Harrell v. Columbia Electric Street Railway, Light & Power Co.

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Jones. The plaintiff, Mattie Harrell, joining her husband, R. E. Harrell, in this suit, recovered of the defendant company a judgment of $5,000, for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by her on October 30, 1907, in the city of Columbia, S. C., at the intersection of Main and Taylor streets, by being thrown from the running, board of defendant’s car, through the negligence and wanton conduct of defendant: (1) in failing to have the guard rail down on the west side of its car going north up Main street, at that time usually crowded because the State Fair was being held in the city; (2) in suddenly and recklessly and without warning starting said car before plaintiff had sufficient time to get into the car and be seated. 1 The first and second exceptions of defendant-appellant assign error in permitting' .the plaintiff, Mrs. Harrell, and a witness, Harry Olstein, to testify after the close of defendant’s testimony, as to matters not in reply to any testimony brought out by defendant. The testimony was merely cumulative and its admission was within the discretion of the trial court, which does not appear to have been improperly exercised. Wilson v. Moss, 79 S. C. 120. 2 After the jury had been charged and had retired to their room Judge DeVore discovered that he had inadvertently failed to instruct them as to punitive damages, and called the jury back- and charged them on that subject. This is made the basis of the fourth exception. There was no error. On the contrary it is a proper exercise of the judicial function to cure an omission to give *99 proper instruction, as well as to withdraw an improper instruction as was done in State v. Lightsey, 43 S. C. 114. 3 The third exception alleges error in refusing defendant’s request to charge that there was no evidence in the case to support a verdict for punitive damages and the fifth exception, in part, alleges error in the refusal of motion for new trial made on the same ground. We are unable to say that there was no testimony whatever tending to show wantonness, since there was testimony that the car was moved suddenly with a violent jerk without warning while plaintiff was upon the running board of the car and before she had time to take her seat. Whether the conductor or motorman knew, or should have known, of plaintiff’s exposed position at the time, whether due warning was given, or whether the sudden jerk was due to some peculiar or unpreventable action of the electric power, were matters of explanation for the jury. 4 The fifth exception also contends there was error in refusing new trial because the evidence showed contributory negligence of plaintiff. 5 After a careful reading of the testimony we cannot say that the cause of action for mere negligence was conclusively overthrown by the testimony tending to show negligence on the part of plaintiff, and as to the cause of action based on wilfulness the matter of contributory negligence is inapplicable. The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.