Miller v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

138 S.E. 675 | S.C. | 1926

Lead Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Citiee Justice Watts.

The “Case” contains the following statement:

“The cause above named was begun by the service of summons and complaint in July, 1923, but the summons and complaint were never served on defendant Arthur Pulley, and first came on for trial before his Plonor, Judge Milledge T. Bonham, and a jury, May 1, 2, and 3, 1924, term of the Court of Common Pleas for Richland County, and resulted in a mistrial. The case next came for trial before his Honor, Judge Wm. H. Townsend, and a jury, on May-22 and 23, 1924, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount asked for, $50,000. The verdict found by the jury is as follows: ‘We find for the plaintiff against the Atlantic Coast Tine Railroad Company the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, actual damages; we further find for the plaintiff against the Camp Manufacturing Company the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars actual damages. [Signed] E. J. Zobel, Foreman.’ Motions for direction of verdict and for new trial were duly made by the appellants and were overruled by the trial Judge.”

Both appellants file exceptions. The Atlantic Coast Line has interposed five separate exceptions peculiar to its appeal and ten general exceptions common to itself and Camp Manufacturing Company. The exceptions raise the question that a directed verdict should have been granted as asked for, upon the verdict that exonerated all of the other defendants against whom the wrongful acts are charged; no allegation or evidence of Clintworth’s (the station agent’s) negligence constituting the proximate cause, verdict should have been directed for the defendants; error in admission of testimony; that the Court erred in charge of proximate cause; gross and excessive damages; error in charge as to the right of the railroad company to obstruct the highway crossing in the use of the side track; in not directing a verdict on the ground of gross contributory negligence. The exceptions raise- the question that, as the jury did not find Pulley, the engineer of Camp Company, liable, or Johnston, the engineer of the Atlantic Coast Line, liable, the verdict necessarily exonerated the masters or companies for which the parties were working, respectively. The evidence was sufficient to carry the case to the jury that the Camp Company, with the consent, acquiescence, and approval of the Atlantic Coast Line, had placed and kept its train on the track of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway and across the public highway and crossing of said road, and obstructed the crossing of said highway and crossing, and it was for the jury to say whether unnecessarily and for an unreasonable length of time, and whether it was without headlights, safeguards, or warning to the public of such obstruction.

The evidence shows that Clintworth, the agent of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway Company, by his active direction, allowed it. The Atlantic Coast Line Railway owned the track; Clintworth was its agent and had authority and control. The evidence shows that in the Town of 'St. Stephens, where the accident happened at the main public crossing, over three parallel tracks of the Atlantic Coast Line, the population and business houses of the town of 500 or 600,people are about equally situated on either side of the railroad, and that this was the main crossing for the entire town. There was evidence for the jury to say whether there were lights or not at the crossing, either on the train which obstructed it or on the depot. The situation was such that both companies owed the duty to the public of whatever would be reasonably adequate to protect this crossing, with the increased danger which they had caused.

There was no light provided by town or either railroad. There was no flagman there. We see no error on the part of his Honor in submitting the case to the jury; the public has a right to be protected where a highway crosses a railroad track.

This Court has decided that, where the servant or employee sued was not the only agency, under the pleadings and evidence, which could have committed the wrong, then acquittal of the servant is not a discharge of the master. Howell v. Southern R. Co., 114 S. C., 31; 102 S. E., 856; Spigener v. S. A. L. R. Co., 111 S. C., 414; 98 S. E., 330; Beauchamp v. Winnsboro Granite Co., 113 S. C., 527; 101 S. E., 856; Donald v. A. C. L. R. Co., 117 S. C., 7; 108 S. E., 180. In the Howell case this Court says:

“But the acquittal of Williams will not affect the acquittal of the railroad, unless Williams was the only agency by which the event could have been compassed, and the testimony shows abundantly that he was not.”

In the Beauchamp case the Court, speaking through Mr. Justice Hydrick, said:

“But, while the company is liable for the conduct of the engine crew, though they may have acted in violation of their orders and also for the conduct of the defendant Hey-ward, if he was guilty of wrongdoing resulting in damage to plaintiff, because all of them were its agents or servants, nevertheless the liability of the defendant Heyward depends upon his own conduct, and not upon that of the engine crew, especially if they violated his instructions, because they were not his servants. Evidently the Court fell into the error of regarding Heyward as the master, but he was not. He was only the representative of the master; and a representative of the master is not personally liable for the conduct of other agents or servants of the same master under him, unless he makes himself a participant therein in some way, either by actual participation, by directing their conduct, or otherwise. 7 Eabatt’s Master and Servant, § 2590. Therefore the jury should have been instructed, as requested, that, if they believed Mr. Heyward’s testimony, they would not find against him; and, of course, it follows that the Court erred in charging the jury that they could not find against the company without finding against Heyward. This conclusion is in harmony with all of our decisions on the point.”

It is the duty of a railroad, at common law (and outside of any statutory requirements), to give such signals at a public crossing as may be reasonably sufficient, in view of the peculiar situation and surroundings at the time, and as will give the public and individuals warning of the approach and guard them against danger. Callison v. C. & W. C. R. Co., 106 S. C., 131, 132; 90 S. E., 260; Chisolm v. S. A. L. R. Co., 121 S. C., 401; 114 S. E., 500 (7); McAllister v. C. & O. R. Co., 243 U. S., 308; 7 S. Ct., 274; 61 L. Ed., 740; Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co. v. Sharp, 63 F., 532; 11 C. C. A., 338, 339; 2 Elliott on Roads and Streets (3d Ed.), §§ 1023, 1024, 1025; Clifford v. Southern Ry., 87 S. C., 328; 69 S. E., 513, and cases cited; Kaminitsky v. Railroad Co., 25 S. C., 61.

Ordinary prudence might require a particular crossing to be flagged at certain times, and not others, on account of the circumstances of extraordinary danger, and this is ordinarily a question for the jury. Callison v. C. & W. C. R. Co., supra; Matthews v. Railway Co., 67 S. C., 513, 514; 46 S. E., 335; 65 L. R. A., 286; 2 Elliott on Roads and Streets (3d Ed.), § 1023; Langley v. Southern Ry., 113 S. C., 56, 57; 101 S. E., 286; Edwards v. Railroad, 132 N. C., 100, 101; 43 S. E., 585. In the Matthews case, which was an accident at a traveled place along the track of Charleston & Western Carolina and Southern, in Greenwood, the Court, speaking through Mr. Justice Woods, in regard to the liability of both railroad companies, said:

“Th'e charge is, not that the cut which made the danger and into which Partlow fell was improperly constructed and located, but that, owing to the kind of path that led to it over the right of way of the Southern Railway and the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway, these defendants, after the cut was made, owed the duty to Partlow, entering it as one of the public, either to properly notify the public not to use the path, or to guard or warn by obstructions or lights. The wrong, if any, was in inviting Partlow into a place of danger known to them, but not to him, without warning or safeguard; and it was of no consequence that the danger was not created by these companies, but by the rightful action of another railroad in making the cut. If under such circumstances he was injured, without fault on his part, they should be held liable. On the other hand, the lessees of the Georgia, Carolina & Northern Railway cannot avoid liability on the ground that it had no part in allowing the use of the path, and had never in any way consented to such an approach to its cut. It is alleged the Georgia, Carolina & Northern Railway Company knew of the existtence and nature of the path when it made the cut, which was dangerous to pedestrians because of its being across the path at right angles. It will hardly be disputed that one who rightfully makes a ditch or cut, dangerous to travelers, across a well-defined way, with knowledge that it has for a long time been used as a public way, and gives no warning and places no safeguard, will be liable to those who, without fault of their own, are injured thereby. If there was any duty to safeguard the cut, it seems clear that it was a duty ■which devolved upon each of the defendants. From this conclusion it results that the defendants were properly sued jointly. If two or more persons owe to another the same duty, and by their common neglect of that duty he is injured, doubtless the tort is joint, and upon well-settled principles each, any, or all of the tortfeasors may be held. But when each of two or more persons owe to another a sepalate duty, which each wrongfully neglects to perform, then, although the duties were diverse and disconnected, and the 'neglect of each was without concert, if such several neglects concurred and united together in causing injury, the tort is equally joint, and the tortfeasors are subject to a like liability.”

And Mr. Justice Marion, in the Chisolm case, which is regarded as a leading case on the duties both of the party crossing and of the railroad, says:

“A railroad company and a traveler on a highway crossing are charged with a mutual duty of keeping a lookout for danger, and the degree of vigilance required of both is in proportion to the known risk; the greater the danger, the greater care required of-both.”

