Daggett v. Robins

Stevens, J.

This was an action of replevin, commenced by the appellant against the defendant for certain goods and chattels, which he alleged the defendant unjustly and unlawfully took and detained from him. The defendant pleaded in bar that the plaintiff in the year 1829, in the Vigo Circuit Court, by an action of replevin against the defendant, replevied the same goods and chattels out of the defendant’s possession; and that at the May term, A. D. 1830, of said Circuit Court, the said plaintiff was nonsuit, and the defendant had judgment for a return of the goods and chattels; and that they were returned by tbe sheriff of the county. To this plea the plaintiff demurred, and the demurrer was overruled by the Court and judgment rendered for the defendant.

The principal question is, whether a nonsuit in replevin is a bar to a second replevin. By the common law it would be no bar, but the statute of Westminster 2, (13 Ed. 1. st. 1.) chap. 2, restrains the plaintiff in replevin from a second replevin after nonsuit, but permits him to proceed with his first action by a writ of second delivery, and if he should become nonsuit after the writ of second delivery, no further proceedings can be bad. The counsel for the appellant insists, that the record in this case shows it to be an action founded on a statute of the state, authorising the action of replevin in all cases where goods and chattels are unlawfully taken or detained, and not governed by the statute of Westminster, which relates only to replevins founded on a distress for rent. The record does not show whether the action is founded on a distress for rent or not, nor is it material that it should; the action in either case, when once in Court, is governed by the same principles and rules of practice. The record in an action of replevin never shows whether it is bottomed on a distress for rent or not, unless the defendant in replevin spreads that fact upon the record by his avowry, cognizance, or other defence which he may make to the action. It is true, that at the time those proceedings were had in the Vigo Circuit Court, there were two statutes authorising the action of replevin, the one founded on a distress for rent,and’the other regulating the proceedings, when the action is founded on any other unlawful and unjust, taking or detaining of goods and chattels. But these acts only provide for the issue and service of the writ, the disposition to be made of the goods and chattels replevied, and the condition and effect of the replevinbond, áte. The pleadings, prosecution, and proceedings in each action, and the judgment rendered, and the execution awarded, are the same, except as to costs.

The only action now in use is in the detinuit, and is an action that lies not only in the case of a wrongful distress for rent, but in all cases where goods and chattels are tortiously and unjustly taken and detained; and our statutes above noticed do not materially change the general doctrine on the subject. The passage in Blackstoné’s Commentaries, which says that replevin only lies in.case of an unlawful distresses unwarranted, and is contradicted by the best authorities in England and America. Vide 2 Saund. Plead, and Evidence, 760.—1 Chitt. Plead. 119.—Bishop v. Montague, Cro. Eliz. 824.—Pangburn v. Patridge, 7 Johns. Rep. 140.—Shannon v. Shannon, 1 Schoales & Lef. 327.—Ilsley et al. v. Stubbs, 5 Mass. 283. The action of replevin is founded on a tortious taking and detaining, and is analogous to an action of trespass, but is in part a proceeding in rem, to regain possession of the goods and chattels; and in parta proceeding in personam, to recover damages for the caption and detention, but not for the value thereof. Vide Hopkins v. Hopkins, 10 Johns. Rep. 373.—1 Chitt. Plead. 119.—1 Saund. Rep. 347. b. note 2.—Fletcher v. Wilkins et al. 6 East, 283 (1).

In England there are two kinds of replevin; first, by common law, when the writ issues out of the Court of chancery; second, by the statute of Marlbridge, 52 Hen. 3, which enables the sheriff to make replevins without any writ, and then, having taken security, proceed on the complaint of the plaintiff, either by parol or precept to his bailiff, and if a claim of property is put in, the writ de proprietate probanda at once issues, and is tried by an inquest, and if found for the plaintiff, the sheriff goes on to make the replevin, but if for the defendant, he forbears. If the writ issues out of chancery at common law, it is only directory to the sheriff to make replevin and proceed in the county Court, and is not a returnable process. In that case, the writ de proprietate probanda cannot issue until a pluries is issued and returned into the King’s Bench or the Common Pleas, when a judicial writ may issue. Any of these suits are removable by either party into the King’s Bench or Common Pleas, to be there determined. If the replevin be by writ in the county Court, it must be removed by a pone; if by plaint, it must be removed by a recordari facias loquelam; if in a Court of record that may hold pleas in replevin, it must be removed by a writ of certiorari; and if in the Court of another lord, it may be removed by recordari to the sheriff.

This much of the law of England is stated to show, that there can be no replevin under either the common law, or the statute of M.arlbridge, without the aid of our statutes. The English law is founded on the usages and customs of that kingdom, growing out of the relation of landlord and tenant under the feudal system and the aristocratical doctrines of primogeniture, and is local to that kingdom and cannot be in force here. There are no two kinds of replevin in this state as in England, one by plaint and another by writ; nor is the writ in replevin liable to be defeated by a claim of property as it is in England, where such claim as before observed puts an end to the suit, unless it is revived by the writ de proprietate probanda. Our writs of replevin are returnable writs, and the party is required to appear on the return day. They issue out of the Circuit Courts as other writs do, and are there returnable; and the suit is docketed,'proceeded in, set down for trial and tried, agreeably to the laws and practice of the Court as other actions are. The statute of Westminster 2, (13 Ed. 1. st. 1.) chap. 2, is applicable only to actions of replevin founded on a distress for rent, and is not of a general nature, but is local to that kingdom and inconsistent with the laws, practice, and policy of this state, and therefore not in force. The Court, therefore, considers the plea of the defendant in this behalf insufficient in law to bar the plaintiff’s action, and that the Circuit Court erred in overruling the demurrer thereto.

Huntington and Cone, for the appellant.

Farrington and Kinney, for the appellee.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.

(1) The action of replevin, in this state, is not confined, as it is in England, to cases where there has been an actual and torongful taking of the plaintiff’s goods; but it lies, also, in cases where the goods of another are lawfully acquired and, unjustly and unlawfully detained. Vide R. C. 1831, p. 424.—Chinn v. Russell, ante, p. 172, and note 3.—Parsley v. Huston, May term, 1834.