Williams v. Atlantic Coast Lbr. Corp.

August 24, 1926. The opinion of the Court was delivered by The respondent, through a predecessor in interest, became the owner of the standing trees on a tract of land described in the complaint, down to 12 inches at the stump at the time of cutting, and the time expired on December 29, 1919. The grant carried the right, among other things "to erect all steam railways and tramways, machinery, buildings, improvements, and fixtures" to be used for the objects and purposes set out in the deed, and to cut such small timber as the grantee "may want to use in constructing and running said railways and tramways." It appears that the respondent commenced to cut and remove the trees some time during the summer of 1919. It contends that it ceased to cut the trees on the second day of December, 1919.

The appellant contends that the cutting went on, long after that date in December. A considerable number of trees was left standing on the land, and the appellant contends that a very large quantity of trees was cut down, aggregating something like 1,000,000 feet of lumber, while the respondent contends that there were only about 178,000 feet cut down, and sawed into stock lengths, and which it was unable to remove on account of the scarcity of labor at that season of the year. The respondent removed from the premises at the expiration of its right to operate, and not quite two years thereafter this action was commenced. There are two causes of action set up in the complaint, alleging, in brief, that the wrongs done by the respondent to the appellant are in substance as follows:

"That in the assertion of its right claimed under the aforesaid deed, the defendant unreasonably, acting without right or authority, in violation of the rights of the plaintiff, over his protest, negligently, willfully, and wantonly (a) cut and removed from said premises large quantities of fallen timber of great value which were not embraced within the conveyance above described; (b) wastefully used large quantities of timber and small trees for cross-ties in excess of any reasonable needs; (c) put out fire on the premises, thereby destroying large quantities of wood, trees, fencing, and other property; (d) cut and removed a large number of line trees from said property; (e) injured and destroyed by its operations large quantities of young timber on said land which were not covered by the said deed, as well as the undergrowth, brush, and shrubbery thereon, such injury and destruction being wholly unnecessary, defendant being well able to cut and remove, with all reasonable convenience, all the timber acquired by it under said deed without causing such injury or destruction."

The damage for this cause of action is alleged to be the sum of $15,000.

For a second cause of action, it is alleged that the respondent, knowing that it could not cut and remove all of the timber within the time limited, and upon failing to get the time extended, willfully, wantonly, and in utter disregard of the rights of the appellant, and in order to oppress him, went upon the said timber, thereby destroying said timber and the plaintiff's property rights therein, and left the same on the premises, thereby greatly damaging the small trees, timber, shrubbery, and other property not covered by the aforesaid deed, to the further damage of appellant in the sum of $15,000, and judgment is demanded for $30,000.

The answer of the defendant, after admitting the execution of the conveyance of the timber and the possession and operation under it, denies all other allegations of the complaint; and alleges that it exercised its right in a reasonable and lawful manner, and that it cut and removed the timber in good faith, without violating the rights of the plaintiff; that as to any timber that was already down, not embraced in the conveyance, the respondent offered to allow the appellant timber from other land, and this the defendant accepted; at the same time denying that it cut any trees on the land to which the appellant was entitled, but if such was done, it pleads satisfaction and settlement; and in reference particularly to the allegation contained in the second cause of action, it admits that it could not get an extension from the appellant; that it cut down the trees in good faith, expecting to be able to remove them, but on account of scarcity of labor at that season of the year, it was hindered from procuring labor to complete the cutting and removing of the timber from the land, and that it left standing thereon, uncut, a very considerable amount of timber which it was entitled to cut, under the terms of its deed; and that it cut down no timber with the intention of leaving it on the land.

The appellant moved to strike from the answer of the defendant the following allegation: "It left standing thereon, uncut, a very considerable amount of timber which it was entitled to cut under the terms of the aforesaid deed," on the ground that the same was "irrelevant, redundant, and constituted no defense." This motion was denied.

The trial of the case resulted in a verdict in favor of the defendant. A motion for a new trial was made upon two grounds: (1) Because it was undisputed that the plaintiff removed from the land and converted to its own use "down timber" which was the property of the appellant; (2) because it was undisputed that the respondent, without right or authority, put out fire on defendant's land, thereby causing some injury for which he should be compensated.

The exceptions will be reported. We think that the exceptions may be considered under the grouping as made by the respondent, the charges being that the Court erred:

"(a) In holding that it was relevant for defendant to show in defense to the second cause of action that standing timber was left on the land. See exceptions 1 and 2.

"(b) In the admission of testimony and in his charge as to the use of skidders. See exceptions 3 and 8.

"(c) In holding that plaintiff was not entitled to recover for the cutting of line trees. See exceptions 4, 9, and 10.

