Flash, Hartwell & Co. v. New Orleans & Great Northern Railroad

lío we, J. Plaintiff sued for value of 360 barrels of molasses consigned at New Orleans by the defendant’s railway in February, 1862. There was judgment for plaintiffs for the amount claimed, and the ■defendant has appealed. First — Tho prescription of one year does not apply. The fact that the receipt given by defendant at the time it received the goods was in form like a steamboat bill of lading can not bring this case under the article (3501) of the Civil Code. The merchandise was not “shipped on board any kind of vessel.” Second — The prescription of five years, article [3505], does not appiy. It is by no means clear that the phrase “ effects negotiable or transferable by endorsement or delivery,” (tout effet negociable ou transportable par endossement on par simple remise,) includes regular marine bills of lading. The word effet, translated effect, means, in a commercial sense, “ bill,” or “ bill of exchange,” and in a financial sense, “funds” and “stocks,” and we have never found-it used in the sense claimed by counsel. But, however this may be, this action is not in reality on a bill of lading. It is an action against a land carrier. Tiie paper called a bill of lading, as shown by the pleadings and evidence on both sides, was intended merely as a receipt, and was so used and introduced in this case. It was probably given in its absurd form from a scarcity of stationery in New Orleans at the time. Third — The only defense on the merits which requires consideration is, in substance, that the war was raging at the time the goods were received from plaintiffs; that the defendant’s railway was under the dominion of the insurgent authorities j that these authorities monopolized the transportation in such a way that it was impossible tc [354] forward tlie goods from the time they were received until the twenty-fifth of April, 1862; that on the latter day the city of New Orleans was-captured by the United States forces, and the goods destroyed or carried off by a mob of citizens of New Orleans, and that the plaintiff consigned the goods with full knowledge of the fact that the defendant's railway was subject to military control, and they took all the risks of such a state of affairs. This might be a valid defense if fully established. The onus is on the defendant to make it out. We agree with the district judge that it has not been established. The permit ior shipment of the goods was given about February 11, 18"62. The-written receipt was given February 26, 1862. During the long period that elapsed up to the twenty-fifth April, 1862, it appears by the testimony of the defendant’s employes, that private freight was, by arrangement with the military authorities, transferred from New Orleans in large amounts. It is not shown with any certainty why the goods in question were not forwarded; nor does it appear, sufficiently, that the plaintiffs took the risks of a delay of from sixty to seveut-yfive days. Judgment affirmed. Rehearing reiused.