The plaintiff claimed certain corn as rent owing to him by Blackman Godwin, and alleged that Black-man and Isham Godwin had taken possession of the same that it was of the value of $150, and demanded judgment that the possession of the corn be delivered to him, or if that could not be done, then for the value. (C. C. P., sec. 176, et seq.) The cause of action accrued after C. C. P.
The defendants’ answer, “ that no part of the complaint is true.” This answer was a sham one, and might have been, set aside on motion. See Flack v. Dawson, at this term. But-as the parties went to trial on it without objection, and distinct issues were submitted to the jury, the irregularity may be considered waived.
The defendants also set up what they call a counterclaim, viz: that the corn belonged to Elias Godwin. But C. C. P., sec. 5, 86, provides that such a claim must by made by the third party. In general, jus tertii cannot be set up as a defence by the defendant, unless he can in some way connect himself with the third party.
*471Upon the trial the jury found :
1. That no rent was owing to the plaintiff.
2. That the plaintiff received under his proceedings 125 ■ bushels of corn, worth $1.25 per bushel.
3. They assess the defendants damages for the taking and withholding to six per cent, on the value of the corn from the time of the taking. Judgment was rendered accordingly against plaintiff, and he appealed.
It is proper to notice here that the case is rendered Unnecessarily complex and voluminous, by setting out the evidence upon the first issue, upon which no question arises, and by repeating the pleadings and issues after they had once appeared in the record proper.
The plaintiff moved for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered testimony, and contends that the Judge erred in law in receiving counter affidavits from the defendants, denying the truth of the evidence newly discovered, although not denying that the newly discovered witnesses would testify as plaintiff alleged, and in not granting the new trial. We are of opinion that, the granting of a new trial for such a cause, must necessarily always, or nearly always, be within the discretion of the presiding Judge, and that his decision can never, or very rarely in such a case, be on a naked matter of law or of legal ■ inference, so as to authorize an appeal. The considerations which would enter into the decision of a Judge on such an application would be: 1. Will the newly discovered witnesses testify as alleged? which may generally be assumed on the faith of the affiant. 2. Is the new evidence material? 3. Is it probably true? looking at all the evidence on the trial. 4: Has the party used due diligence in discovering it ?
It is perhaps possible to imagine a case in which all these considerations might be conceded for the • party, and the refusal of a Judge in such a case would make a question of law; but is scarcely possible to conceive of a refusal by *472a Judge in exactly such a case. The present case certainly does not come within the example. The propriety of the decision evidently rested on questions of fact, upon which this Court could not review the Judge below. This exception of the plaintiff is overruled.
"We now take up the main exception of the plaintiff, viz .* that the jury under the instructions of the Court, assessed the value of the property at the time it was taken into possession by the plaintiff, and not at the time of the trial. "We think the Judge erred in this respect.
The C. C. P., in secs, from 176 to 187, covers completely the subject matter of the Rev. Code, chap. 98; consequently it must be regarded as a repeal of that chapter.
Scott v. Eliot, 63 N. C. Rep. 215, was a decision founded on the Revised Code. "What is said in it upon the particular words of that Act is therefore not applicable to this casé. But there is no essential difference between the two statutes, and the general principles asserted in that case are equally applicable here.
Replevin, (and the action of claim and delivery, is but a longer name for the same thing,) is founded on the right of the plaintiff to the possession of the property. If the defendant also claims the possession, the main issue is on that right, and the party establishing it will have judgment to retain, or to be restored to the possession, as the case may be. To avoid confusion, we will confine ourselves to a case like the present where the plaintiff obtained the' possession, but failed to establish his right to it. In such case it was the right of the defendant to have judgment for the return of the property in specie, if such return could be had, or if it could not be, then for the value of the property. And it is equally the right of the plaintiff to return the' property in specie, if he can. It follows that the value must be assessed as at the time of the trial, for the value is only to stand in lieu of the property, in case it shall turn out that *473it cannot be returned; and the plaintiff cannot compel the defendant to accept the assessed value if he can return the property in specie; nor can the defendant compel the plaintiff to pay the value, if he offers to return the property. This is so, notwithstanding any deterioration in the article by decay, or external injury, or fall in price, so long as it remains in specie. Probably if it appeared on the trial that the property had been destroyed, so that it could not be returned in specie, the jury would be justified in so finding, and in giving the value of the property at the time of the taking and interest thereon, as the damages for the taking and detention. But that was not the case here. But it does not follow that the owner is to accept the property (deteriorated perhaps) in satisfaction of the injury. He is entitled to full indemnity. After finding the value of the property, the jury should proceed to find the damages from the taking, and detention, an element of which is the difference in the value between the time of taking, and the time of the trial. Rowley v. Gibbs, 14 John. R. 385, (that is, provided the value be less at the latter time; if it be greater the rule would be different, but it is unnecessary to consider that case, except to exclude it from the rule.) The jury may, if they think proper, add to this, damages on the basis of interest on the value of the property during the detention, although the calculation need not always be on the basis of interest, and in many cases could not properly be.
Per Curiam. Judgment -reversed, and venire de novo.