"(d) In excluding testimony relating to the cutting of other tracts of timber by defendant. See exceptions 5, 6, and 7.

"(e) In his charge to the jury as to the liability of defendant with reference to fires, and in refusing a new trial on this ground. See exceptions 11, 12, and 16.

"(f) In charging the jury with reference to defendant's right to use small timber. See exception 13.

"(g) In refusing a new trial upon the ground that defendant had converted some of plaintiff's down timber. See exception 15."

Considering these exceptions in their order:

(a) The appellant charged that the respondent, knowing that it could not remove the trees within the time limited in the conveyance, willfully, and with intent to oppress the appellant, caused large numbers of trees to be cut down and left upon the ground, the intent being to injure and oppress the appellant. One of the best evidences of the intention of the respondent to do these acts would naturally be gathered from what the respondent did or did not do, and while it might not technically be a defense to defeat a cause of action, if one existed, it was entirely proper to make this allegation, and to offer proof in support of it, in direct negation of the allegations of willfulness and intent on the part of the respondent to oppress the appellant.

(b) In reference to the use of a skidder as machinery — the progress of the trial his Honor held that the respondent would have a right to use a skidder, unless it was "unreasonable or unnecessary," adding:

"It becomes a question for the jury, and if it was machinery in common use, they had a right to use it."

Testimony was introduced, showing the condition of the land where a skidder was used and where other means were used to remove the timber. His Honor told the jury that whether or not skidders were embraced in the use of the term machinery in the contract, would depend on whether or not they were known and used as suitable instruments and machines in logging operations when the deed was made in 1899, and were reasonably convenient, suitable, and adapted for such use.

In this connection, his Honor further charged that the respondent would be liable to the defendant for any damage which might result from its negligent acts in the cutting and removing of the timber sold to it, but that it would be liable only for such damage as arose, if any there was, from any trespass, or such negligent, willful or wanton act of wrong as are alleged in the complaint to have been committed by the respondent, its servants, and agents, in connection with the cutting and removing of the timber, and it would be the duty of the respondent to use ordinary care to avoid unnecessary injury or damage to the lands and small growth not sold by the appellant.

Taken in connection with the plaintiff's first request, which embodied a correct proposition of law and was charged as such, the whole issue in reference to the use of a skidder as a means or instrumentality for cutting and removing the trees and timber was correctly submitted to the jury.

This request of the plaintiff is as follows:

"While a purchaser of timber standing on the land of another has a right to remove the timber in such manner as may be reasonably necessary to obtain the fruits of his purchase, yet he has no right to arbitrarily use any means or instrumentalities that he may desire to use, nor can he arbitrarily exercise his rights in such manner as he may desire to exercise them, or in such manner as may best suit his convenience, but he must use such means and such instrumentalities, and must exercise his rights in such manner as a person of reasonable care and prudence would act under the circumstances, having due regard to the rightof the landowner."

(c) Relating to the cutting of line trees, exceptions 4, 9, and 10: There is not any reservation in the deed. If the appellant conveyed a greater interest in the trees than he had, the other party who has an interest in the line trees, might complain, but the appellant would have no cause of action, as he is estopped by his conveyance. The fact that these acts are forbidden by the Criminal Code and are punishable, has no bearing upon the issues here.

(d) Relating to exceptions 5, 6, and 7, raising issues as to proof of cutting timber on other lands: The appellant sought to show that in other instances in which the respondent was unable to procure extensions for cutting and removing trees from other lands, the respondent, for spite and in order to compel others to grant extensions, had cut and left large quantities of timber on such other lands, with no intent to remove the timber. The appellant was denied the right to offer such testimony.

The general rule is that the law will not consider evidence that a person has done a certain act at a particular time, as probative of a contention that he has done a similar act at another time. 42 Corpus Juris, p. 744. See, also, Southern Railway v. Howell, 79 S.C. 288;60 S.E., 677.

(e) Relating to his Honor's charge to the jury with reference to fires and refusing to grant a new trial on this ground, as complained of in exceptions 11, 12, and 16: His Honor correctly charged the jury that if the jury found that in the course of operations, fire was accidentally put out by the respondent, it would not be liable. At the request of the appellant, his Honor charged the jury:

"If you find from the testimony that the defendant in the course of its timber operations negligently put out fire on plaintiff's land, then defendant would be liable to plaintiff for the actual damage done to plaintiff by said fire."

This is in direct response to the allegations made in the complaint, which alleged a common-law action, based on negligence. The distinction between the two causes of action is well recognized, one being under the statute,Crawford v. Lumber Co., 110 S.C. 318; 96 S.E., 494; and the other at common law, based on negligence. This has been long recognized. Hunter v. Columbia, N. L.R. Co., 41 S.C. 86; 19 S.E., 197.

