Jones v. Myrick Lumber Co. , 191 Ala. 448 ( 1914 )

MAYFIELD, J.

The action was brought to recover damages for the destruction of trees. The first count of the complaint was in debt to recover the statutory penalty for “willfully and knowingly” destroying the trees, and the second was in trespass for injury to the land upon which the trees were cut. The trial was had on the general issue as to both counts, and resulted in verdict and judgment for the defendant from which judgment the plaintiffs appeal.

There was no dispute that the land in question belonged to the plaintiffs, who were minors, nor was there any bona fide dispute that their guardian had sold to the defendant the timber and trees upon the land, except these trees and a few others. The contention of the plaintiffs was that a certain grove or woodland on the tract was reserved when the other timber was sold. This was denied by defendant. The evidence was all oral. No deeds or conveyances of the timber were offered in evidence. The evidence was also in dispute as to whether the defendant was warned or forbidden to cut the timber from this grove or woodland which was claimed to be reserved.

(1, 2) The only questions reserved for our consideration are the refusal of the court to- give the affirmative charge for the plaintiffs and the action of the court in giving two charges for the defendant. The charges given at the request of the defendant were as follows: “ (A) The court charges the jury that, if they find from the evidence in this case that the trespass complained of upon the land described in the complaint did not injure or damage said land, then they cannot find a verdict for the plaintiffs under the second count of the complaint for any actual damages.

“(B) The court charges the jury that, unless they are reasonably satisfied from the evidfen.ee that defendant cut the trees charged in the complaint willfully and knowingly, then plaintiffs cannot recover under the first count of the complaint.”

We are sure that there was no error as to the refusal to give the affirmative charge for the plaintiffs, or in the giving of either of the charges for the defendant.—Batson’s Case, 179 Ala. 490, 60 South. 313. For the same reason, charge A was properly given. As this count claimed damages only for injury to the freehold, by reason of cutting the trees, and not for the value of the trees, then, if the freehold was not damaged, the plaintiffs were not entitled to recover under this count.

The other charge urns unquestionably correct. The statute malíes a defendant liable to the penalty where the trees are “willfully and knowingly” cut. The count alleged that the trees here in question were so' cut, and, of course, this allegation must be proven, in order for the plaintiffs to recover under the count claiming the penalty. We feel it to be unnecessary to discuss these propositions; or to cite authorities in support of the conclusion. The result seems to1 necessarily follow.

Affirmed.

Anderson, C. J., and McClellan and Somerville, JJ., concur.