Thomas v. Western Union Telegraph Co.

Opinion by

Judge Nunn

Reversing.

The appellant instituted this action against the appellee for $1,000 in damages for its negligence in failing, by its servants and agents, to deliver to her in a reasonable time twfi telegrams sent to her by her brother from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and addressed to her at Clinton, Ky. The telegrams are as follows: “To Mollie Thomas in country, Clinton, Ky.: Father is dead. Send me what money you have, meet me at Oakton. ’ ’ This telegram was received at the Clinton office at 11:14 a. m. November 3, 1903. In about three hours after this, the. following was received: “To Mollie Thomas in country, Clinton, Ky.: Under the changes in the law, we can’t come, so please answer whether you can come.” Appellant received these telegrams at the same time — about 6 o’clock p-. m. on the 4th — and she immediately w'ent to the telegraph office, and telegraphed her brother to held the corpse until she arrived. She took the first train, and went the quickest route, and arrived at Poplar Bluff about 9 o’clock on the evening of the 5th. The corpse had not been buried, but it was in such a state of decomposition that it was impossible for her to see it, and this was occasioned by reason of the failure of appellee to deliver her the telegrams with reasonable diligence. The appellant at that time resided about two miles from the city of Clinton, and it appears, without contradiction, that her brother so informed appellee’s agent at Poplar Bluff of this fact at the time the telegrams were sent, and paid him the messenger’s fees, in addition to the cost of the telegrams, to insure their prompt delivery. The messages themselves corroborate this, by being addressed to her as in the country. It also appears that appellant was well known in the town of Clinton and vicinity, and also that the messages were never delivered by a messenger, but were given to one of her neighbors who happened to be in Clinton on the morning of the 4th. When this neighbor took the telegrams, he informed the agent of appellee that he was not going home until night, and that he would not deliver them until that time. On motion of appellee, the lower court struck out of the pleadings the second telegram and all the allegations with reference thereto, and, after the evidence of appellant was heard, sustained appellee’s motion for a peremptory instruction, and she has appealed.

It appears from the proof that it was the intention of her brother in Poplar Bluff to prepare the body and ship it to Oakton, Ky., for burial, and this was the reason he called upon her for what money she had. But he soon after ascertained that under the laws of that State the body had to be embalmed before it could be shipped, and that the embalment would cost $60 or $65. After having waited for about three hours, and not having heard from his sister, he changed his mind, and concluded to bury the body at Popular Bluff, and hence sent the second telegram. Appellant testified that she had sufficient money for the purpose, and would have sent it if she had receive J the first telegram before receiving the second. We are of the opinion that the lower court erred in striking out the second telegram and the pleadings and proof with reference thereto, and also erred in giving the peremptory instruction to find for appellee. These two telegrams should be construed together. They were received by appellee’s agent at Clinton within a few hours of each other. The first notified appellant that her father was dead, and the purpose to bury him at Oakton, near her. The second notified her of the abandonment of the purpose to bury him at Oakton, and requested her to answer as to whether she could come to Poplar Bluff. These two telegrams meant: “Father is dead. Can you come? Answer.” Appellee’s agent who received them must have so understood them. It is shown that appellant so understood them, for she went that night after receiving them to appellee’s office, and telegraphed her brother that she was coming, and not to bury the corpse.

It appears that appellant was delayed 26 hours in getting to the place where her father’s corpse lay, by reason of the negligence of appellee in failing to deliver these telegrams, although it had been paid messenger’s fees for prompt delivery, and that, by reason of its failure to deliver them with diligence, she was prevented from seeing him. This court, in the cases of this appellee v. Fisher, 107 Ky., 513, 54 S. W., 830, 21 Ky. Law Rep., 1293; Same v. Mathews, 107 Ky., 663, 55 S. W., 427, 21 Ky. Law Rep., 1405; Same v. Vancleave, 107 Ky., 464, 54 S. W., 827, 22 Ky. Law Rep., 53, and Chapman v. this appellee, 90 Ky., 265, 12 Ky. Law Rep., 65, 13 S. W., 880, announced the principle that a party could recover against a telegraph company for injured feelings in failing to get to a relative before death, or before burial, pro» vided such, failure was caused by the negligent failure of the telegraph company to deliver the messages with reasonable diligence. If a recovery in such cases can be had, we can see no reason why the appellant should not be permitted to recover in this case for injury to feelings and grief in not being permitted to see her father before his burial. If there is any difference between this and the cases referred to, it is only in degree. • -

Wherefore the judgment of the lower court is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings, consistent herewith.

Judges Barker and Settle, dissent. Judge Can-trill, absent.