The complaint in this case, in addition to alleging negligence, alleges that the fire was willfully and wantonly put out on the premises of the appellant, destroying large quantities of wood, trees, fencing, and other property. While it appeared that fire had burnt over some portions of appellant's land, the testimony is conflicting. The appellant offered testimony tending to show damage, and the respondent, on the other hand, offered testimony tending to show that there was no damage done — all of which was passed upon by the jury.

(f) Relates to alleged errors with reference to submission of the issue as to cutting and using small timber as found in exception 13. As to this, his Honor charged the jury:

"You should ascertain how much such timber less than 12 inches in diameter was cut and used by defendant for such purposes, and how much was necessary for such, and so determine whether defendant cut or used more than was reasonably necessary, and if the defendant cut more than was necessary for those purposes, how much the cutting of such excess injured the land or rendered it less valuable than before. If the plaintiff should be entitled to damages on account of such cutting, it would only be for such damage as grew out of the cutting of the excess."

His Honor charged the jury, at the request of the respondent, as follows:

"I charge you that, under the deed executed by the plaintiff, the defendant had the right to cut such small timber on plaintiff land as it might want to use in constructing and running its tramways on said land."

In the same connection he charged the jury as follows:

"In a conveyance conferring the right to cut such small timber as the grantee may not want `to use in constructing and running said railroads and tramroads.' it does not mean such as the grantee may arbitrarily or unreasonably want to use, but only such as a reasonable man would want to use, having due regard for the rights and interest of the grantor.

"While the defendant in this case, under the terms of the timber deed, had a right to use such small timber for crossties as it might want to use in constructing and running its railroads and tramroads, provided for under the terms of the timber deed, yet that does not mean it could use such small timber for cross-ties as it might arbitrarily or at its mere whim desire to use, but it would be limited to such small timber for cross-ties as was reasonably necessary in the enjoyment of the right granted, and if it used small timber for cross-ties in an excessive, wasteful, and unreasonable manner, then it would be liable to plaintiff in damages for so doing."

(g) Relates to alleged error in not granting a new trial upon the ground that respondent had converted some of the appellant's "down" timber. The testimony was conflicting as to whether any timber was used that was not embraced in the conveyance. Testimony was offered by the respondent tending to show that a statement was offered the appellant by the respondent by giving other trees in place of those which the appellant claimed that he was entitled to, and he accepted this in settlement. His Honor plainly charged the jury that if any such fallen timber was used, it would be a trespass against the appellant, for which he could recover his actual damages — the value of the timber so taken from him.

As stated, there was testimony tending to show that there was no such timber upon the ground, and there was further testimony in relation to accord and satisfaction, if any were taken, all of which was passed upon by the jury.

We omitted exception 14 from the group (b) as made by respondent. That exception is as follows:

"That his Honor committed error in charging the jury: `I charge you that it it is usually necessary in cutting and removing timber to damage or destroy some of the other growth upon the land.'"

This is complained of as a charge on the facts. It has been so repeatedly held that it is not error to refer to an admitted state of facts, that it is not necessary to cite authority in support of this. The Court can and does take notice of the fact that, if there is an undergrowth in the woods, and trees are thrown upon it, the undergrowth will be damaged, and it is impossible to remove a tree without cutting it down. There was no error, as imputed, therefore, in this exception.

While we have adopted the grouping made by the respondent, exception 15 imputes error in not granting a new trial on two grounds, as hereinbefore shown, the one upon the ground that it appears that "down timber" was taken and not paid for, and the other that fire was put out and did damage for which no compensation was made.

As we have attempted to show, as to the one, there was an issue as to whether any down timber was taken at all, and there was testimony to the effect that if such was taken, settlement was agreed upon. As to the other, the issue as to putting out the fire and the damage done by it was submitted to the jury.

We have made reference to the various exceptions generally, refraining from repeating them, for the reason that, being reported, the references we have here made to them can be enlarged by an examination of the exceptions themselves.

The case, being a most trying and difficult one in its many phases, was fairly submitted to a jury who knew all of the parties — the jury weighed the testimony and found in favor of the respondent. There is not a material matter arising under the allegations of the complaint which is not controverted. It was the province of the jury to settle these issues, and on each and every issue his Honor painstakingly and with great clearness charged the jury, and, in our opinion without error. All of the exceptions are therefore overruled, and the judgment is affirmed.

MESSRS. JUSTICES COTHRAN, BLEASE and STABLER concur.

MR. JUSTICE WATTS dissents.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE GARY did not participate.