Weinberg v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R.
Weinberg v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This action was commenced before a magistrate to recover damages for the loss of two rolls of bagging o.f the value of seven dollars and nineteen cents, together- with forty-six .cents .freight actually paid thereon, being the pro rata of the freight paid on the whole shipment from Norfolk, Va., to- Wedgefield, S. C., and also for the penalty of fifty dollars for failure to-pay the claim within the time required by the statute. -- . .
The magistrate rendered judgment in- favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $7.65, with interest thereon, and for. the penalty .of $50, together with-the .costs of the action. .
This judgment was affirmed, on appeal to. the Circuit Court, whereupon -the defendant appealed- to this -Court upon exceptions, the first of- which is as follows: • ■
1 “Because his Honor, the Circuit Judge, erred in sustaining the -judgment of the magistrate -in admitting deposition of the .witness, taken in Norfolk, Va., over the objection of .defendant’s counsel, there being no seal of the notary, as required by law, across the flap of the envelope, nor was the name of the notary indorsed across same, nor the title of the cause; whereas, said magistrate should have ruled out said deposition.”
This testimony was taken under section .992 of the Code of Laws, which provides: That “when such examination is s.o made by another -it .shall be sealed up, with the- title of the case indorsed, and conveyed by a disinterested person to the magistrate authorizing- the-same, or mailed- and the postage prepaid.” ■
The envelope was sealed up, the title of the case indorsed thereon, was mailed to the magistrate, with the postage prepaid, and received by him, thus fully complying with the *472 requirements of the statute, as will be seen by reference to the case of Jenkins v. Ry., infra, 473.
Furthermore, the testimony taken by commission was not essential to the plaintiff in making out his case.
The second and third exceptions were abandoned.
The case of White Laundry Co. v. R. R., infra, 209, shows that this exception cannot be sustained.
It is the judgment of this Court that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Weinberg v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Co.
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Deposition to be used in magistrate court, sealed in an envelope, title endorsed on it, mailed with postage prepaid and received by magistrate, is compliance with the statute. 2. Carrier — Freight—Penalty.—Filing claim for one-fifth of a cent more than damage proved and recovered does not deprive plaintiff of penalty for failure of carrier to adjust claim for damages to freight. 3. Appeal. — Exception based on issue which had not been called to attention of magistrate, will not be considered. 4. Carrier — Freight—Penalty.—The evidence here tended to show the damage to consignee was based on value of freight at point of shipment with freight added, and on this showing consignee is entitled to penalty.