Nixon v. Buckeye Cotton Oil Mill

Hoke, J. The evidence on the part of plaintiff tended to show that, in April, 1915, plaintiff was an employee of defendant company, working-in the cake and meal room, his duties being “to see after the cake-meal and to keep up the repairs of the belts”; that an elevator, consisting of a continuous chain with little cups attached, enclosed in a box, conveyed the cut cake to this room from a lower floor, the same being driven by band and pulley connected with the main shaft of the operating ma *732 chinery; that this elevator was liable to become choked, caused chiefly by being at times overfed by a conveyor which delivered these little cakes on the lower floor, 'and when it did, it was the custom of plaintiff and other employees to release the elevator by removing this excess by hand and from a small opening in the box; that the pulley driving the elevator band, when in proper shape and fix, was fastened securely to the main shaft, and when the elevator became choked it threw the belt from the elevator pulley, making it always necessary, before the elevator would start again, -to replace the belt on the pulley. On the occasion in question, plaintiff being at the time on the stairway, a coemployee called to plaintiff that the elevator was choked, and he hurried down to release it by removing the excess feed, and while so engaged the elevator started and caught plaintiff’s hand, inflicting substantial and painful injuries. The plaintiff, a witness in his own behalf, testified, among other things, that he had many years’ experience in this work on this and similar machines; that he had released this elevator in the same way 25 or 30 times, and that it had never started of itself in this way before, and that it would not do so when the machinery was in proper condition; that, in such case, the pulley always cast the belt, as stated, making it necessary to replace the same before it could be affected by the motor power. That was the reason for its being choked; it had thrown the belt. In the present instance it had not done so, for the reason that the pulley, being loosened from the main shaft, the set-screw requiring attention, when the elevator became overloaded,, the main shaft revolving within the elevator pulley, the latter remained stationary and failed to throw the belt as it had always done; that, some time after, witness had examined this main shaft and discovered indications that had revolved within a loosened pulley, as claimed. There was conflicting evidence on the part of defendant, but, under a full and fair charge by the court, the jury have accepted plaintiff’s version of the occurrence, and, this being true, a cause of action is clearly established. On the facts in evidence, and under the principle of res ipsa loquitur, as recognized and applied in numerous decisions of this Court, it was required that the issues be submitted to the jury. Deaton v. Lumber Co., 165 N. C., 560; Turner v. Power Co., 154 N. C., 131; Morriset v. Cotton Mill, 151 N. C., 31; Fitzgerald v. R. R., 141 N. C., 530; Ross v. Cotton Mills, 140 N. C., 115; Stewart v. Carpet Co., 138 N. C., 60. "And, in addition to this, the plaintiff himself gave direct testimony to the effect that the cause of the unusual and unexpected movement of the elevator was that the set-screws, designed to hold the elevator pulley fixed and stationary, had become loosened, permitting the main shaft to revolve within the pulley, thus failing to throw the belt, as it had always done before. It is earnestly insisted for defendant that the doctrine of *733 res ipsa loquitur does not apply, for tbe reason tbat tbe principle is only recognized when all of tbe agencies wbicb may bring about tbe unusual and barmful result are under defendant’s control, and tbat bere tbe plaintiff bimself was in charge and be should be held responsible. Tbe position, as a general legal proposition, may be correct, as a rule, but it cannot avail tbe defendant, on this record, for tbe reason tbat it is based on tbe theory tbat defendant’s evidence is true, whereas tbe jury, under tbe charge of tbe court, rejecting tbe defendant’s version, have, as stated, accepted plaintiff’s testimony to tbe effect tbat “bis business in tbe room was to see after tbe cake-meal and keep up tbe repairs of tbe belts; that he bad nothing at all to do with the pulleys or shafting.” Again, it is insisted, on defendant’s motion to nonsuit, tbat there is no evidence whatever tbat defendant knew or could have known tbat tbe machine was out of order, but we do not so interpret tbe record. This was no sudden break in tbe machinery, wbicb might reasonably have been overlooked, but it was a condition requiring time, and wbicb tbe jury have found tbe defendant should have discovered. Tbe superintendent bimself, testifying for defendant, said tbat tbe place was not 10 feet above tbe floor, and its condition was readily observable; tbat be was in there 10 or 12 times every day to see tbat tbe machinery was running all right. He claimed, and stated, however, “tbat tbe whole thing in tbat room was in charge of plaintiff — machinery and all — and if anything was wrong in pulleys or shaft, be was to fix it, and if it broke down be was to report it”; tbe plaintiff testifying, as stated, tbat bis duties did not in any way extend to looking after tbe machinery. In this aspect of tbe case, tbe court, among other things, instructed tbe jury as follows: “Or, if you find from this testimony tbat tbe pulley was defective, worn, and in tbe condition as alleged in the complaint, if you find tbat tbe defendant company did not know of that defect and could not have known of tbat defect by tbe exercise of ordinary care and prudence, notwithstanding there was a defect about tbe pulley or about tbe machinery, as alleged in tbe complaint, tbe court charges you, if tbe company did not know it, and could not have known it by tbe exercise of ordinary care and prudence, then tbe company would not be guilty of negligence, and it would be your duty to answer tbe first issue No.’ Tbe court charges you, however, gentlemen, tbat it is tbe duty tbe law imposes upon any man who runs machinery to have that machinery inspected at reasonable times to see whether there are any defects about tbe machinery tbat would make it dangerous to tbe employees in charge; and it is tbe duty of a company working, handling this machinery to have it inspected at reasonable times to see tbat it is in good condition. . . . If you find from this testimony tbat this plaintiff, as was contended in tbe argument, if you find tbat this plaintiff bad control of tbat machine room; tbat *734 be was there, in absolute control of all that machinery, and find that being so, that it was his duty to report any defect to the superintendent, then the court charges you, if there was a defect, that it was his duty to do so, and if he did not, he could not recover.” A breach of legal duty in failing to properly overlook and inspect the machinery is a permissible inference from the facts in evidence. The charge of his Honor here gives to defendant the benefit of every position to which it was justly entitled, and this exception of defendant also must be overruled. Defendant objects further that there was unwarranted interference with the action of the jury, presented in the record as follows: After deliberating on the case for several hours, the jury returned and the spokesman said they were having difficulty in coming to an agreement, two of them, himself and another, being inclined to hold with defendant by reason of plaintiff’s negligence, and being told by the court that it was a matter for them, they would have to decide it among themselves. And after some colloquy, the court said further: “All I can say to you is : if I can give you any additional instructions as to the law, I will be glad to do so, but I tried to instruct you fully about it. I cannot decide anything for you, though. Do not understand me to say anything that would have any tendency to drive you away from any position which you may think correct in the matter. (But if you can reconcile all this testimony and come to a conclusion and answer these issues, it is well you should do so. I do not want to say anything to coerce your decision. A man has a right to have his views about anything. But if you can reconcile the testimony and come to a verdict, I would be glad that if you .would do so. Of course, if you cannot, we have to do something else.)”- It is the duty of the judge to counsel a perplexed jury towards an agreement, keeping always within the statutory restriction that he shall give no intimation on the merits or whether “any fact has been fully and sufficiently proved.” Revisal, sec. 535. The admonition of his Honor was not so pronounced as that which was upheld in Warlick v. Plonk, 103 N. C., 81, and we are unable to see that he has exceeded his privilege or in any way transgressed or failed in the full performance of his duties as an impartial, considerate and capable judge. There is no error, and the judgment on the verdict must be affirmed. No error.