisiana *522Code, which requires, in cases of this kind, “ at least one credible witness, and other corroborating circumstances.”
It is clear, that at first, after the death of Facundus, the defendant disclaimed any title to the schooner; that a guardian was appointed by the captain of the port; that afterwards, Guesnard paid the fees of the guardian, and other charges on the vessel, instead of suing for the balance due him, and that about ten months elapsed before the second demand was made, and that, in the mean time, Guesnard was in possession, the reputed owner. Nearly a year had elapsed before the institution of this suit. Most of these circumstances are entirely consistent with the testimony of the witness, who swears to the retrocession ; and the conduct of both parties seems to us to confirm the statement of the witness. If Guesnard intended wrongfully to take justice into his own hands, and convert the schooner to his own use, without the consent of the plaintiff, why did he not do so at first 1 Why did he pay the charges on the vessel 1 And, especially, why did the plaintiff so long desist from setting up a claim, when he knew that the defendant was in possession of the schooner % On the other hand, it may be said, that the circumstance of Meyer’s leaving his notes in the hands of Guesnard, is inconsistent with the hypothesis of a rescission of the sale ; that he would naturally have withdrawn them. Such a presumption may be fairly said to be counterbalanced by the fact, that the holder of the notes neither put them in circulation, nor attempted to coerce their payment.
Upon the whole, we conclude, that although the case remains somewhat doubtful, yet the preponderance appears to be in favor of the defendant, and as the District Court pronounced in his favor, we do not feel authorized to reverse the judgment.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed, with costs.