Missouri, K. & T. Ry. Co. of Texas v. Texas Packing Co.
Missouri, K. & T. Ry. Co. of Texas v. Texas Packing Co.
Opinion of the Court
Appellee sued appellant and recovered a verdict and judgment for $2,-764.66, with interest thereon, as damages for failure on appellant’s part to properly ice a ear load shipment of poultry from Waco, Tex., to Chicago, Ill., and the case is now before this court for review.
The first assignment of error complains of the action of the trial court in not giving a reguested instruction directing the jury to return a verdict for the defendant; and appellant presents several other assignments under which it is contended that the verdict of the jury is without support in the testimony. The contract -of shipment, in so far as applicable to the facts, stipulated that, in case of loss or damage for which the carrier was liable, the amount thereof was to be computed on a basis of the bona fide invoice price at the time and place of shipment, and it was alleged by both parties and shown by uncontroverted testimony that the amount referred to was $5,290.80. The entire shipment consisted of dressed turkeys, and comprised three classes, being based upon value at Waco, Tex. There were 25,-898 pounds worth 19% cents per pound, making $5,050.11; 1,031 pounds worth 15 cents per pound, making $154.65; and 717 pounds worth 12 cents per pound, making $86.04. The proof shows that, when the shipment reached its destination, 10,814 pounds thereof had - so deteriorated as to render it worthless, and that, after its condemnation by the official inspector, it was delivered to the proper authorities and carried away to be destroyed; and it is for the loss referred to and injury to the balance that appellee recovered the judgment complained of.
, There was also testimony which justified, the jury in finding that the shipment had been re-iced with block ice and not with crushed ice, as required by the contract,which fact of itself would have constituted a breach of the contract, and might have caused some, if not all, of the damage.
Several assignments of error are addressed to the action of the court in giving and refusing instructions, which assignments we do not care to discuss in detail. They have all been considered and are overruled.
We are disposed to agree with appellant’s contention that it was error for the court to submit to the jury whether or not re-icing was necessary for the preservation of the property; but that error was in favor of appellant and affords it no ground of complaint. The other objections to the charge are untenable.
We also overrule all of the assignments which complain of rulings made with reference to the admissibility of testimony. We think the witness Bessonette qualified as an expert, and, if his testimony was not admissible in explanation of the report of the inspector, no objection was made by appellant to the same testimony given by the inspector himself; and besides no harm was done, *339 because tbe report shows on its face that it means just what tbe witnesses stated.
No reversible error has been shown, and the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
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