Fleming v. Hammond

[147] By the Court. Lumpkin, J. delivering the opinion. While we think that the weight of evidence was against the plaintiff, as to the quantity of cotton delivered, and on that account, should he inclined to order a new trial, wo shall ■send this case back, because no verdict can ever be satisfactory, which is rendered, upon proof so vague and uncertain. [1.] This action is brought to recover the value of two bales of cotton, it being alleged and attempted to bo proved, that . 22 bags were delivered to the defendant, and 20 only received at that ware-house in Augusta, to which it was shipped. Now the testimony shows, that 20 bags reached Augusta the 9th of November, and one other bale the 4th of December, 1852. Was or was not this one of the two missing bags ? Counsel for plaintiff, arguanclo, says that it was not, but the last picking or refuse cotton, made on the plantation by Major Hammond. This explanation might do very well but for the evidence of Mr. Clark. He swears, that as the mutual friend of the parties, he divided the crop of 1852 between •the plaintiff and Denard, his overseer, and that he weighed and marked 22 bales for the plaintiff, and two for Denard. It would seem, therefore, that 24 bales was the entire crop of that year. The question as to this odd bale, can be demonstrated and made clear; and it should be done, as it constitutes one half of the amount in controversy. Better, far, 4o rest men’s rights upon facts, than conjecture and ingenious •argumentation. One other point in this case is susceptible of more light 'than has been thrown upon it. Alfred Asbell testifies, that he -was present when the cotton was taken on the boat, at Calhoun’s landing, and that there was only 20 bales ; that his attention being called to the matter, he took particular notice; that he went down as a passenger, and that the boat Was not broke that trip, but that the cotton was carried safely and stored at Stovall’s warehouse. No witness swears that 22 bales were delivered at the river. [148] -James C. Nelms testifies, that Fleming, in a conversation 'which he had with him in February, 1858, admitted, that the plaintiff’s cotton was on his boat when the disaster occurred, but that he secured all the cotton. Was or was not the boat broken during this trip ? Could not additional evidence be obtained upon this point ? The probability as to the loss of a part of the freight, as well as the credibility of Asbell, will depend very much upon the ascertainment of this fact. There is some doubt as to the measure of damages. The weight of the 20 bales of cotton which were received at the warehouse, was 7976 pounds, which were sold two days after their arrival, to wit: on the 11th of November, 1852, at 9§ cents per pound. But the plaintiff contends, upon the testimony of Mr. Hickman, that averaging the two bales lost, by -the 20 received, he is entitled to estimate the cotton at 10 ■cents, as the witness states that he did agree to purchase the plaintiff’s crop that year at that price. While we see no objection to the mode of ascertaining the weight of the two missing bags, as being the best, if not the ■only means of arriving at a knowledge of that fact, we are not equally well satisfied as to the price. At whose instance and for whose benefit was the lot of cotton sold at 9J? It is replied, Cress and Hickman. This may be so, and probably is true. Still, the matter should be, because it can be, settled -definitely, and not be left to surmise. Mr. Hickman did agree to give Major Hammond 10 cents for his crop of 1852, delivered in Augusta. But did he do it ? Counsel for the defendant insists that the verdict was erroneous, because the Jury failed to allow his client a deduction from the price of the two bags of cotton, for his freight on the whole load. Was there any proof what this was ? And that it had not been paid, at least on the 20 bales, at the warehouse in Augusta ? [2.] Counsel differ in this Court, as they did in the Court below, as to what constitutes a good delivery. If the testimony of Denard be believed, we have no hesitation in saying, [149] -that a sufficient delivery is proven, to charge the common -carrier. Fleming was in the habit of receiving cotton at the different landings on the Savannah River. And this witness swears that the cotton was deposited on the bank of the river where the defendant told him to place it. If this be so, we repeat, it was true, as contended for by plaintiff’s Counsel, that the delivery was as complete as if the produce had been placed under the defendant’s lock and key. It is complained, that the Court omitted to charge the Jury, notwithstanding the disagreement between Counsel, as to the law of the case; and that they were instructed, on the contrary, that it was only a question of fact submitted for their finding. Perhaps this disposition of the case was a little hasty, not to say slovenly. We do not decide that it is the duty of the Court to instruct the Jury as to the law, in every case, even though Counsel differ as to what the law is, whether the Court is requested to do so or not. But it might have been as well to have told them what did or did not amount to a delivery. Upon the whole, we think it best to remand this cause for -a re-hearing.