In Callison v. C. & W. C. Ry., supra, our Court, speaking through Mr. Justice Hydrick, says:

“And there can be no doubt that ordinary prudence might require a particular crossing to be flagged at certain times, or at one time, on account of circumstances of extraordinary danger, when that degree of care would not be required at all times. Suppose, for instance, a train should approach a crossing constantly used by a great many people, when the atmosphere is so dense with dust or smoke that its approach could not be seen, and those using the crossing could not tell upon which track it is coming; would not ordinary prudence suggest that a flag be sent ahead? The degree of care should be commensurate with the danger. The question here is not whether this crossing should have been flagged at all, but only on the occasion in question. The evidence is that, under ordinary circumstances, those using it had an open and unobstructed view of it and of the tracks approaching it, and therefore, under normal conditions, flagging may not have been necessary for safety. But, on the occasion in question, the train was going upon a double-tracked crossing, which was frequented by people traveling in automobiles. It was going forward during a rainstorm, which obscured the vision of the trainmen through the glass of the cab windows, as well as that of the. man in the automobile through his windshield, and, possibly, also interfered with each hearing the approach of the other.”

In Eargle v. Sumter Lighting Co., 110 S. C., 567; 96 S. E., 909, the Court speaking through the same Justice, says:

“The degree of care to be exercised in every case should be commensurate with the danger; the greater the danger, the greater the care required; that a very high degree of danger calls for a very high degree of care.”

In the Clifford cáse, the Court, through Mr. Jutsice Hydrick, said:

“In Kaminitsky v. Railroad Co., 25 S. C., 61, the Court said: 'The common law required the giving of such signals at highways crossings as were reasonable in view of the situation and surroundings “to put individuals using the highway on their guard.” Pierce, R. R., 349, and notes.. The signals required by the aforesaid statutes did not supersede these reasonable signals, which were before necessary. They did not take away the common-law right of action, by giving in lieu thereof. a new cause of action under the statutes, but simply declared what were proper signals, and expressly made them “cumulative.” ’ ”

In the Kaminitsky case the Court considered the case as one at common law, with the right to show in evidence the precautions by way of signals which had been required by the statutes.

In Burns v. Railway Co., 61 S. C., 409; 39 S. E., 567, the Court says:

“The right to bring an action at common law was hot superseded by the statutory remedy” (as to crossings).

It was properly submitted to the jury whether the appellant Camp Company was operating its train in violation of Code 1922, Vol. 3, § 4898. Mew v. Railway Co., 55 S. C., 101; 32 S. E., 828; Crawford v. Mullins Lumber Co., 110 S. C., 318; 96 S. E., 494.

Both the lessor and lessee, licensor and licensee, are responsible for any damages arising out of the operation of the railroad. Salley Oil Co. v. Southern Ry. Co., 108 S. C., 131; 93 S. E., 336; Phillips v. S. A. L. R. Co., 127 S. C., 541; 122 S. E., 309.

As to the exceptions alleging error on the part of his Honor in his charge on proximate cause: This question of proximate cause is one ordinarily for the jury, and is decided by the Court only when the evidence is susceptible of only one rational inference. There was plenty of evidence in this case for submission to the jury. Mr. Justice Marion says, in State v. DesChamps, 126 S. C., 420, 429; 120 S. E., 491, 493, as follows:

“ ‘The proximate cause of an injury is that cause which, in natural and continuous sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces the injury, and without which the result would not have occurred.’ 22 R. C. R., 110, § 2. The efficient ‘intervening cause must be one, not produced by the wrongful act or omission, but independent of it, and adequate to bring injurious results.’ Mack v. Railroad, 52 S. C., 336; 29 S. E., 910; 40 L. R. A., 679; 68 Am. St. Rep., 913. Cooper v. Richland County, 76 S. C., 20; 56 S. E., 958; 10 L. R. A. (N. $.), 799; 121 Am. St. Rep., 946. Any cause intervening between the first wrongful cause and the final injury, which might reasonably have been foreseen or anticipated by the original wrongdoer, is not such efficient intervening cause as will relieve the original wrong of its character in law as the ‘proximate cause’ of the final injury. Harrison v. Berkely, 1 Strob. 525, 549. Cooper v. Richland County, supra, 22 R. C. L., 134, § 19.”

As to the exceptions as not necesary to foresee particular injury, we see nothing as to his Honor’s charge defining and explaining proximate cause as complained of, taking the charge as-a whole. In Sandel v. State, 115 S. C., 180; 104 S. E., 567, 571 (13 A. L. R., 1268), Mr. Justice Hydride says:

“But, in application, the rule may need explanation; for instance, it is not necessary to show that a person charged with negligence should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury that resulted. It is enough that he should have foreseen that his negligence would probably result in injury of some kind to some one.”

To the same effect is Wilson v. Northern P. R. Co., 30 N. D., 456; 153 N. W., 429 L. R. A., 1915-E, 995. Hubbard v. Bartholomew, 163 Iowa, 58; 144 N. W., 13; 49 L. R. A. (N. S.), 446. Dallas v. Maxwell (Tex Com. App.), 248 S. W., 667; 27 A. L. R., 931

We see nothing in the exceptions made that-a verdict should have been directed as asked for on the ground that the evidence showed, and no other inference could be drawn therefrom than that the accident resulting in the death of .plaintiff’s intestate was due to an independent intervening cause. Sandel v. State, 115 S. C., 176; 104 S. E., 567; 13 A. L. R., 1268. Howell v. Union Buffalo Mills, 121 S. C., 137; 113 S. E., 577; State v. DesChamps, 126 S. C., 420; 120 S. E., 491. In the Howell case Mr. Justice Marion says:

“For proximate and natural consequences, not controlled by the unforeseen agency of a moral being, capable of discretion, and left free to choose, or by some unconnécted cause of greater influence, a wrongdoer must generally answer, however small was the probability of their occurrence.”

In Sandel v. State, our Court, speaking through Mr. Justice .Hydrick, lays down this definition or test:

“The test, therefore, of the sufficiency of intervening causes to defeat recovery, is not to be found in the mere fact of their existence or number, but rather in their nature, and the manner in which they affect the continuity of the operation of the primary cause, or the connection between it and the injury. If they so affect it that the injury cannot fairly be said to be the natural and probable consequence of the primary cause, they become the proximate or efficient, and the primary becomes the remote, cause. The law does not go back to the last efficient cause. Cannon v. Lockhart Mills, 101 S. C., 59; 85 S. E., 233. Carter v. Railroad Co., 109 S. C., 119; 95 S. E., 357 [11 A. L. R. 1411]. Milwaukee, etc., R. Co. v. Kellogg, 94 U. S., 469; 24 L. Ed., 256; 22 R. C. L., 132, 134.”

There was evidence that the Camp Company blocked the main business crossing, without any lights or protection for the public, for an unreasonable length of time, creating a dangerous and deceptive condition, and let this condition remain without protection, probably because of insufficient help, and it so remained for an unreasonable length of time. If that was so, it was for the jury to determine that in the natural, ordinary sequence this condition was at least one of the direct contributing causes to the disaster. The respondent claimed that it was; the appellant contended that it was not; hence the jury had to determine that question.

As to the obstruction of the highway and railroad crossing, the complaint charged both of the defendants with responsibility for obstructing the highway ; the evidence shows that the obstruction of the crosing was made by the direct authority of the representative of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway on the spot. A railroad owes a duty to the public of riot obstructing a highway, which crosses it, unnecesarily or unreasonably. Code 1922, Vol. 3, § 4983. Murray v. S. C. R. Co., 10 Rich. (44 S. C. L.), 232; 70 Am. Dec., 219. Gaston v. Rock Hill, 107 S. C., 130; 92 S. E., 191. Phillips v. S. A. L. Co., 127 S. C., 542; 112 S. E., 309. The jury found that both companies were obstructing the crossing, and that that was the direct cause of the'injury; the verdict said both were equally responsible. Matthews v. Railway Co., 67 S. C., 514; 46 S. E., 335; 65 L. R. A., 286. Brown v. Southern R. Co., 111 S. C., 152; 96 S. E., 701. Rhame v. Cty of Sumter, 113 S. C., 153; 101 S. E., 832,

Both the contention that the blocking was unnecessary and was for an unreasonable length of time, as claimed by the plaintiff, was properly submitted to the jury. There was ample evidence to carry the case to the jury, of negligence and willfulness; there was some evidence of failure to give statutory signals, and this would have warranted its submission to the jury under the Statute. Code 1922, Vol. 3, §§ 4903, 4925. Wideman v. Hines, 117 S. C., 519; 109 S. E., 123. Bain v. N. W. R. Co., 120 S. C., 373; 113 S. E., 277.

