If someone is moving animals (like horses, cows, or hogs) through Missouri and accidentally takes along animals belonging to someone else — driving them more than 3 miles away from where they belong — the owner of those animals has the right to go get them back. The owner can also sue and get paid twice what each animal is worth. However, if the drover had no place within 3 miles to safely leave the animals, and drops them off at the very next house or farm, then the owner cannot sue for damages.
537.300. for driving away of others' stock by s. — Whenever any drover, or other person or persons engaged in driving horses, , cattle, hogs or sheep through any part of the state of Missouri, shall drive off or shall and willingly suffer or to be driven off from the of any citizen of said state, or from the in which stock of any citizen usually , to any distance exceeding three miles from such premises or range, any horses, mules, , hogs or sheep belonging to such citizen, it shall be lawful for the owner of any such stock so driven off to follow and re the same wherever it may be found; and for the taking and driving away, or suffering or permitting to be driven away, of such stock, the said owner shall be entitled to recover from any said drover, or other person or persons guilty thereof, for each head of horses, mules, neat cattle, hogs or sheep so driven away, twice the value thereof, to be recovered in in the of the proper county before either a and such case may be heard and determined by an under chapter 517 procedures without special or regardless of the amount of the claim; provided, however, that if the drover shall not pass any where there is a sufficient for the safekeeping of such animal or animals within said three miles, and shall separate said cattle or other stock from the drove at the next habitation, in such case said to the owner of said property.
(RSMo 1939 § 14495, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 12821; 1919 § 4311; 1909 § 812
Effective 1-02-79
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.