Hoester v. Teppe

• Decision Date: 14 June 1887
• Parties: JOSEPH HOESTER, Appellant, v. JOSEPH TEPPE, Respondent.
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

27 Mo.App. 207

JOSEPH HOESTER, Appellant, v. JOSEPH TEPPE, Respondent.

Court of Appeals of Missouri, St. Louis.

June 14, 1887

APPEAL from the St. Charles County Circuit Court, W. W. EDWARDS Judge.

Reversed and remanded.

LOUIS H. BREKER and THEO. F. MCDEARMON, for the appellant: The jury should have been instructed to assess, and they should have assessed, the value of the property at the time of making the assessment. Richey v. Burns, 83 Mo. 362; Mix v Kepner, 81 Mo. 93; Chapman v. Kerr, 80 Mo. 158; Pope v. Jenkins, 30 Mo. 528. The value of the property exceeded the justice's jurisdiction. Moore v. Sandusky, 46 Mo. 377; Butler v. Ivie, 30 Mo 479; Scott v. Russell, 39 Mo. 407; Shoales v. Freeman, 81 Mo. 542. The true measure of damages is six per cent. on the assessed value of the property, and any damage or depreciation in value, occasioned by the acts of the plaintiff. Hutchins v. Buckner, 3 Mo.App. 594; Jackson v. Allen, 12 Mo.App. 566; Pope v. Jenkins, 30 Mo. 528; Woodburn v. Cogdal, 39 Mo. 222; Miller v. Whitson, 40 Mo. 97.

C. DAUDT, for the respondent: The appellant complains of the admission of the defendant's testimony on the measure of damages. The only evidence introduced was as to the value of the use of the mules, during their detention by the plaintiff. The appellant insists that the true measure of damages is six per cent. on the assessed value of the property. The contrary doctrine is held in Pope v. Jenkins (30 Mo. 528), in which case the holder, in the event of failure, is expressly held liable for hire. The decisions cited by the appellant in 39 Mo. 222 and 40 Mo. 97, have been expressly overruled in Chapman v. Kerr (80 Mo. 158), and the doctrine in Pope v. Jenkins, reinstated. Mix v. Kepner, 81 Mo. 93; Burkeholder v. Rudrow, 19 Mo.App. 61; M'f'g Co. v. Bean, 20 Mo.App. 110.

OPINION

LEWIS P. J.

Replevin was instituted before a justice of the peace for the recovery of two mules and harness, one two-horse wagon, and three chairs. The property was taken by the constable from the defendant, and delivered to the plaintiff. The value was stated in the complaint at one hundred and fifty dollars, and damages for the detention at fifty dollars. Before the justice, the defendant moved to dismiss, for want of jurisdiction. This motion was overruled, and the plaintiff thereupon, by leave of the justice, struck out from his complaint the claim for fifty dollars damages. Judgment was given for the defendant, and the plaintiff appealed.

In the circuit court, the plaintiff's testimony tended to show that he and the defendant, being about to go into farming together, visited St. Louis, where the plaintiff purchased, and paid for, five mules, including the two here sued for, the harness, and the wagon. The defendant's testimony tended to show that it was he, and not the plaintiff, who bought the mules in controversy. The jury found in their verdict that the plaintiff was owner of the wagon, and entitled to its possession, but was not the owner, or entitled to possession of the other property. The value of the articles thus awarded to the defendant was assessed at two hundred and seventy dollars, and his damages at one hundred and fifty-two dollars. The court, of its own motion, gave, with other instructions, the following:

" If the finding be for the plaintiff, the form of the verdict will be: We, the jury, find that the property described and taken by the writ was the property of the plaintiff at the commencement of this suit.

And if the finding be for the defendant the form of the verdict will be: We, the jury, find that the property described and taken by the writ was not the property of the plaintiff at the commencement of this suit; that the value of such property at the time of the taking was $______; and that the defendant has sustained damages in the sum of $______, on account of the taking and detention.

And the jurors are instructed that if, under the instructions and evidence, some of the property...