The Court could not direct a verdict upon the ground of contributory negligence. It can only direct a verdict when the facts are undisputed, or reasonable men cannot differ as to the inference to be drawn from the testimony.

“The Court can only direct a verdict when the facts are undisputed, or reasonable men cannot differ as to' the inferences to be drawn from the testimony.” Richardson v. N. W. R. Co., 124 S. C., 326; 117 S. E., 510. Wideman v. Hines, 117 S. C., 516; 109 S. E., 123. Thompson v. A. C. L. R. Co., 113 S. C., 268; 102 S. E., 11. Turbyfill v. Railway Co., 86 S. C., 379; 68 S. E., 687. Crawford v. Charleston-Isle of Palms Traction Co., 126 S. C., 450; 120 S. E., 381 (2, 3). Strickland v. Southern R. Co., 107 S. C., 523; 93 S. E., 187.

In the Richardson case above, the rule is well stated by the Chief Justice:

“The rule when facts should be submitted to the jury is thus clearly stated in A. & E. Enc. of Raw, 465 et seep, and quoted with approval in Rinake v. Victor Manufacturing Co., 55 S. E., 179; 32 S. E., 983. And Wood v. Manufacturing Co., 66 S. C., 482; 45 S. E., 81: ‘The general rule is well known that questions of fact are to be submitted to the jury, and this includes not only cases, when the facts are in dispute, but also when the question is as to inference to be drawn from such facts after they have been determined. It will readily be observed that few cases will arise in which there is no question as to the facts involved; the element of ordinary care must from its very character always require the decision of a jury, except where there 'is a violation of the statutory duty or when the facts are undisputed, and but one inference can be reasonably drawn from them. And the same is equally true as to the determination of the question of proximate cause, so that the following rules may be stated as applicable to every case: The issues of negligence should go to a jury: (1) When the facts, which if true, would constitute evidence of negligence, are controverted. (2) When such facts are not disputed, but there may be a fair difference of opinion as to whether the inference of negligence should be drawn. (3) When the facts are in dispute and the inferences to be drawn therefrom are doubtful.

In every case in this State of an injury at a crossing (not necessarily’ under the crossing statute), where there were obstructions to the view, or where there were obstructions or difficulties in keeping the best lookout, or other things to divert or distract the mind, the Court has held the question of gross negligence and of contributory negligence were questions for the jury. Matthews v. Railway Co., 67 S. C., 514; 46 S. E., 335; 65 L. R. A., 286. Chisolm v. S. A. L. R. Co., 121 S. C., 404, 405; 114 S. E., 500 (13-15). Curlee v. Sou. Ry. Co., 122 S. E., 363; 115 S. E., 628. Wideman v. Hines, 117 S. C., 519, 520; 109 S. E., 123 (1-6). Bain v. N. W. R. Co., 120 S. C., 373, 374; 113 S. E., 277 (1 and 2). Prescott v. Hines, 114 S. C., 262; 103 S. E., 543. Callison v. C. & W. C. R. Co., 106 S. C., 129; 90 S. E., 260. Peeples v. S. A. L. Ry., 115 S. C., 119; 104 S. E., 541. Osteen v. Railway, 76 S. C., 378, 379; 57 S. E., 196. White v. A. C. L. R. Co., 106 S. C., 339; 91 S. E., 323. Wheelis v. So. Ry. Co., 118 S. C., 308; 110 S. E., 154. Byrd v. A. C. L. R. Co., 2 F. (2d), 674, from -our C. C. A. opinion by Circuit Judge Woods, citing and approving opinion of Mr. Justice Marion in Chisolm v. S. A. L. R. Co., supra.

The violation of the statute as to giving of signals at a public crossing “is negligence per se; moreover, it is sufficient to warrant a reasonable inference of recklessness, willfulness, or wantonness, and therefore sufficient to carry that issue to the jury. No doubt, in some instances, it may be the result of mere inadvertence; if so, it will be negligence only.” Callison v. C. & W. C. R. Co., supra. Keel v. S. A. L. R. Co., 108 S. C., 393; 95 S. E., 64 (3).

If evidence is susceptible of the inference that the negligence of the defendant was a proximate cause of the injury, then the issue is for the jury. Crawford v. Charleston-Isle of Palms Traction Co., 126 S. C., 450; 120 S. E., 381 (2, 3). If there is evidence which would warrant a reasonable finding that defendant was guilty of recklessness (or of negligence), “we must conclude that the jury so found, if that conclusion be necessary to support a general verdict for plaintiff.” Callison v. C. & W. C. R. Co., 106 S. C., 129; 90 S. E., 260. In Norris v. Greenville, S. & A. R. Co., 111 S. C.. 329, 330; 97 S. E., 848, 850, the Chief Justice states the rule of recklessness or wantonness thus:

“First, second, and third exceptions: These exceptions cannot be sustained, for the reason that not only is the conscious invasion of the rights of another in a wanton, willful, and reckless manner an act of wrong, but also when the wrongdoer does not actually realize that he is invading the right of another, provided the act is committed in such a manner that a person of ordinary reason and prudence would say that it was a reckless disregard of another’s rights.”

See, also, Osteen v. Southern R. Co., 76 S. E., 378; 57 S. E., 196.

There was evidence both from the plaintiff’s and defendants’ witnesses that the blocking of this crossing was habitual. Such evidence was sufficient at common law to warrant the submission to the jury of the question of willfulness. Lorenzo v. Railroad Co., 101 S. C., 412; 85 S. E., 964. Kirkland v. Ry. & Elect. Corp., 97 S. C., 67; 81 S. E., 306. Brown v. Southern Ry. Co., 111 S. C., 150; 96 S. E., 701.

“The violation of a statute is negligence per se, but not willfulness or recklessness or wantonness per se. It is evidence of willfulness, wantonness, and recklessness, but it is for the jury to say.” Keel v. S. A. L. R. Co., 108 S. C., 393; 95 S. E., 64. Dyson v. Sou. Ry., 83 S. C., 357; 65 S. E., 344. Lindler v. Southern Ry. Co., 84 S. C., 536; 66 S. E., 995.

It is not necessary to expressly refer to the various statutes which were violated, as this Court has said: “The Court, however, held that the express reference to the statute was not necessary, saying: 'We see no reason requiring the pleader to expressly refer to the statute. We-must make a case bringing the defendant within the liability created by the statute. When this is done, the defendant cannot be misled.’ ” Smith v. Gilreath, 69 S. C., 356; 48 S. E., 262.

An action for wrongs under the statute may be combined with one for wrongs outside of the statute. Smith v. Gilreath, supra. Edgefield County v. Ga. Car. P. Co., 104 S. C., 324; 88 S. E., 801.

But in this case we have evidence tending to' show violation of three different statutes, to wit: (a) Signals at crossings; (b) failure to have.brakeman or flagman on rear of train; and (c) blocking of a crossing of a public highway. The negligence of the driver cannot be imputed to the guest. Langley v. Southern R. Co., 113 S. C., 53; 101 S. E., 286. Clark v. Columbia Ry. G. & E. Co., 117 S. C., 13; 108 S. E., 178. Little v. Hackett, 116 U. S., 375; 6 S. Ct., 391; 29 L. Ed., 652.

As to the exception as to the evidence of Pinckney offered in reply and to contradict the witness ITuggins, we say, as was said in Smoak v. Martin, 108 S. C., 474; 94 S. E., 869:

“We shall not reverse a judgment because some questionable testimony was allowed, if questionable it was, when there is a large sufficiency of competent testimony tO' support the verdict.”

As to exception 9, value of life and measure of damages, no request was made to the Court for special instruction b}r either of the appellants, and we see no error in his Honor’s charge. Trimmier v. Railway Co., 81 S. C., 213; 62 S. E., 209. Turbyfill v. Railway Co., 86 S. C., 395; 68 S. E., 687.

As to exception 10, excessive damages, we cannot say that the verdict was sufficiently gross and excessive as to shock the conscience of the Court so that it should be set aside. The judge heard the case, was familiar with it, and let the verdict stand as the jury rendered it, for actual damages, and we will not review the findings of his Honor. Brickman v. Sou. Ry., 74 S. C., 314; 54 S. E., 553. Steele v. A. C. L. R. Co., 103 S. E., 117; 87 S. E., 639. Huggins v. Railroad Co., 96 S. C., 278; 79 S. E., 406, .and other authorities too numerous to mention.

