CONVERSION (Lat. con, with, together, vertere, to turn ; conversio, a turning to, with, together).
In Equity. The exchange of one species of property for another, which takes place under some circumstances in the considera tion of the law, although no such change has actually taken place.
Land is held to be converted into money, in equity, when the owner has contracted to sell ; and if he die before making a con veyance, his executors will be entitled to the money, and not his heirs. 2 Vern. Ch. 52; 1 W. Blackst. 129.
Money may be held to be converted into land under various circumstances: as where, for example, a man dies before a conveyance is made to him of land which he has bought. 1 P. Will. Ch. 176; 10 Pet. 563 ; Bouvier, Inst. Index.
At Law. An unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right of ownership over goods or personal chattels belonging to an other, to the alteration of their condition or the exclusion of the owner's rights. 44 Me. 197 ; 36 N. H. 311.
A constructive conversion takes place when a person does such acts in reference to the goods or personal chattels of another as amount, in view of the law, to appropriation of the property to himself.
A direct conversion takes place when a per son actually appropriates the property of an other to his own beneficial use and enjoyment, or to that of a third person, or destroys it, or alters its nature.
2. Every such unauthorized taking of per sonal property, 2 J. J. Marsh. Ky. 84; 2 Penn. 416 ; 1 Bail. So. C. 546; 1 Nott & M'C. So. C. 592 ; 10 Johns. N. Y. 172 ; 5 Cow. N. Y. 323 ; 6 Hill, N. Y. 425 ; 13 N. II. 494, and all intermeddling with it beyond the extent of authority conferred, in case a limited author ity over it has been given, 1 Mete. Mass. 555; 14 Vt. 367 ; 1 Ga. 381, with intent so to ap ply or dispose of it as to alter its condition or interfere with the owner's dominion, 4 Pick. Mass. 249 ; 18 id. 227 ; 8 Mees. & W. Exch. 540; 1 N. W. Chipm. Vt. 241, is a conversion, including a taking by those claiming without right to be assignees in bankruptcy, 3 Brod.
& B. 2; using a thing without license of the owner, 8 Vt. 281; 6 Hill, N. Y. 425 ; 5 Ill. 495 ; 44 Me. 497 ; 11 Rich. So. C. 267 ; 5 Sneed, Tenn. 261; 24 Mo. 86 ; or in excess of the license, 16 Vt. 138 ; 5 Mass. 104; 4 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 397 ; 5 Du. N. Y. 40; 5 Jones, No. C. 122; misuse or detention by a finder or other bailee, 2 Penn. 416 ; 5 Mass. 104; 3 Pick. Mass. 492 ; 2 B. Monr. Ky. 339 ; 10 N. H. 199; 18 Me. 382; 8 Leigh, Va. 565 ; 3 Ark. 127; 1 Humphr. Tenn. 199; 4 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 397 ; 31 Ala. N. s. 26 ; see 12 Gratt. Va. 153; delivery by a bailee in violation of orders, , 16 Ala. 466 ; non-delivery by a wharfinger, carrier, or other bailee, 4 Ala. 46; 2 Johns. Cas. N. Y. 411 ; 1 Rice, So. C. 204 ; 17 Pick. Mass. 1; see 28 Barb. N. Y. 515 ; a wrongful sale by a bailee, under some circumstances, 4 Taunt. 799 ; 8 id. 237 ; 10 Mees. & W. Exch. 576 ; 11 id. 363 ; 6 Wend. N. Y. 603 ;16 Johns. N. Y. 74; 11 Ala. N. s. 233 ; 14 Vt. 367; 1 Dev. No. C. 306; 30 N. H. 164; a failure to sell when ordered, 1 Harr. & J. Md. 579; 13 Ala. N. s. 460; improper or infbrmal seizure of goods by an officer, 2 Vt. 383 ; 18 id. 590; 5 Cow. N. Y. 323; 3 Mo. 207 ; 5 Yerg. Tenn. 313; 1 Ired. No. C. 453; 17 Conn. 154; 2 Blatchf. C. C. 552; 37 N. H. 86; see 24 Me. 326; informal sale by such officer, 2•Ala. 576 ; 14 Pick. Mass. 356; 3 B. Monr. 457, or ap propriation to himself, 2 Penn. 416 ; 3 N. H. 144, as against such officer in the last three cases; the adulteration of liquors as to the whole quantity affected, 1 Strange, 586 ; 3 Ad. & E. 306; 14 Mass. 500 ; 8 Piqk. Mass. but not including a mere trespass with no fur ther intent, 8 Mees. & W. 540; 18 Pick. Mass. 227, nor an accidental loss by mere omission of a carrier, 2 Greenleaf, Ev. 643 ; 5 Burr. 2825 ; 1 Ventr. 223 ; 2 Salk. 655; 1 Pick. Mass. 50; 6 Hill, N. Y. 586; see 17 Pick. Mass. 1; nor mere nonfeasance. 2 Bos. & P. 438 ; 6 Johns. N. Y. 9; 12 id. 300; 19 Vt. 551; 30 id. 436. A manual taking is not necessary.