Burnett v. Postal Telegraph Cable Co.
Burnett v. Postal Telegraph Cable Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The plaintiff brought this action against defendant company for damages for an alleged reck *148 less and wanton trespass upon his land in the construction of its telegraph lines over same. The defendant, in its answer, alleged a written permit to enter and construct said lines, and that the lines were constructed with care and due regard to the rights of plaintiff and within the limits of the permit. The plaintiff, by its testimony, among other things, sought to show that the alleged permit was obtained by false and fraudulent representation. The jury rendered a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $300, and from the judgment thereon defendant appeals.
*149
The fourth exception also alleges error in not charging the foregoing without adding the following: “That the jury must say whether any consideration or not was .returned, and whether any consideration was given in any particular irfstance, and in this instance whether there was a consideration, whether there was any thing signed for a consideration, and whether there was any consideration at all or not If so, was it signed upon that consideration ? If you find there was consideration, then the consideration should be returned before suit was brought.” This last exception alleges error in instructing the jury: “(1) that they could find that the money paid plaintiff had been returned, when there was absolutely no evidence to support such a finding. (2) In leaving it to the jury to find as a fact from the testimony whether or not any money had been paid to plaintiff, when the payment was proved by plaintiff’s witnesses and acknowledged in writing by plaintiff, and, therefore, an admitted fact in the case binding upon the jury.”
With respect to the consideration of one dollar, there was some testimony that plaintiff made no charge for signing the paper, but that defendant’s agent after procuring his signature walked off a few steps, came back and handed the plaintiff a dollar, saying that he would make him a present of that for signing the paper. Whatever might be our view as to the force of this testimony, it was not improper for the; trial Court to submit it to the jury to determine whether, under the whole testimony, any consideration was paid and accepted for the permit as part of the contract. The Court, in its instructions, gave defendant the full benefit of the rule *150 laid down in Levister v. Railway, 56 S. C., 508, 35 S. E., 207.
The exceptions are overruled and the judgment of Circuit Court is affirmed.
Reference
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Nonsuit. — Telegraph Co. — Jury.—It was proper to refuse nonsuit anrl submit to the jury whether defendant had committed an unauthorized trespass upon plaintiff’s land, where the evidence of plaintiff was to the effect that the permit to enter claimed by defendant was obtained fraudulently. 2. Jury — Consideration.—When there is an issue in the evidence as to whether the money passed between the parties was a gift or payment for the permit, it is proper to submit to the jury whether the permit was procured for valuable consideration. 3. Telegraph Co. — Trespasser.—Charge that telegraph company is not liable as trespasser except for a wilful and wanton trespass after entry by permission, is as favorable to the company as to charge that plaintiff cannot recover unless the permit was invalid and the company a trespasser.