Page:North Dakota Reports (vol. 2).pdf/35

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SANFORD v. DULUTH & DAKOTA ELECATOR CO.
9

bushels of the wheat described in the mortgage; that said defendant received and took the same into its elevator at Sheldon, N. D., and by its duly authorized agent issued tickets or warehouse receipts therefor in the name of the mortgagor, Carl Krager; that said defendant, by the direction of said Kruger, delivered said tickets to the defendant Bell, who claimed the wheat represented thereby; that said Bell presented said tickets for payment to E. B. Bruce, the paying agent of said elevator company, and received from him in payment therefor, on October 3 or 4, 1889, the sum of one hundred and thirty-four dollars and twenty cents." There was no competent evidence of actual notice to defendant of the existence of the mort- gage, and the agent who received the wheat, and the agent who cashed the wheat tickets, both testified that they knew nothing of the mortgage when the wheat was received and paid for. No demand or refusal to deliver the wheat was shown at the trial, and it is conceded that no demand was ever made upon the elevator company. At the close of the testimony the defendant the elevator company moved the court to direct a verdict in its favor upon the ground that there was no evidence to "justify a verdict against such defendant, and specifying the following points: "First, there is no evidence to show any conversion by said defendant of the property in question; second, there is no evidence of any demand made upon said defendant for the property in question before the commencement of the action." The motion was denied, and said defendent excepted to the ruling. The said defend- ant then asked the court to submit to the jury the question of the conversion of the property in controversy, and to instruct the jury as to the law upon the subject. The court refused to so instruct the jury, and assigned as a reason for such a refusal that the undisputed testimony showed that the wheat in question was converted by said defendant. Defendant excepted to such ruling. The case was given to the jury, and the verdict and judgment were for the plaintiff. There was a bill of exceptions settled and filed, which was annexed to the judgment roll. The defendant the elevator company without moving for a new trial in the court below, appeals from the judgment. The