McCaffrey & Co. v. Georgia Southern Railroad
McCaffrey & Co. v. Georgia Southern Railroad
Opinion of the Court
This suit was brought by the plaintiffs in error to recover of the Georgia Southern Railroad Company, and John Tucker, receiver of the Selma, Rome & Dalton road, the value of a car load of metallic cotton ties, which they alleged were received by said railroad company, but which it failed to deliver.
On the trial the jury found for the defendants, and the plaintiffs, being dissatisfied with the verdict, moved for a new trial on various grounds of alleged error, both in the charge of the court and in the finding of the jury.
It is shown by the testimony that the Georgia Southern Railroad is operated by the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad Company, through its receiver, John Tucker, and that the said receiver uses also a portion of the track of the Rome Railroad Company in Rome.
The first charge, of which complaint is made, is as follows: “Now, if by that contract there is a contract between John Tucker, receiver of the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad and the Georgia Southern Railroad, for the benefit of both parties, the proceeds to be divided in a certain proportion, and if the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad ran over their portion, the Georgia Southern Railroad Company would be liable for the running over their road, but the Georgia Southern Railroad Company would not be liable for loss on other roads,” the part of said charge objected to being the latter part thereof to-wit: “ But the Georgia
The principle here given to the jury, as we construe it,' was, that if the receiver operated the Georgia Southern, and also used, by contract or otherwise, a part of the Rome Railroad track or yard, and to which contract and use the Georgia Southern was not a party, then of course it could not be held liable for the negligence of the receiver and the Rome Railroad under their separate and independent arrangement.
The testimony of McCaffrey was that he was informed that there were five cars received, four of which were his and the other Berrys & Co.; that he ordered two of his to Williamson & Co., and two to Berrys & Co. The testimony of the yard master was, that he delivered the cars as he was directed by McCaffrey, and they were unloaded by the parties themselves; that no car load was lost after arrival, and no delivery only by his directions. Under this proof, the charge was not unauthorized, nor was it calculated to mislead the jury.
It is set forth in two grounds of the motion for a new trial that the jury found contrary to the charge of the court. This’ does not appear where the evidence and charge are considered in connection with the verdict; they seem to be in perfect harmony.
According to our view of the import of this language, its reference was more to the relevancy than the weight of the testimony. If to the relevancy, it would have been better that he should have inquired of counsel for what purpose it was offered; if to its weight, it should have been omitted, although it was addressed to the counsel and not to the jury. It is, however, not sufficient to authorize the grant of a new trial. 46 Ga., 33; Marion vs. The State, 68 Ga., 290.
The whole charge of the judge is not sent up, and though in some respects it is not altogether clear and satisfactory to us, yet its want of connection may account for that; and as we see no manifest error therein, and the losing
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McCaffrey & Company v. The Georgia Southern Railroad
- Status
- Published