Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Hunt
Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Hunt
Opinion of the Court
This is an action against the telephone and telegraph company for damage for personal injuries caused by coming in contact with the wires of the company on one of the streets of
The error assigned is that there is a complete variance between the declaration and the proof as to the acts of negligence of the company, which caused the injury. It is insisted that the declaration charges that the wires were down in the streets because of the fective and rotten condition of the poles, while the proof shows that the wires were down because of a storm which had blown down the poles and detached the wires and thrown trees and obstructions across them, and hence there is no evidence to support the verdict. This is substantially the only error complained of.
The declaration contains four counts, virtually the same in many particulars, but differing somewhat in each case. The gravaman of the charge in the declaration is -the rotten and unsafe condition of the poles and fastenings, and nothing is said in either of the counts about a storm causing the falling of the wires. But there is in the declaration, especially in the third and fourth counts, very specific charges that the company allowed its wires to remain down in the streets, in a dangerous condition, for an unreasonable length of time and with knowledge of this danger.
There is some evidence of defects and unsafe poles along the streets and near the place of this injury, and, if the declaration should be strictly confined to
We are of opinion, therefore, that there is not a fatal variance between the declaration and proof, and there is ample evidence to sustain the verdict and .judgment, and it is affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Telephone and Telegraph Co. v. Hunt
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- Published