Lambert v. Southern Ry. Co. , 214 Ala. 438 ( 1926 )

This case was tried on count B, a wanton count, and the burden of proof was not therefore upon the defendant, under section 9955 of the Code of 1923. A. G. S. R. Co. v. Smith, 71 So. 455, 196 Ala. 77; Jolley v. Southern R. R., 72 So. 382,197 Ala. 60; Central of Georgia R. R. v. Moore, 75 So. 971,200 Ala. 213; L. N. R. R. v. Jones, 67 So. 691, 191 Ala. 485.

The deceased was killed early in the morning just before or about daylight, and there were but two eyewitnesses to the accident, Joe McCurrie and Lewis Leonard. If the testimony of McCurrie be true, the defendant was entitled to the general charge, for if the defendants' trainmen were guilty of wantonness as charged it was not the proximate cause of the death of the intestate, as it shows that they, as companions, went to the point in question to jump the train in order to return to their home at Anniston; that it was dark and they kindled a fire on the side of the track in order to see the steps or handholds as the train passed; that after the front of the train passed he mounted a rear car; and the last he saw of the deceased he was trying to mount one behind him. Therefore the plaintiff, in order to make out a case, had to rely upon the evidence of Leonard in connection with other evidence. The proof fails to show that the intestate was killed at a public crossing, as none of the streets crossed the track but terminated at the edge of the track or embankment upon which it was laid. There was some proof of a path which led up to or over the track, and there was some proof that it was frequently used by people going to work at daylight but it is doubtful if the intestate was run over while using the path. It may be conceded, however, that if the intestate was killed at a populous crossing, the only constituent of wantonness was the rate of speed the train was going, as the proof shows that the engineer was keeping a lookout and constantly blew the whistle. The rate of speed alone does not constitute wantonness. Northern R. R. v. McGough, 96 So. 569, 209 Ala. 435. Moreover, there was no proof that the engineer was conscious of conditions existing at this point and at that time of day. He may have never passed there before at that hour, and the proof shows that this was an extra or special train. L. N. R. R. v. Heidtmueller, 89 So. 191, 206 Ala. 30.

The only other theory upon which the case could go to the jury was that the engineer wantonly failed to use all means at hand to avoid injuring the intestate after discovering his peril. The witness, Leonard, testified, in effect, that the intestate was off the track, but was signaled by the engineer and did not proceed to go across until the engine was in a few feet of him, seven or eight, and, whether the train was going 35 or 15 miles an hour, we can safely say it could not have been slackened in time to avoid injuring him. The law does not require doing a useless thing. The defendant having been entitled to the general charge, if there was error in giving other charges for the defendant and refusing those requested by the plaintiff, it was error without injury.

Nor do we think that the ruling of the trial court on the evidence had any material bearing upon the vital questions in the case. It is sufficient to say, however, there was no error in permitting the witness McCurrie to testify why they went to this point and what they did, as it did not relate alone to the uncommunicated purpose or motive of the intestate, but was the narration of an agreement or understanding between them.

The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

SAYRE, GARDNER, and MILLER, JJ., concur.