As to exception 5, added by leave of Court by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, the cause was submitted to the jury, both as to common-law duty and negligence of the defendant at a public crossing, outside of any question of whether or not the statutory signals were given, and his Honor in his charge gave a reasonable interpretation of the statute under Peeples v. S. A. L. R. Co., 115 S. C., 119; 104 S. E., 541. Lawson v. Railroad Co., 91 S. C., 225; 74 S. E., 473. Sanders v. Railroad Co., 97 S. C., 429; 81 S. E., 786. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. A. C. L. R. Co., 131 S. C., 208; 126 S. E., 449. Manning v. A. C. L. R. Co., 129 S. C., 391; 125 S. E., 31.

We see no reason to overrule these authorities. We see no reason to sustain any of the exceptions. All exceptions are overruled, and judgment affirmed.

Messrs. Justices Brease and Stabrer and Mr. Acting Associate Justice Ramage concur.

---

Dissenting Opinion

Mr. Justice Cothran

(dissenting) : I dissent from the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts in this case, affirming the judgment below, and think that it should be reversed, for the reasons which follow.

My objections to the validity of the judgment are hereinafter set forth in italics under separate subdivisions. Before entering upon'a discussion of these several objections, it appears proper to make the following:

PrEriminary Statement

This is an action for $50,000 damages on account of the alleged wrongful .death of the intestate, D. B. Miller, who was killed as the result of a collision between a north-bound train of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company and an automobile in which he was riding, upon a street crossing in the town of St. Stephens, on December 19, 1922; The defendants named in the summons and complaint are Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, A. J. Johnston, the engineer of the north-bound passenger train, Montague Eowler, the fireman of that train, Camp Manufacturing Company, a logging corporation which operated a short line railroad physically connected with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and Arthur Pulley, the engineer of the logging train.

The detailed circumstances of the collision will be best understood, by reference to the blueprint in evidence, a replica of which upon a reduced scale will be incorporated in the report of the case. It appears that the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company (which for convenience will hereinafter be referred to as the “Coast Tine”) operated its trains upon double tracks, which ran practically north and south at the point in question; the track upon which northbound trains were operated being the extreme eastern track. Near and parallel therewith, to the west, was the track upon which south-bound trains were operated, the eastern rail of which was about 8 feet from the western rail of the .north-bound track. To the west of the south-bound main line, and about 8 feet from it, was a side track serving the station depot. The space between the rails of each of the two main line tracks was 4 feet 8}4 inches; so that the space between the eastern rail of the north-bound main line and the eastern rail of the side track was approximately 25 feet. These three parallel tracks crossed the principal street in the town at right angles.

In the evening of December 19, 1922, the date of the collision, a logging train, composed of several box cars and flat cars, which belonged to the defendant Camp Manufacturing Company (hereinafter referred to as the “Camp Company”) and was being operated by the defendant, Arthur Pulley, engineer, backed into the side track from the north, for the purpose of loading certain freight then in the depot into one of the box cars. The logging train had stopped north of the street crossing and entirely clear of it. Pulley, the engineer, inquired of Clintworth, the station agent of the Coast Tine, for the freight, and was directed by him to back the train until the box car, into which the freight was to be loaded, was opposite the door of the warehouse, and was told by him that he was permitted under the law to block the crossing with the flat cars at the end of the train for 10 minutes. Pulley proceeded to follow these directions, and while the freight was being loaded, the flat cars blocking the crossing, the collision occurred.

The movements of the intestate, converging to the tragedy, were as follows:

The deceased, Miller, and a young' man by the name of Pinckney, each a traveling salesman for a grocery house in Charleston, competing with the other, but on very friendly terms, had engaged a room in St. Stephens at a Mrs. Locklear’s, on the west side of the railroad, about 90 feet from the side track. Every Tuesday night they would meet and stay together in this room. On this particular Tuesday, Miller had left Charleston in the morning on his usual trip, and had gotten some three miles out of the city when his automobile stopped. Pinckney overtook him, on a similar mission, traveling in a Ford roadster: Miller joined Pinckney. They traveled north together,. Pinckney operating his car, and reached the vicinity of St. Stephens about dark. About half a mile from St. Stephens the road traveled by them crossed the railroad from west to east. Pinckney testifies that he stopped his car and looked for trains; that he saw a light up at the depot, which appeared to be stationary; that they then crossed the track safely and proceeded along the road, parallel with the railroad, some 350 feet, to the store of one Shuler; that they stopped for a few minutes at Shuler’s store, and then resumed their journey up the same street towards the street crossing. The night was dark, misty, and very cold; the street was soft and muddy; the curtain was up on Pinckney’s side of the car, the left, but not on Miller’s side; windshield and isinglass lookout were both spattered with mud. Pinckney testifies that the approach to the crossing was on 'a slight upgrade, and that they stopped at the foot of this grade; that he told Miller to look to the right, and that he looked to the left, neither seeing a train; that he could see the store lights on the opposite side of the railroad, but did not see the obstructing flat cars until he got on the north-bound track; that when he saw the obstruction he tried to reverse his engine, when instantly the crash came.

The specific acts of negligence relied upon by the plaintiff are:

(1) As to- the Camp Company: That it and its engineer, Pulley, had placed and kept a train of cars across the street obstructing the railroad crossing unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time, and without safegaurds, lights, or warning to the public of such obstruction, in violation of law.

(2) As to the Coast Tine: That it acquiesced in, consented to, and approved of the act of the Camp Company and its engineer in so obstructing the crossing.

(3) As to the Coast Line: That by its engineer and fireman it operated the passenger train at a high, excessive and dangerous rate of speed in violation of law.

(4) As to‘ the Coast Line: That by its engineer and fireman it operated the passenger train without proper or adequate lookout, safeguards, and warnings, and without giving any proper or adequate signals of its approach, contrary to law.

The defendants answered, denying the material allegations of the complaint, and setting up contributory negligence on the part of the deceased. At the close of the evidence, motions for directed verdicts were made by the Camp Company and its engineer, Pulley, and by the Coast Line, which motions will be incorporated in the report of the case. The motions were refused.

The verdict of the jury was :

“We find for the plaintiff against the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, actual damages; we further find for the plaintiff against the Camp Manufacturing Company the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, actual damages.”

The defendants Camp Company and Coast Line each moved for judgment in its favor, notwithstanding the verdict, and failing, for a new trial, upon grounds which will be incorporated in the report of the case. The motions were refused, in an order which also will be reported. The defendants have appealed upon exceptions which will be reported.

I. Mrror in not directing a verdict in favor of both corporate defendants upon the ground of gross contributory negligence on the part of the intestate.

The undisputed facts, from the mouths' of the plaintiff’s witnesses, speak for themselves:

Two young men in full possession of their faculties, familiar with the tracks and crossing in question at St. Stephens, got into a Ford roadster at Shuler’s store, about 400 feet below the fatal crossing, on a road parallel with and adjacent to the railroad tracks. They drove a little past the crossing, then turned back and approached the tracks on a diagonal, the car being pointed slightly south of west. Within 5 feet of the first track the only survivor of the accident states that he stopped to look, and, changing into low gear, they proceeded across the track with one of the fast through passenger trains of the Atlantic Coast Fine Railroad Company bearing down on them, with its headlight burning, and with the rush and roar that is incident to the progress of such a train.

The principal witness for the plaintiff (Funk) states that he saw the automobile first about S feet from the track, and in his own words, “I seen them when they started to slow down; I thought they were fixing to' stop, but they went on up on the track.” That the train approaching was so clear to the witness that he goes on: “They went up in a kind of V shape on the tracks; they must have seen the train coming.” The above statement was made on direct examination. On cross examination, in reply to the question, “You knew as a matter of fact they ought to stop?” the same witness answered, “I knew something would happen if they went on.”

Miss Crooks, another witness for the plaintiff, standing just beyond the western edge of the side track and within a relatively few feet of the point of collision, testified that, “just as they got on the crossing good,” the train struck the car; and this witness testified that she knew that the train was coming and had seen it for three-quarters of a mile away. It was clearly established that, merely by turning one’s head and looking, the approaching train could have been seen for miles.

The testimony of Pinckney himself is that he stopped to look toward the south, the direction from which the train was coming, about 5 feet from the track, at which point the approaching train could have been observed for a distance of ii miles. This is the only point from which he did look, which fact negatives any weight that might be given the contention of the plaintiff that there were trees further to the south which might obstruct the view. The curtain was up on the left side of the car (Pinckney’s side), and when his automobile was turned toward the west his view toward the south was thereby obscured. The only opportunity to see of which he availed himself in looking toward the south was through a “light” in the curtain, covered with isinglass, which Pinckney admits was spattered with mud and did not afford him a clear vision.

