Graham v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Graham v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is an appeal from a judgment for $500.00 damages, awarded plaintiff for mental anguish, resulting from the failure of defendant to promptly deliver a telegram sent by her from Greers, S. C., to her son, John Graham, at Gaffney, S. C., on August 3, 1909, which read: “John, come at once. Jennie is veiy bad.” (Signed) “Mother.” On the lower left-hand corner of the *175 telegram, plaintiff’s name and address were written, as follows : “Mrs. D. H. Graham, Greer, S. C.”
Plaintiff alleged and introduced evidence to prove that the message was sent for her benefit; that nothing was heard from it, until late in the evening of August 5, when she received a service message stating that it had not been delivered, because her son had gone to Spartanburg, S. C.; that her son had not gone to Spartanburg, but was in Gaffney, and would have come to her assistance at once, upon receipt of the telegram. The fifth and sixth paragraphs of the complaint allege, in substance, that during all these hours, plaintiff’s daughter was at the point of death, and plaintiff suffered mental anguish for want of the assistance and comfort which the presence of her son would have afforded her, and that her suffering was greatly increased when she was informed that her son had gone .to Spartanburg, because she did not know where to reach him by telegram or letter.
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The exceptions are all disposed of by what we have said or by the principles decided in the cases above cited.
Affirmed.
Reference
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- 1. Teleguaph Companies — Damages—Mental Anguish. — A telegram, “John, come at once. Jennie is very bad. Mother,” with the sender’s name and address written on the corner, shows the message was sent for the benefit of the mother and was sufficient notice to the carrier of damages to the mother in case of failure to deliver, but under the act of 1909, 26 Stat. 84, she could recover without notice. 2. Ibid. — Ibid.—Ibid.—In an action for failure to deliver such message the mother could testify to suffering and inconvenience resulting to her from the absence of her son and recover therefor. 3. Ibid. — Mental Anguish. — The terms, “recklessness or death,” in said act construed to mean “sickness or death.” 4. Ibid. — Charge.—Considering the wording of the message and the inferences that might have been drawn therefrom, the Court would have charged on the facts to have instructed the jury that it did not relate to sickness.