Boulware v. Craddock
Before: Shafter
Synopsis
Appeal from the District Court, Tenth Judicial District, Sutter County.
This was an action brought against Craddock, a Constable in Sutter County, and his bondsman, to recover the value of two horses alleged to have been wrongfully seized and sold by Craddock as such Constable.
The plaintiff was the owne'r of the horses, and in May, 1865, they strayed away from his premises, and continued to graze on uninclosed lands until July, 1865, when one Wm. Eaton took them into his possession. In August, 1865, defendant Craddock, as Constable, received an execution in favor of George Fry and against said Eaton, and finding the horses in Eaton’s possession, and supposing they were his property, seized them, and on the 14th of August sold them as Eaton’s property. The plaintiff was not informed of the' seizure and sale of his horses until fifteen days after they had been sold, when he informed Craddock that he owned the horses, and asked him where they were, and Craddock told him who the purchaser was and where he lived. Plaintiff did not make any demand on Craddock for the horses or their value before bringing suit.
The Court below held that a demand was necessary to entitle plaintiff to recover, and gave judgment for defendant.
Plaintiff appealed.
By the Court, Shafter, J.: In an action against a Sheriff for a seizure and conversion of the plaintiff’s property, taken under process against a third person, a demand upon the defendant prior to the bringing of the suit is not necessary to a recovery. The Sheriff having misapplied his process, and whether by mistake or design will make no difference, stands in the position of every other trespasser, and is liable to an action the instant the trespass is committed. The circumstance that the property.was in the possession of the execution debtor at the date of the seizure amounts to nothing except upon proof of fraud or commixture. The rule of the common law is correctly stated in Ledley v. Hays, 1 Cal. 160, and the correctness of that decision is impliedly recognized in Daumiel v. Gorham, 6 Cal. 44. The statement of facts in Taylor v. Seymour, 6 Cal. 512, is imperfect; but if that case is to be understood as laying down a different rule, then we prefer to follow Ledley v. Hays. (See also Codman v. Freeman, 3 Cush. 314; and Ackee v. Campbell, 23 Wend. 371.)
The judgment is reversed, and the Court below is directed to render judgment upon the findings in favor of the plaintiff.
Mr. Justice Rhodes expressed no opinion.
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