Miller was looking toward the north and reported the way clear on that side. The only inference to be drawn is that he took no precaution whatever as to looking toward the south, but relied on Pinckney’s vision in a drizzling rain, through a mud-bespattered isinglass. The windshield was also- spattered - with mud. This, on a misty, rainy night, afforded slight opportunity for observation in going ahead. Under these circumstances, fully aware of the position of the tracks, claiming to be aware of the possibility of danger and of the duty of stopping to ascertain whether it was safe to proceed, Pinckney and Miller drove on the tracks directly in front of the coming train, which by the slightest exercise of their senses of sight and hearing they could have discovered.

The cases of Reynolds v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co., 131 S. C., 208; 126 S. E., 449. Sauls v. Railroad Co., 129 S. C., 427; 125 S. E., 34, and Manning v. Railroad Co., 129 S. C., 391; 125 S. E., 31, are generally conceded to have gone far in fastening liability upon railroads where there was an alleged failure to give the statutory crossing signals, resulting in injury to persons using the highway. In the case at bar, however, different from those cases, there is no evidence of anything that mig'ht have obstructed the clear view of Pinckney, and, had he looked and.listened at a place and in a manner that would have made the use of his senses effective, the conclusion is inescapable that he must have discovered the impending danger. Unless this Court specifically overrules the doctrine of Cable Piano case, 94 S. C., 143; 77 S. E., 868, and the Chisolm case, 121 S. C., 394; 114 S. E., 500, it can never decide that one who goes upon a railroad track in the face of an approaching train, whose presence he could discover by the slightest effective exercise of his sense of vision, is free from the charge of gross contributory negligence.

In view of the testimony of every eyewitness in the case, the fact that Pinckney testified that he looked, when the evidence shows that, if he had done so, he would have seen the train, is not acceptable as evidence that can create an issue. Of course, if this Court is ready to hold that there is no such thing as gross contributory negligence as a matter of law in a crossing case, that, nO‘ matter how apparent the gross contributory negligence is, it is an issue for the jury] this is the case in which to overrule the Cable Piano case, the well-considered Chisolm opinion, and other cases along that line, including the case of Osteen v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. (119 S. C., 438), 112 S. E., 352, where the Court en banc decided (quoting the syllabus in 112 S. E.) :

“If a truck driver attempted to cross immediately in front of an approaching train, although he saw the train, or by exercising the slightest degree of care could have seen and heard it, and to a person of ordinary prudence such an attempt to cross was obviously dangerous, reckless, or wanton, he was guilty of gross contributory negligence, recklessness, and wantonness as a matter of law/1

In the case at bar there were no diverting influences attributable to conditions produced or controlled by the railroad company, or of unusual conditions of any kind, which in any wise could have distracted the attention of Pinckney or of Miller from their duty to look before driving on the crossing directly in front of the train. This brings the case clearly within the doctrine of the Cable Piano case, unless, of course, the testimony of Pinckney that he looked and did not see the approaching train gives rise to an issue to be submitted to a jury, when it must be obvious that, had he looked with the slightest degree of effectiveness, he must have seen it.

It can hardly be seriously contended that, because Miller and Pinckney were traveling in rainy weather and had put, up a curtain on the left-hand side of their car, the consequent obstructions to' a clear vision toward the south were diverting influences either controlled by the railroad company or so unusual as to warrant the distraction of the attention of Pinckney and Miller from their duty to look.for a train approaching from the south. The rule as laid down in the Chisolm case, supra, 121 S. C., 394, 402; 114 S. E., 503, is as follows:

“On reaching a railroad crossing and before attempting to go upon the track, a traveler must use his senses of sight and hearing to the best of his ability under the existing and surrounding circumstances; he must look and listen in both directions for approaching trains, if not prevented from so doing by the fault of the railroad company, and to the extent the matter is under his control must look and listen at a place and in <a manner that will make the use of his senses effective.”

In order effectively to bring themselves within this requirement, both Pinckney and Miller should have looked in each direction, it being entirely within their control either to unbutton the curtain of the automobile or to look around it to the south. The evidence is that Miller did not look to the south at all and that Pinckney looked through the isinglass “light,” which he admitted did not afford a clear vision.

II. Frror in not directing a verdict in favor of the defendant Camp Company, upon the ground that, assuming it to have been negligent in obstructing the crossing, the collision was not the proximate result of such negligence.

It is not surprising, in view of the Circuit Judge’s apprehension of the law of proximate cause, hereinafter criticized, that the position of the appellant was not sustained. As appears from the authorities hereinafter cited, upon another phase of the question of proximate cause, the intervention of an efficient cause is generally held to interrupt the sequence between the prime act and the injury, so that the injury is referable to the intervening cause, the prime act thereby becoming the remote and not the proximate cause.It is clear, however, that if the intervening cause was not an independent cause, but one which naturally, in the common experience of men, was itself a result reasonably to have been apprehended from the prime act, the sequence will not be held to have been interrupted, and the prime act will be considered the proximate cause. In other words, if the intervening act resulted from the prime act, in a natural and probable sequence, such as the prime wrongdoer should have foreseen, the prime act is held to have been the proximate cause.

As is very clearly expressed by Mr. Justice Marion in the case of Green v. Railroad Co., 131 S. C., 124; 126 S. E., 441; 38 A. L. R., 1448, the intervening efficient cause will not be deemed the proximate cause, if “it is an unnatural and abnormal intervention' in the ordinary train of events and consequences not reasonably to be anticipated from the act or omission which is charged to the alleged tort-feasor as a breach of duty.” See, also, Foster v. Union, 129 S. C., 257; 123 S. E., 839. In the latter, the opinion being written by the same most careful judge, it is said:

“Obviously, the foresight which the law imputes to a tort-feasor cannot extend to consequences brought about by the intervention of a responsible human being, where the act of the intervener breaks the chain of causation between the original wrong and the injury complained of, and is in itself sufficient to constitute an efficient, responsible cause of the injury.”

In the case at bar, the prime act was the negligent obstruction of the crossing; the intervening, efficient cause of the injury was the collision between the onrushing engine of the passenger train and the automobile in which the intestate was riding. The first natural inquiry is, what was the immediate cause of the collision? According to the allegation of the plaintiff’s complaint, which he cannot get away from, the immediate cause of the collision was the failure of the railroad company to sound the proper warning signals of the approach of the passenger train to the highway crossing. According, to the evidence, the immediate cause of the collision was the failure of the intestate, before entering upon the railroad track, to exercise the simplest precautions to ascertain whether he could safely enter upon the railroad track.

In this connection, as relating to the Camp Company, which is not charged with a violation of the signaling statute, and to the issue of proximate cause, it is proper to emphasize the fact that the Camp Company is not obliged to show that the entry of the intestate upon the railroad track was an act of gross negligence.

If the plaintiff’s contention, as alleged in the complaint, be sustained, the signals for the crossing were not given by the railroad company; that failure caused the intestate to enter upon the track without the usual and necessary precautions ; it caused it without justifying it, and was an intervening and efficient cause of the collision. If it be not sustained, as the verdict of the jury exonorating the employees of the railroad indicates, in fact adjudicates, the intestate’s entry was without the shadow of an excuse, itself an intervening, efficient cause, due to his negligence, which surely the Camp .Company cannot be held bound to anticipate as a result of its act.

So that, between the prime act of negligence, the obstruction of the crossing, and the injury, certainly one or the other, or perhaps both, of two distinct, efficient causes intervened, the failure of the railroad company to sound the warnings, or the entry of the intestate upon the railroad track without precautions, neither of which can be said to have been a natural, probable, or reasonably to be apprehended result of the prime act.

In the case of Foster v. Union, supra, the intervening act was that of the father of the plaintiff. The rule should at least be as strong where the intervening immediate act was that of the person injured. The immediate cause of the collision being the entry upon the railroad track without the necessary precautions, the question revolves itself into this: Was that a result reasonably to be apprehended by the Camp Company under the circumstances ?

To characterize the obstruction of the crossing, therefore, as the proximate cause of the' injury, requires the utmost strain of mental processes to conclude either that the Camp Company should have foreseen that if it obstructed the crossing, either the railroad company would omit the crossing signals, or that the driver of an automobile, in defiance of all safeguards for his own protection, would drive upon a railroad track, in the face of a train traveling 40 miles an hour, the headlight of which could have been seen for eleven miles down the track. But it is said the absence of lights, or other warning of the presence of the obstructing cars, induced the intestate to enter upon the tracks. Possibly so, and it might have been a perfectly harmless venture; but it did not induce him to enter without reasonable precautions against what the presence of the rails warned him might happen, the coming of a train. Nor did it induce the railroad company to omit giving the statutory signals or other warnings of the approach of the train, which omission the plaintiff claimed, as against the railroad company, was the proximate cause of the injury, and which he had the Circuit Judge to charge that presumptively it was. Nor could the Camp Company reasonably have anticipated that the intestate would not avail himself of a perfectly safe space of 25 feet between the north-bound track and the side track.

