Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Herring
Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Herring
Opinion of the Court
This suit was instituted to recover damages in sum of $1,995 for mental anguish suffered by Mrs. Henry Herring on account of the negligent failure of the appellant to transmit and deliver the following message which was sent from Abilene, Tex., on September 25, 1908, viz.: “To Henry Herring, Roswell, N. M. — C. B. died last night at San Antonio. [Signed] Mrs. C. B. Scar-brough.” The suit was1 originally instituted by the husband of Mrs. Herring, but subsequent to the original filing of the suit Henry Herring and wife were divorced and the cause of action herein sued upon was transferred to the wife, who is now prosecuting the suit. Upon the first trial of this ease the court peremptorily instructed a verdict for the defendant company, and upon appeal the Ft. Worth Court of Civil Appeals reversed and remanded the cause. Herring v. Western Union Tel. Co., 127-S. W. 882. Upon the second trial judgment was rendered in favor of Mrs. Herring for $750, from which judgment this appeal is prosecuted.
We think it clear that the testimony of Menielle above quoted was insufficient to affect the telegraph company with notice of any relationship existing between Mrs. Herring and Scarbrough, or that any person other than Henry Herring had any interest in the telegram. Indeed, it is insufficient to even suggest that there was such a person as Mrs. Herring. The statements made by Menielle were sufficient to charge the defendant company with notice that Henry Herring was either a relative or a friend of Scarbrough, as was the telegram itself without such statements, but the telegraph company could not have inferred from the statements or the face of the telegram that Henry Herring had a wife, or that any person other than Henry Herring had any interest in the message.
The facts having been fully developed, we are of the opinion that this case should be reversed and rendered.
Our views are in conflict with the views of the Et. Worth Court of Civil Appeals, as expressed upon the former appeal, and ordinarily we would deem it our duty to certify this question to the Supreme Court. In view, however, of the crowded condition of the docket of that court, and that appel-lee can carry the case to the Supreme Court upon writ of error if this court is in error in its opinion herein, we have therefore decided not to certify the case.
Reversed and rendered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Herring. [Fn&8224]
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published