Woodward v. Felts — 35 N.Y. St. Rep. 520

Majority

p. 520

Sarah L. Woodward, App’lt, v. John M. Felts, Sheriff, Resp’t.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department,

Filed February 4, 1891.)

Headnote

Conversion—Ownership oe personal property.

The plaintiff testified that at the time a span of horses were bought by her husband, she loaned him $140.00; that this team was exchanged for another more valuable, and the difference in value was paid by him ; that he then said the second team was hers ; that she considered him still her debtor for the loan; also, that she'did not claim title to the horses through or under him. Held, that Hiere was no question for the jury as to plaintiff’s ownership; that it was inconsistent in her to claim that the husband was her agent in the purchase and also her debtor for the money loaned him to make the purchase.

p. 521

Appeal by plaintiff from a judgment dismissing the complaint

Hawver & Cochrane (A. V. S. Cochrane, of counsel), for app’lt; Carrington & Emerson, for resp’t.

The defendant under execution against Perry Woodward, plaintiff’s husband, sold a mare February 21, 1889. The plaintiff claims that the mare was hers and sues to recover its value. She was nonsuited at her trial and appeals. The question is whether there was evidence of her ownership which should have been submitted to the jury.

She says her husband kept a store in 1885. That she furnished most of the money and considered that they were owners in common; and, as she afterwards states the matter, that she loaned him the money. The theory of a loan seems to be finally relied on. She says that she loaned him $150 to buy a span of horses, and then loaned him $140 more. She says that she considered him her debtor.

Her husband bought a horse of Myers and traded that horse with one Mink for a team, paying the balance in cash.

The mare in suit was obtained by trading the old team with Johnson, and getting a new team, of which the mare was one. Her husband paid something to boot. When Johnson came and left the team, plaintiff was present, and her husband said he wanted her to understand that this was now her team. She said she wanted it understood that this was her team.

She testifies that she never got title to the mare from her husband ; that she does not claim that her husband transferred it to her; that the only claim of title she has rests on the transaction above stated.

The plaintiff further testifies that, when the first team was bought, she advanced $140 and the difference between $140 and $225 was paid by her husband; that he said it was her team.

She further testifies that her husband owned the horse he got from Myers; that she loaned him at different times $150 in all, without any reference to her purchase of the horse; that when he got the team at the time she let him have $140, he continued to use it in his business.

It is plain from her testimony that she never owned the horse bought of Myers. The loan to her husband of $150 was made without any reference to that horse.

Subsequently she states that she loaned him the $140. If this be true, then he was not her agent in the purchase of the Link team. For in that case the money was his, and the purchase was not made as her agent

At the close of the case the plaintiff asl^ed to go to the jury on the question whether the husband was not acting as her agent in the purchase of the first team and in subsequent transactions. Bat there seems to be no evidence of such agency. She says she told her husband that he could have the money, $140, if she could have the team. But if he were her agent then she would have been the purchaser without such arrangement. And her

p. 522

testimony that there was such conversation contradicts the position that her husband was her agent.

Taking her testimony most favorably for her, it seems that before borrowing and before purchasing the Link team her husband promised verbally that the team should be hers. Then he bought and continued in possession.

Afterwards her husband traded the Link team with Johnson for another team ; and paid about -$45. The plaintiff says that when the team was delivered she told Johnson the team was hers.

This statement of course gave her no title. She says her husband told her it was her team. But it remained in her husband’s possession and use. Her husband remains indebted to her for the borrowed money, for she continually asserts that she loaned him the money. She states further that she does not claim that her husband ever transferred to her the horse in question. She does not claim it as security for the loans. And as she does not claim in her testimony that she paid Johnson for the team or that she bought the team of him, she fails to show any title. She cannot hold the inconsistent positions of having lent money to her husband and of thereby being the owner of the property taken by him in exchange for other .property partly paid for by such borrowed money.

While undoubtedly there may be dealings between husband and wife ; lending of money by her to him; purchases by him as her agent; possession by him of property belonging to her and the like; yet such transactions, for the protection of his creditors, should be clear and distinct in their character.

We think the judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Mayham, J., concurs.