III. Error in the Circuit Judge’s definition of “proximate cause.”

The following is the language of his charge referred to:

“In order that an injury be the proximate result of an act, it is not necessary that the actor should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury which resulted. It is enough if he should have foreseen that his act, if negligent, would probably result in injury of some kind to some one to whom he owes a duty.”

The idea is accentuated by the modification of the defendants’ request to charge, in striking out the words “the collision,” and interpolating the words “some injury to travelers on the highway” in lieu thereof. To make the matter plain I append the request; the words stricken out are in brackets and the interpolation in italics:

“Even if you find from the evidence that the defendants, Camp Manufacturing Company and its engineer, Arthur Pulley, were negligent and willful in obstructing the crossing, but that these defendants could not reasonably have anticipated that [the collision] some injury to traveler's on the highway would result from such obstruction, then I charge you that, under such circumstances, such obstruction would not be a proximate cause of the collision, although you find the same to be a remote cause, and your verdict must, under such circumstances, be in favor of these defendants.”

The request as submitted was entirely right; the modification set up a false standard which is obliged to have caused confusion and consequently was prejudicial error. The point at issue was whether the obstruction of the crossing was the proximate cause of the collision, the particular injury, and was to be determined under the well-established rule that it was such proximate cause if the particular injury was a result reasonably to have been anticipated from the negligent act. Keel v. R. Co., 122 S. C., 17; 114 S. E., 761.

Of course, as frequently held, it is not essential that the wrongdoer actually foresaw the particular consequences or injury that resulted, so long as it appears that there was an unbroken sequence between the prime act of negligence and the injury, and there would be such unbroken sequence if the particular act, although not actually foreseen, was one of the class of injuries which naturally, in common experience, would result from the act of negligence, and therefore should have been foreseen by a person of ordinary prudence.

To say that the obstruction of the crossing was the proximate cause of the collision, if the obstructing railroad company should have foreseen that its act would probably result in injury of some kind to some one, is a statement of the elements of negligence in the'act of obstruction, and is in no sense a test of the question of proximate cause. Scores of instances have arisen in which railroad companies have been held liable in damages for injuries directly resulting from the obstruction of crossings by cars, the proximate results thereof, such as the frightening of horses or teams; the diversion of a loose horse into a cut, where he was killed by another train (Murray v. Railroad Co., 10 Rich, 227; 70 Am. Dec., 219); crashing into a standing car with a team, ignorant of its presence; climbing under or between standing cars (Littlejohn v. R. Co., 49 S. C., 12; 26 S. E., 967); damage of various kinds caused by consequent delay, such as failure of a physician to reach a patient (Terry v. Railroad Co., 103 Miss., 679; 60 So., 729; 44 L. R. A. [N. S.], 1069); failure of a fire engine to reach a fire (Cleveland, etc., R. Co. v. Tauer, 176 Ind., 621; 96 N. E., 758; 39 L. R. A. [N. S.], 20); failure of a passenger to reach his train (Patterson v. R. Co., 56 Mich., 172; 22 N. W., 260); and doubtless others.

In Lindler v. Railroad Co., 84 S. C., 536; 66 S. E., 995, the railroad company was held liable for leaving an engine standing on a street crossing in violation of a city ordinance, a horse having been frightened thereby and having run away. In Prescott v. Hines, 114 S. C., 262; 103 S. E., 543, a traveler collided with a standing train. From this experience, it is not wide of the mark to say that, in every case of such obstruction, the railroad company must anticipate that some kind of injury may probably result to some one therefrom. So that under the rule announced, the question whether the particular injury was the proximate result of the obstruction would be absolutely foreclosed by the fact that some other injury may have resulted which was the proximate result.

It is entirely possible that any number of injuries may result from the obstruction, and each one of them be the proximate result of the obstruction, and yet the particular injury under investigation may not have been. The rule forces the conclusion that the particular injury, which was not the proximate result, is the proximate result, because a dozen other injuries may have happened which were. The various instances tend to establish the fact that the obstruction of a crossing is an act of negligence, but they cannot establish the fact that a particular injury was a proximate result of the obstruction.

It is proper to state, in justice to the learned Circuit Judge, that his charge is sustained by the opinion of Mr. Justice ITydrick, as the organ of the Court, in the case of Sandel v. State, 115 S. C., 181; 104 S. E., 567; 13 A. L. R., 1268. I have endeavored to show that the doctrine thus announced cannot be sustained in reason or authority, and that it should not be followed. The test for proximate causes is exceedingly simple, as given by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Milwaukee, etc., R. Co. v. Kellogg, 94 U. S., 469; 24 L. Ed., 256:

“In order to warrant a finding that negligence * * * is the proximate cause of an injury, it must appear that the injury was the natural and probable consequence of the negligence or wrongful act, and that it ought to have been foreseen in the light of the attending circumstances.”

How different from the declaration in Sandel v. State:

“It is not necessary to show that a person charged with negligence should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury that resulted. It is enough that he should have foreseen that his negligence would probably result in injury of some kind to some one.”

In Atchison, etc., R. Co. v. Calhoun, 213 U. S., 7; 29 S. Ct., 321; 323 (53 L. Ed., 671), the Court said:

“One is held responsible for all the consequences of his act, which are natural and probable, and ought to have been foreseen by a reasonably prudent man.”

IV. Error in the modification of the defendants’ request to charge in reference to the use of the side track and the blocking of the crossing.

The following is the request; the modification is italicized:

“The use of a railroad side track for shifting cars or loading and unloading freight is a lawful use, and cannot be considered negligence or willfulness, even if a highway is temporarily obstructed thereby, unless such obstruction is unnecessary or for an unreasonable length of time, considered with reference to the existing circumstances.”

The effect of the modification is to prescribe two conditions under which the obstruction will be considered negligence : (1) That there was no necessity for the obstruction; (2) that it continued for an unreasonable length of time either of which would make out a case of negligence against the railroad company. In other words, the modification means that it matters not how completely the railroad company may have established the fact that the obstruction had not continued for an unreasonable length of time under the circumstances, the obstruction will be considered an act of negligence unless there was a necessity for it.

I do not think that this is the law; on the contrary, I think that the sole test is whether the crossing had been blocked for an unreasonable length of time, under the circumstances. The necessity upon a particular occasion may be a circumstance entering into the issue of reasonableness of time, but it cannot be an element which the railroad company must establish.

In Littlejohn v. Railroad Co., 49 S. C., 12; 26 S. E., 967, the Court says:

“If a railroad company obstructs a highway for an unreasonable length of time, or for a longer time than the law permits, unless it is without fault, the railroad company thereupon becomes a trespasser.”

Reaffirmed in Walker v. Railroad Co., 77 S. C., 161; 57 S. E., 764; 12 Ann. Cas., 591.

There are doubtless many instances where a highway is temporarily blocked by a railroad in the shifting of cars on a side track, which it has constructed and has a right to use, which constitute a proper and reasonable use of its tracks, but which are not entirely necessary. For instance, frequently a train of cars is propelled or pushed across a highway for the purpose of leaving one car at a specified point. It might not be necessary for the whole train to be pushed or pulled across the thoroughfare, since it would be possible by extra shifting, and by the employment of an extra force, perhaps, to cut such cars off, shift the remainder to another track, and propel or push those to be delivered in such numbers as not to necessitate an obstruction of the highway. The extra time particularly, and cost, all of which bear .heavily upon the public, would not be. justified, however, by denying the standard of reasonable use or practice and requiring the standard of necessity.

When the trial Court adopted the unqualified test of necessity, it did away with the test of reasonable and ordinary use. In view of the fact that there was evidence in this case that there was sufficient space on the side track for the Camp train to have backed the flat cars past the station, across and below the crossing, to have cut. them off and left them, and then to have pulled the box cars back up to the depot for the loading of freight, which loading ordinarily would not have taken more than from five to ten minutes, this charge amounted to a direction to the jury that the blocking of the crossing, being unnecessary, was improper, and constituted negligence.

V. Hrror in charging the jury that the failure of a railroad company to give the statutory signals for a highway crossing raises a presumption that such failure was the proximate cause of a collision which may have occurred.

