So. Ry. Co. v. Collins

SAYRE, J. In this case appellee, plaintiff below, claimed and recovered judgment against defendant for that his barn and its contents were destroyed by fire set by sparks from defendant’s engine. With engaging frankness appellant admits that there was ample evidence going to show either that the engine was defectively equipped, or negligently operated, so that, under ordinary circumstances, the jury would have been justified in drawing the inference that sparks were negligently emitted therefrom which set fire to plaintiff’s barn. And so the contention for a reversal is based upon two propositions: That the circumstances shown were such as to exlcude any reasonable finding that the fire was communicated from the engine; or, at •best for the plaintiff, that the great weight of the evidence was against the conclusion reached by the jury. These propositions were urged in the court below by [337] way of instructions requested and by a motion for a new trial. They come to about the same thing, and one answer will suffice for both contentions. On the case as now presented the question is whether the plaintiff, in the effort to sustain the burden of proof which rested upon him, adduced evidence which, conceding to it all the probative effect it was fairly entitled to have, warranted the conclusion reached. Plaintiff’s recovery could not be allowed to rest upon proof of a mere possibility that the fire was set by sparks from defendant’s engine.' On the motion for a new trial the inquiry was whether the verdict was sustained by credible testimony of a substantial case — a case which appealed to the reason and judgment of the court. It would be of no use to enter upon an elaborate statement of the testimony. The proof was circumstantial, but, on the whole, appears to us to have been as satisfactory as the proof in any such case could ordinarily be, unless controlling influence and effect be assigned to two or three considerations which will be mentioned. For one thing, it is urged that it was raining heavily when the engine passed the barn, so that sparks could not have lived while being carried over the intervening space, or, if alive when carried by the wind through the open door of the barn, which stood just 50 feet from the center of the track, they could have reached only those parts which had been wetted by the rain. But the weight of the evidence is to the effect that there was an interval covering the time of the passing of the train during which there was no considerable rain, but only a drizzle, or, at most, “it was not raining hard.” It appears to be well within the probabilities of the case that some of the sparks or hot cinders, shown to have been of unusual size and emitted in great number, were driven while yet alive through the door by [338] the wind, which blew from the track to the barn, and found their way to some of the loose, dry hay or other highly inflammable material stored there. In the facts shown there could be found no other plausible theory as to the origin of the fire, unless resort be had to the hypothesis that it Aims caused by a stroke of lightening. And upon this last-mentioned hypothesis appellant insists. But upon consideration of the whole evidence, including that offered as neAvly discovered upon the motion to set aside the verdict, Ave are impressed that this is not a Avorkable theory of the case. At best it can hardly be said to amount to more than a suggestion growing out of the evidence — a merely possible, though not probable, theory upon which to account for the origin of the fire. And there Avas testimony which, if credited by the jury, removed even this possibility, humanly speaking, from the case. Out of these considerations, evidently, has arisen the fact that a large part of appellant’s brief is taken up in a discussion of the inherent improbability of some parts of the testimony, and its general lack of credibility. Perhaps the bias of interest did result in a too accurate recollection by some of the Avitnesses of some details of the electric phenomena observed about the time of the fire. But, after making due alloAvance for all such considerations, we find substantial grounds upon which the jury may have placed their verdict. The question at last seems to have been Avhether a certain electric discharge, so violent and near at hand as to attract the special attention of Avitnesses who were at the time at the depot, about 225 feet from the barn, should have been accepted as furnishing a satisfactory explanation of the origin of the fire. No witness saw the blaze kindled, nor does any one say he saAv lightning strike the barn. On the other hand, tAvo witnesses, one of Avhom, [339] at least, evinced no exaggerated recollection of details, say the barn was already burning at tbe time of the particular flash to wbicb appellant would attribute the origin of the fire. It ivas within the peculiar province of the jury to determine the credibility of the witnesses, to weigh the testimony, and find the facts. Certainly the issue here was properly submitted to them in the first place; and we have been unable to find any satisfactory reason why there should have been judicial interference with the result of their deliberations.— Cobb v. Malone, 92 Ala. 630, 9 South. 738. The judgment will be affirmed. Affirmed. All the Justices concur, except Dowdell, C. J., not sitting.