Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Richards
Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Richards
Opinion of the Court
This suit was filed on the 4th day of April, 1912, to recover damages alleged to have been sustained by appellee on-'account of appellant’s failure to seasonably deliver a telegram authorizing Claude Miller, to draw money for the use and benefit. of appellee. The petition alleged that R. F. Richards, appellee’s father, who resided in Merkel, Tex., sent the telegram to Claude Miller, who, together with appellee, was living in Houston, Tex., which authorized Claude Miller to go to the Lumbermen’s. National Bank of Houston and draw on a national bank of Merkel for $25 for the use and benefit of appellee. It was also alleged that the wife of appellee had died of spinal meningitis, and that the money was needed for the purpose of burying appellee’s wife; that appellee was a stranger in Houston, without means, of all which appellant had full notice;' that because of appellee’s failure to receive the money in time, he was compelled to unreasonably delay his wife’s funeral, and finally to suffer the burial of his wife by charitable organizations of Houston, whereby hé endured great humiliation and mental distress. Appellant answered by general demurrer, which was overruled, and also by general denial. The case was tried before the court without a jury, and resulted in a judgment in appellee’s favor for the sum of $600.
There is no merit in the contention that, because the subject-matter of the telegram was the transmission of money, the damages claimed were too remote. As alleged, and as shown by the evidence, the consequences were easily within the contemplation of the parties, and in such cases whatever may be the subject-matter of the telegram, a breach of the contract for due submission and seasonable delivery gives a right of action for the proximate results. W. U. Tel. Co. v. Sheffield, 71 Tex. 570, 10 S. W. 752, 10 Am. St. Rep. 790; W. U. Tel. Co. v. Simpson, 73 Tex. 422, 11 S. W. 385; Martin v. W. U. Tel. Co., 1 Tex. Civ. App. 143, 20 S. W. 860; W. U. Tel. Co. v. Williford, 2 Tex. Civ. App. 574, 22 S. W. 244.
The evidence undoubtedly sustains the ma *1189 terial allegations of appellee’s petition. Tlie fact that the decent hurial of appellee’s wife was accomplished by the aid of two charitable women of Houston, without an affirmative showing that they were acting for charitable organizations, can make no difference. The material, distressing fact was that the wife’s body of necessity was treated and buried as a subject of charity, and that the husband was deprived of contributing those last testimonials of love so naturally prompted by the circumstances. These results were in no wise altered, nor the mental distress thereby occasioned in any wise lessened, by the further fact that appellee received thé money after it was too late to apply as intended, and later used it for other purposes. Appellant’s third assignment is accordingly overruled.
We conclude that all assignments of error must be overruled, and the judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH CO. v. RICHARDS Et Al.
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- 8 cases
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- Published