Hart v. Hart

• Decision Date: 19 April 1882
• Citation: 48 Mich. 175,12 N.W. 33
• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Parties: HART v. HART.

12 N.W. 33

48 Mich. 175

HART v. HART.

Supreme Court of Michigan

April 19, 1882

In an action of trover for hoops cut from lands, and where the title to the lands is not in controversy, a party may, for the purpose of identifying and proving his title to personal property, show that it was taken off certain lands, and that he was the owner thereof, and this does not bring the matter of title to lands in question.

Error to Lapeer.

Geer &amp Williams, for plaintiff in error.

C.P Thomas, for defendant in error.

MARSTON J.

This cause was commenced in justice court; the action was trover for the conversion of a quantity of hoops and no reference to the lands upon which they were cut was made in the declaration. The defendant pleaded the general issue, a trial was had, judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff and an appeal taken to the circuit. On the trial in the circuit the defendant claimed that these hoops were cut upon lands belonging to the estate of Alvin N. Hart deceased, and he offered in evidence the patent from the United States to Hart of these lands, and a power of attorney from the heirs of said Hart deceased, of which plaintiff was one to him the defendant to sell and convey all or any of the property real or personal belonging to the said heirs. These offers were objected to as being inadmissible under the pleadings and rejected.

We are of opinion that the court erred in rejecting this evidence. There was really no controversy concerning the title to lands. A party may, for the purpose of identifying and proving his title to personal property, show that it was take from off certain lands and that he was the owner thereof, but this does not bring the matter of title to lands in question. It would not follow in such a case that any controversy whatever would arise concerning the title to the lands, or that as between the parties the jury would have to pass upon a question of conflicting titles. In this case the plaintiff had joined with his co-tenants in executing and delivering to the defendant a power of attorney authorizing the latter to sell the real and personal property belonging to or owned by them as heirs at law of Alvin N. Hart, and under this authority the defendant clearly had the right to show that the hoops in question came from off lands which the deceased had owned. For this purpose the pleadings were ample. The judgment must be reversed with costs and a new trial...