A consideration of the cases of Wragge v. Railroad Co., 47 S. C., 105; 25 S. E., 76; 33 L. R. A., 191; 58 Am. St. Rep., 870. Strother v. Railroad Co., 47 S. C., 375; 25 S. E., 272. Bowen v. Railroad Co., 58 S. C., 322; 36 S. E., 590. Cable Piano Co. v. Railroad Co., 94 S. C., 143; 77 S. E., 868. Peeples v. Railroad Co., 115 S. C., 115; 104 S. E., 541. Burns v. Railroad Co., 65 S. C., 229; 43 S. E., 679. Duncan v. Greenville, 73 S. C., 254; 53 S. E., 367, and Turbyfill v. Railroad Co., 83 S. C., 325; 65 S. E., 278, will show that the Court at one time recognized the rule as charged by the Circuit Judge, but has distinctly and specifically repudiated it, as particularly the cases of Drawdy v. Railroad Co., 78 S. C., 374; 58 S. E., 980. Chisolm v. Railroad Co., 121 S. C., 394; 114 S. E., 500. Whaley v. Ostendorff, 90 S. C., 281; 73 S. E., 186, and Cirsosky v. Smathers, 128 S. C., 358; 122 S. E., 864, demonstrate.

In Whaley v. Ostendorff, supra, in an opinion by the present Chief Justice, the Court declares:

“The fact that there is negligence per se does not, however, tend to show that such negligence is actionable. The question whether negligence is actionable depends upon the further question whether such negligence was the direct and proximate cause of the injury.”

And in Cirsosky v. Smathers, supra, it is said:

“That the violation of a Statute, although declared negligence per se, must be shown to have been the proximate cause of the injury, or at least a contributing proximate cause, is abundantly shown by the authorities and sustained by common sense and justice.”

VI. Error in charging the law of imminent danger or emergency.

The instruction to the jury was as follows:

“In considering whether or not a failure to look or listen was negligent, the jury may take into consideration any evidence, if any there should be, showing the presence of some imminent danger or emergency not brought about by the traveler’s own negligence, or the presence or influence of unusual or extraordinary conditions not created or controlled by the traveler himself, and especially if such conditions are brought about, by the railroad company, along with any and all other evidence in the case.”

This was clearly error, since the duty “to look and listen” devolved upon Pinckney and Miller before they went upon the tracks, and this duty could not be qualified or lessened by any “imminent danger,” since there was no “imminent danger” at that time. They could have stopped for hours before going on the track, and there would have been no imminent danger that could warrant any lessening of their legal duty to look or listen before going farther.

The effect of this charge was to excuse the failure of the occupants in their criminal carelessness and wantonness in driving on the tracks in front of train 82, and to allow the jury to adopt Pinckney’s testimony of surprise at seeing the Camp train ahead of them to this inapplicable law, and excuse everything on the ground of sudden peril and emergency. .

The duty to “look and listen” arose before they drove on the first track. There was no need “to listen” for the Camp train; it was standing still on the third track, and had been standing still acccording to plaintiff’s contention for more than 30 mnutes; hence this charge in effect directed the jury to search for some excuse for the failure to discover the presence of train 82.

Having driven on the tracks under the circumstances, when they discovered their peril, the doctrine of sudden emergency was not available to them, for their own gross contributory negligence had brought it about. It is fundamental to the application of that rule that he who invokes it must be without fault. Dobbins v. S. A. L. R. Co., 108 S. C., 254; 93 S. E., 932.

VII. Error in refusing the motion of the Camp Company for a new trial, upon the ground that the liability of that company having been predicated solely upon the negligence of the engineer, and the verdict of the jury having exonerated the engineer, a verdict against the Camp Company is without a foundation.

The only act of negligence attributed to this company, in the complaint, is that it, through its engineer, Pulley, had placed and kept a train of cars across the street, obstructing the railroad crossing unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time, and without lights or warnings to the public of such obstruction, in violation of latw. The jury having- found a verdict in favor of the engineer, the necessary, inevitable, result of this finding is to exonerate the •Camp Company from liability based solely upon such alleged negligent act of its engineer. The motion of the Camp Company for a new trial, upon this ground, should have been sustained.

There is in the complaint no general allegation' of negligence charged against the Camp Company. The allegation is that the defendant Pulley was at the time of the fatal collision in charge as engineer of a logging or freight train of the Camp Company, and that the Camp Company and its engineer, Pulley, placed that train across the street and obstructed the crossing unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time, which can only mean that the basic act of negligence was that of Pulle)R which, imputed to his master, fixed liability upon it. There is no other act of negligence alleged on the part of the Camp Company, and nothing in the complaint or in the evidence, tending to show that the plaintiff intended to rely upon the negligent act of any other servant for which Pulley was not responsible. Even if the complaint should be construed as containing a general allegation of negligence on the part of the Camp Company, the established rule is that, except in cases involving the relation of passenger and carrier, a general charge of negligence against the master, coupled with a specific charge against either the master or the servant, will be regarded.as explained and controlled by the specific act averred, in the absence of some clear indication in the complaint that the general negligence was intended to cover other acts of negligence than those alleged. '

In the case of Sutton v. Railroad Co., 82 S. C., 345; 64 S. E., 401, which was an action brought by a passenger for injuries sustained as such, there was a general allegation of negligence on the part of the carrier, coupled with a specific charge against a servant of the carrier. The Court cited with approval the general rule declared in Goodwin v. Railroad Co., 76 S. C., 557; 57 S. E., 530, to the effect that:

“When a complant contains allegations of specific acts of negligence, and also general allegations of negligence, the general allegations should be regarded as explained and controlled by the specific acts of negligence averred, in the absence of some clear indication in the complaint that the general allegations were intended to cover other acts of negligence than those alleged.”

The Court, however, held that:

“In the application of the general rule stated in Goodwin v. Railway, 76 S. C., 560; 57 S. E., 530, the material distinction must be observed between a suit by a passenger against a carrier, where the presumption mentioned applies, and a suit by some other person not a passenger, as employee, trespasser, or licensee, in which the presumption of negligence does not necessarily arise upon mere proof of injury by some agency or instrumentality of the carrier. The cases cited by appellant to sustain his contention were not cases by a passenger against a carrier, but were cases in which it was essential to recovery to show the specific act of negligence alleged.”

From which it is plainly to be inferred that, in all but passenger and carrier cases, the doctrine declared in the Goodwin case is applicable, that a general charge of negligence is controlled by the specific, with the limitation expressed in the above quotation. In all cases, passenger and carrier and others, where the complaint contains a specific charge of negligence against the master, coupled with a similar charge against a servant, separate and distinct from the other, a verdict in favor of the servant does not exonerate the master, for the obvious reason that it may be referred to the specific act charged against the master.

But where the complaint contains neither general or specific charges against the master, and the plaintiff relies solely upon the specific act charged to the servant, imputed to the master, the authorities in this State are simply overwhelming that, if the jury’s verdict should exonerate the servant and be against the master alone, it cannot stand. This is true, even in passenger and carrier cases. Durst v. Railroad Co., 130 S. C., 165; 125 S. E., 651.

In Sparks v. Railroad Co., 109 S. C., 145; 95 S. E., 344, the action was against the railroad company and its conductor, jointly, based upon the alleged willful act of the conductor in pitching a trespasser off the train. The jury rendered a verdict against the company alone. The Court held that the verdict against the company could not stand, as its liability depended upon the act and intent of the conductor, an issue which the jury had decided in favor of the conductor. The judgment against the company was reversed and a new trial ordered. Upon the second trail the company pleaded the judgment in favor of the conductor (Jones) as a bar to the further prosecution of the action. The Circuit Court “sustained the plea in so far as the liability of the company depended upon the acts of Jones, holding that Jones and his alleged wrongful acts were out of the case, as the verdict and judgment in his favor amounted to an adjudication that he was guilty of no actionable wrong.” The Court held:

“It follows that the Circuit Court correctly ruled that the matters involved in the judgment in favor of Jones were res ad judicata, and therefore Jones and his alleged wrongful acts were out of the case, and the company could not be liable for them. In fact, it had been finally adjudicated that Jones had done no wrong. It necessarily follows that the company had done no wrong through the agency of Jones.”

In the meantime — that is, between the first and second appeals in the Sparks case- — the case of Jones v. Railroad Co., 106 S. C., 21; 90 S. E., 183, arose. In that case the alleged liability of the company was based solely, in the complaint, upon the wrongful acts of certain servants of the railroad company. The jury rendered a verdict against the company alone. The Court said:

“Under the recent decisions in Sparks v. Railroad Co., 104 S. C., 266; 88 S. E., 739, and Jenkins v. Railroad Co., 89 S. C., 408; 71 S. E., 1010, the verdict is illogical and cannot stand, as no delict of the company was proved, other than through and by the agency of Parks and Gilliard [the servants joined], one or both. The company’s liability is predicated solely upon the acts or omission of one or both of them; and, if neither of them is liable, it necessarily follows that the company is not. It would be unreasonable to say that the servant did no wrong, but nevertheless his master is liable, when the only wrong, charged against the master is that of the servant.”

