Shelby County v. Fisher

Mr. Justice Williams delivered the opinion of the Court. May a failure to instruct the jury on the burden of proof in a civil action, he assigned as error on appeal when no request for such instruction was made ? [508] The question must he answered in the negative. 38 Cyc., 1750,- citing cases from nine States. And recent cases from other States are, Wyatt v. Railway Co., 156 Cal., 170, 103 Pac., 892; Railway Co. v. Wright, 6 Ga. App., 173, 64 S. E., 703; Schactele v. Bristor, 148 App. Div., 843, 133 N. Y. Supp., 506. And see Branson on Instruction, section 96. The task of a trial judge is at best an onerous one. His charge to the jury frequently must be formulated or prepared while the trial is in progress and amidst its distractions. It is to he supposed that he would have supplied such an obvious and unusual omission had his inadvertence been called to his attention by a request. There being no merit in this and the other assign-. ments of error, the judgment of the court of civil appeals is affirmed.