Whitney Manuf. Co. v. Richmond, R. R.

The opinion of the court was delivered by Me. Justice Pope. The plaintiff, appellant, shipped by the defendant, respondent, thirteen bales of cotton in December, 1889. It appears from the “Case” that they had made an arrangement with each other, whereby all machinery and cotton shipped by the appellant over the respondent’s road should be delivered at a switch known as the “Whitney switch,” it being a side track alongside the respondent’s leased railroad, about two miles distant from Spartanburg, this “Whitney switch” having been graded by the appellant, and the track thereof having been constructed by the respondent. No other customer of the respondent other than the plaintiff, appellant, ever used said “Whitney switch” as the point of delivery by the respondent. The cotton having been destroyed by fire some time in December, 1889, while the same was being unloaded from a car of the defendant, respondent, placed on said “Whitney switch,” a contention arose as to which party should bear the loss. The complaint alleges that such cotton was destroyed by fire while in the custody of the defendant, respondent, either as a common carrier or warehouseman, or was destroyed by fire communicated to said cotton by the acts of the authorized agents and employees of said defendant, respondent, and by the negligence of said last named party. This was denied by the answer. At the trial before Judge Fraser and a jury at January term, 1892, of the Circuit Court for Spartanburg, at the conclusion of the plaintiff’s testimony, the defendant, respondent, moved for a non-suit, which was granted, and after entry of judgment thereou the plaintiff appealed therefrom. Before setting out the grounds of appeal, it may be as well to notice the results established by the testimony. There was ample proof that the thirteen bales of cotton were burned in [369] the car belonging to the defendant, respondent, while on the track known as the “Whitney switch.” It was proved, also, that this car had been placed at this point two or three days before the fire, by the defendant, respondent, at the request and direction of plaintiff, appellant. It was also proved, as a part of their arrangement, that the cars should not be guarded by the respondent, and the plaintiff, appellant, had the right even to break any seals placed on the doors of the ear; that this arrangement was made at the request and for the convenience of the plaintiff, appellant; that the plaintiff, appellant, had, two days before the fire, and on the day the car with this cotton had been placed on the “Whitney switch,” surrendered to the defendant, respondent, the bill of lading for the cotton in this car; that, as a further part of the arrangement between these parties, the plaintiff, appellant, had the right to remove the cotton so shipped without any superintendence by the defendant, and, as a fact, that six bales of cotton had been taken out of the ear before the'fire occurred; that the door of the ear next to the railroad track was shut; that the plaintiff, appellant, had opened, and left open, the door of the car on the opposite side of the railroad track; that absolutely no explanation was given as to the origin of the fire, and that the wind, on the day of the fire, blew from the direction of the car, as it stood on the “Whitney switch,” to that of the main track of the railroad, alongside of the car. The grounds of appeal will be set out in the report of. the case, and they will not be reproduced here, only so far as it may be necessary to understand our rulings upon the points submitted by the appellant. 1 First: It is contended that the Circuit Judge erred .when he refused to allow the testimony of the witness Fleming, when it was sought to have him state the practice of the defendant, respondent, at what was known as the “Archer switch” in the yard of the railroad at Spartanburg. Was it relevant? The pleadings make no reference to the . “Archer switch,” or to any practice of the railroad thereat, or at.any other point on its line. Great care has to be observed by the Circuit Judge to prevent the introduction of irrelevant [370] testimony, especially when objection is made to such testimony on that ground. The objection to this testimony was made, and we are unable to perceive any error in the ruling made by the Circuit Judge. 2 The second (third) ground of appeal relates to the Circuit Judge passing upon the matter of delivery, and its effects under the testimony in the case. While it may be admitted that a question of delivery is a mixed question of law and fact, yet there was no conflict of testimony here. Matters of law may be passed upon by the court. The Circuit Judge having discharged the legal functions of his high office in this matter, we see no error. 3 The third (fourth) ground of appeal seeks to hold that defendant, respondent, had possession of the thirteen bales of cotton at the time of the fire as a common carrier, and as the cotton was burned while in such car, that the Circuit Judge erred in granting the non-suit. We do not know that our views as to the propriety of non-suit can be any better given than by quoting the language of this court in referring to this subject, as found in Davis v. Railroad Company, 21 S. C., 101: “When there is any competent, pertinent, and relevant testimony offered to the facts in dispute, the case passes into the hands of the jury and beyond the judge; but when no such testimony is offered, it is the province and duty of the judge to non-suit. In the absence of all testimony in support of the material allegations in the complaint, which is a question for the judge, a non-suit is proper; but when there is any testimony directed to said allegations, the weight, truth, and sufficiency of which are to be determined, the case must go to the jury.” Was there any testimony to be passed upon by the jury in this view of the case'? Had not there been an absolute determination of the duty of the common carrier? He had transported the goods.from the point of shipment to the place of delivery in perfect condition. The way bill had been delivered up as a receipt to the railroad company therefor. Not only were the goods receipted for, but actually received. To: test this matter, suppose this cotton had been stolen from the' car [371] on the “Whitney switch,” would the defendant, respondent, have been responsible therefor? No. Why? Because the cotton had been delivered, and in law was no longer the property of the common carrier as to third persons, but was the property of the plaintiff, appellant. There was absolutely no testimony that the defendant, respondent, had in any manner interfered with this property after such delivery, and in the absence of all testimony to this effect, there was no issuable fact for the jury to try. 4 Nor are we able to perceive any force in the position, that if the relation of common carrier had ceased, that of warehouseman began, as is suggested in the fourth (fifth) ground of appeal. No testimony was adduced on this line, and, of course, then, there was no error. We cannot understand that the responsibility attaching to a warehouseman can be alleged when the property is placed in the charge of the true owner. 5 As to the fifth (fourth) ground of appeal, which alleges that as long as the cotton was in defendant’s car it was in defendant’s possession, and defendant was liable for loss by fire, we are unable to see how a kindness or privilege can be construed into a right. Take this illustration: a common carrier undertakes to deliver at a certain point in a city, and does then actually deliver; but after such delivery the owner asks the privilege of allowing his goods to remain in the vehicle, and injury afterwards happens, there is no liability upon the common carrier if he does not interfere to cause that inj ury. 6 The sixth (seventh) ground of appeal suggests that if no liability existed as common carrier or warehouseman, still the question of destruction of cotton while on defendant’s right of way by fire communicated by defendant’s locomotive remained. It is admitted that section 1511 of our General Statutes is very sweeping, and would cover the case here, if there was any testimony, even the slightest, going to show that this fire was the result of sparks from the locomotive used by defendant, or was the act of any agent or employee of the railroad. But in the absence of any such testimony the Circuit Judge committed no error. Brown v. Railroad Company, 19 S. C., 39. [372] 7 The seventh (eighth) is too general to merit further attention. It is the judgment of this court, that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.