Faulkner v. South Pacific Railroad

51 Mo. 311 | Mo. | 1873

Adams, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The plaintiff sued the defendants for damages growing out of the alleged breach of contract of affreightment from St. Louis to Lebanon, and from Arlington to Lebanon also, for goods sold-and delivered, and upon an account for lost goods assigned to plaintiffs.

The petition alleges that defendant is a corporation,- and that it is a common carrier of goods and passengers from St. Louis to Lebanon. This allegation is not noticed by the answer, and it therefore, for the purpose of this case, must be taken as true, and this will dispose of the question of alleged partnership between the two railroads, as it makes no kind of difference whether the two railroads were partners or not. They nevertheless could make an arrangement whereby the South Pacific might become liable as a common carrier for shipments, etc., in connection with the Pacific Eailroad Company from St,.Louis to Lebanon, and as this allegation is not denied, the presumption is that this arrangement did exist.

The answer after thus impliedly admitting the above allegation, denies all the other material allegations of plaintiff’s petition, and sets up as a counter-claim the sum of two hundred dollars which had been paid by mistake to the plaintiff. This two hundred dollars is also referred to in the petition, and deducted from the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs based their right to damages on the ground of delay in forwarding their goods to their places of destination, after they had been shipped or received by the defendants on board of theii- cars, and charged that the goods during this time declined in value, and the difference in value between when they ought to have been delivered, and when acually delivered is the gravamen of their complaint as to these shipments. They also claim that some lumber shipped was never delivered, and claim that it was converted by the defendants.

The plaintiff introduced evidence tending to prove their case as laid in the petition, and conducing to show that there was a delay of several days in delivering the goods beyond a reasonable time for that purpose.

The defendants introduced evidence tending to show that at the time these goods were shipped, there was a large accumulation or rush of business of this character, which amounted to more than the rolling stock could carry, and that the delay grew out of this extraordinary rush of busines; that they had sufficient rolling stock for the usual or ordinary transaction of the business of the road. The first point relied on by the appellants is, that the company was released from liability for the delay in the delivery of the goods by the extraordinary rush of business, which required more than the usual amount of rolling stock, &c. If tins had been a mere offer to deliver goods for transportation, the company would have been justified in refusing to receive them, on the ground referred to. JBut the petition alleges an actual shipment, and this allegation is supported by the proof. Where goods are actually shipped, it is the duty of common carriers to send them forward without delay! After the reception of the goods it is too late to look to the rolling stock, &c. They must do this before the reception of the goods ; and if there be an unusual influx of business beyond their capacity, they may decline an offer for shipment of goods without incurring any liability. This doctrine was maintained by this court in Tucker vs. The Pacific Railroad Company, 50 Mo., 385; and we see no reason now to disturb this ruling.

The next point is in regard to the measure of damages. This question was also presented in Tucker vs. The Pacific Railroad Company, by an instruction to the effect that the measure of damages was the difference in the price of the goods between when they ought to have been delivered, and when they were actually received at the place of destination. This instruction was held to be correct, and it is substantially the same as those objected to on that subject in this ease.

On the whole record, I think that the verdict and judgment were for the right party. Judgment affirmed.

Judge Sherwood not sitting. The other Judges concur.