Holton v. Norfolk Southern Railroad

Civil action to recover damages for injuries to live stock shipped over road of defendant company. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff, and defendant excepted and appealed. The evidence in the cause is not very fully stated in the case on appeal agreed upon by counsel, and we find some difficulty in making satisfactory disposition of the questions presented. From a perusal of the evidence, in so far as given, and a statement of the positions of the parties, plaintiff and defendant, made in his Honor's charge to the jury, it appears that a lot of live stock, horses and mules, were shipped to plaintiff over defendant company's road; that they were transported to New Bern, the terminal point, in good condition, and one or more of them were injured in being unloaded. It seems that plaintiff was present at this unloading, and that some of the stock pushed against others as they were passing down the stock chute, and the rail of the chute gave away, causing one or more of the horses to fall, by reason of which the injury occurred.

It is well understood that railroad companies transporting live stock, under an ordinary contract of shipment, are considered as common carriers and held as insurers of safe delivery, except "for injuries arising from the natural vices or the inherent nature and propensities of the animals themselves or from the vitality of the freight, as it is sometimes expressed," and as to these, the carriers are only responsible for injuries attributable to their negligence. Harden v. R. R., 157 N.C. 238.

In recognition of this principle, the present case was determined on an issue as to the company's negligence, and the court, being of opinion that the question depended on whether the stock chute was rotten or defective, submitted the case in that aspect, and there was verdict for the plaintiff. In the opening of the case on appeal, however, the statement appears: "That the slide or chute was of the character and construction ordinarily used by the road for this purpose"; "that the same was in good condition and apparently had no defects." From this it would seem, as the record now appears, that there was no testimony tending to show that the chute was rotten or defective, and there was prejudicial error in (157) directing the jury to decide the issue on that question.

After giving the matter most careful consideration, we are of opinion that there should be a new trial of the cause, and it is so ordered.

New trial.

Cited: Fuller v. R. R., 214 N.C. 652 (g).