Fisher v. Woolery

Opinion by RAY, 0.

This is an action of replevin by the mortgagee to recover possession of three horses. Plaintiff obtained possession under the writ of replevin and retained possession. Judgment was for the defendant in the sum of $325.

But two grounds are urged for the reversal of the judgment: (1) That the court erred in instructing the jury as follows:

“Should your verdict be for the defendants, and j;ou further believe that at the time of the institution of this suit the horses mentioned were taken from the defendants by a writ of replevin, then .your verdict should be for them in such sum as you find to be the reasonable market value of such horses at any time after they were taken."

(2) Misconduct of the attorney fo,r defendants in his closing argument to the jury.

Plaintiff, in his petition, alleged the three horses to be of the value of $75 each. The defendants, in their cross-petition, alleged the three horses to be of the value of $250, and asked $75 damages for the wrongful taking and retention of the horses. One of the defendants, in response to questions as to the value of the horses at the time they were taken, under the writ of replevin, said (hat two of the horses were of the value of $75 each and one was of the value of $100, making the total value of the three horses $250. Other witnesses for the defendants were asked the value o£ the horses without any time being fixed. The defendants’ valuations were from $75 to $100 each. No evidence was adduced by the defendants tending to show that the horses were of any greater value at any time after the taking than they were at the time they were taken under the writ of replevin.

Plaintiff in error offered no evidence as to the value. The verdict was for $325, and from a careful reading' of the testimony of the witnesses upon that subject we think that verdict was intended to represent the value of the horses at the time they were taken under the writ of replevin, and $75 damages for the wrongful taking and retention. Also, the record fails to disclose that' any exception was saved to the instruction complained of or that a proper instruction was requested. In these circum *111 stances it does not apirear that the plaintiff was deprived of any substantial right and the judgment should not be reversed because of such erroneous instruction.

Neither plaintiff in error's brief or the record contains the language complained of as used by the defendants’ attorney in his closing argument. In order for us to determine whether the language used was prejudicial to the rights of the plaintiff, it would be necessary for it to he set out in the record.

The judgment should be affirmed.

By the Court: It is so ordered.