In Spigener v. Railroad Co., 111 S. C., 405; 98 S. E., 330, the Court said:

“Where a servant is united with the master in an action for damages for tort, and the allegation and proof shows that the tort complained of was the tort of this servant alone, then a verdict against the master alone cannot stand, because, if this servant did not commit the tort complained of, then there was no tort, and a verdict against the master alone cannot stand.”

In Beauchamp v. Winnsboro Granite Corp., 113 S. C., 527; 101 S. E., 856, 858, the Court said:

“Where master and servant are sued together for the same tort, and the master’s liability is predicated solely upon the conduct of the servant, a verdict alone against the master is illogical, and cannot be sustained, because it in effect finds that the servant did no wrong, but nevertheless holds the master liable, when the only wrong charged against him is that of the servant. * * * In the Jones case it was said that in all the cases in which the master and servant were sued jointly for the same tort, and a verdict against the master alone had been sustained, there was evidence either of a joint tort of master and servant, or of some separate and independent delict of the master, or some other servant, for which the servant sued with the master was not liable” —citing Sparks v. Railroad Co., 104 S. C., 266; 88 S. E., 739. Jones v. Railroad Co., 106 S. C., 20; 90 S. E., 183.

In Howell v. Railroad Co., 114 S. C., 21; 102 S. E., 856, the Court said:

“But the acquittal of Williams will not affect the acquittal of the railroad, unless Williams was the only agency by which the event could have been compassed.”

In other words, that, if the liability of the railroad was based solely upon the act of Williams, his acquittal would acquit the railroad.

In Durst v. Railroad Co., 130 S. C., 165; 125 S. E., 651, it is held :

“In an action against the master and servant jointly, based solely upon the negligence of the servant, a verdict against the master alone will not be allowed to stand.”

In Jenkins v. Railroad Co., 130 S. C., 180; 125 S. E., 912, the cases of Sparks, 109 S. C., 145; 95 S. E., 344. Jones, 106 S. C., 20; 90 S. E., 183, and Sparks, 104 S. C., 266; 88 S. E., 739 (second appeal), are reaffirmed; the Court holding:

“If, in an action against the master and the servant jointly, the alleged liability of the master is based solely upon an alleged act of negligence on the part of the servant, and a verdict is rendered in favor of the servant and against the master, the judgment will be set aside as resting on a ‘baseless fabric.’ ”

In Jenkins v. Railroad Co., 89 S. C., 408; 71 S. E., 1010, the plaintiff first sued the lessor company for damages on account of a personal injury while a passenger on a train operated by a lessee company. Judgment in favor of the lessor company was rendered. Thereafter the plaintiff brought a second action upon the same cause of action against the lessee company. The defendant pleaded the judgment in favor of the lessor company in bar of the second action. The plea was sustained by this Court:

“As the liability of the C. N. & E. [the lessor company, first sued] is predicated upon that of the defendant [the lessee compan)?, held to have been the agent of the lessor company], and as it would be liable for anything for which the defendant is liable, in respect to the matter complained of, the logical conclusion necessarily is that if the C. N. & L. [lessor] is not liable, the defendant is not. Now, as between the plaintiff and C. N. & L., it has been conclusively adjudicated that the C. N. & L. is not liable. Therefore, the defendant is not, and the former judgment is a bar to this action.”

That case is direct authority for the proposition that a judgment in favor of a master or principal is res ad judicata in a subsequent suit against the servant or agent based upon the identical cause of action upon which the principal or master was first sought to be held. The converse of that proposition is equally true as has been shown. The Court further said:

“In Logan’s case [82 S. C., 522; 64 S. E., 515], and also in Rookard’s case, 84 S. C., 190; 65 S. E., 1047 [27 L. R. A. (N. S.), 435; 137 Am. St. Rep., 839], it is stated that a judgment on the merits in favor of a lessee railroad company [the agent of the lessor company] would bar an action against the lessor for the same cause, because the liability of the lessor is predicated upon that of the lessee. In other words, if the operating company, the one that actually does the injury, is held not to be liable, it follows that the lessor, upon whom the law imposes liability only for the acts of the'lessee, cannot be liable.”

In Rookard v. Railroad Co., 84 S. C., 190; 65 S. E., 1047; 27 L. R. A. (N. S.), 435; 137 Am. St. Rep., 839, the Court said:

“A judgment on the merits in favor of the agent is a bar to an action against the principal for the same cause, because the principal’s liability is predicated upon that of the agent.”

See, also, Logan v. Railway Co., 82 S. C., 518; 64 S. E., 515.

An additional reason for sustaining this conclusion is given in the Jones case, 106 S. C., 21; 90 S. E., 183, and in the Sparks case, 109 S. C., 145; 95 S. E., 344. It is thus expressed in the Jones case:

“There is another reason why the verdict cannot be sustained. The company’s liability is predicated solely upon the conduct of its servant under the doctrine respondeat superior; and, under the facts and circumstances proved, if the company is liable to plaintiff, the servant or servants whose wrongful acts or omissions actually caused the injury are liable over to the company for the amount which it will be compelled to pay on account thereof. But, as the verdict acquits both the servants of having done any wrong, the company is deprived of its remedy against the offending servant or servants, because the judgment i'n this case would be a bar to an action by the company against either or both of them.”,

The verdict in favor of the engineer can mean nothing if it does not mean that he did not unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time block the crossing with his train, and that he did not fail in an alleged duty to safeguard, light or warn the public of the presence of the obstruction. So that it appears beyond the shadow of a doubt that, the complaint counting solely upon the negligent act of the engineer, and the verdict negativing the alleged negligence, there is no foundation for a verdict against the Camp Company.

VIII. Hrror in refusing the motion of the Coast Line for a new trial, upon the ground that the liability of that company having been based upon its negligence in consenting to, acquiescing in, and approving of the act of the Camp Company in obstructing the crossing, and the verdict of the jury having exonerated the Camp Company from negligence in this respect, a verdict against the Coast Line upon this ground is without a foundation.

The first act of negligence attributed to this company, in the complaint, is that it acquiesced in, consented to and approved of the act of the Camp Company and its engineer in placing and keeping a train of cars across the street, obstructing the crossing unnecessarily, and for an unreasonable time, and without safeguards, lights, or warnings to the public of such obstruction, in violation'of law. The jury having found a verdict in favor of the engineer, thereby exonerating the Camp. Company from any imputation of negligence in this regard, it is impossible to predicate negligence ta the Coast Line in acquiescing in, consenting to, and approving an act which is conclusively determined by the verdict of the jury not to have been an act of negligence.

It will be observed in this connection that the complaint does not charge the Coast Line with a failure to provide safeguards, lights, or other warning to the public of the presence of the obstruction. It is clear that the phrase “with the consent, acquiescence, and approval of its codefendant Atlantic Coast Line” was intended to amplify the charge of .negligence on the part of the Camp Company and its engineer, and not a charge of negligence against the Coast Line. But, assuming that it was so intended, it could only amount to a charge that the Coast Line acquiesced in, consented to, and approved of what the Camp Company had done, and surely such conduct on its part could not be considered neglig-ence, when the act itself has been judicially determined not to have been an act of negligence.

In permitting the Camp Company to operate its train upon the track of the Coast Line, the Camp Company was a licensee, and in the performance of duties owing ^to the public the Camp Company occupied the position of a lessee or agent .of the Coast Line. The verdict exonerating the engineer exonerated the Camp Company, and the exoneration of that company as the agent of the Coast Line exonerated the latter. See reference to Jenkins v. Railroad Co., 89 S. C., 408; 71 S. E., 1010, above.

IX. Error in refusing the motion of the Coast Line for a new trial upon the ground that the liability of that company having been predicated upon the negligence of its employees in not giving warning of the approach of the passenger train, and the verdict of the jury having exonerated said employees, a verdict against the Coast Line, upon this ground, is without a foundation.

The second act of negligence attributed to this company, m the complaint, is that, by its engineer and fireman, it operated the passenger train at a high, excessive and dangerous rate of speed, in violation of law. A verdict having been practically directed by the Court in favor of the fireman and the jury having found a verdict in favor of the engineer, the necessary, inevitable, result of this finding is to exonerate the Coast Line from liability based upon such alleged negligent act of its • engineer and fireman. See authorities cited above.

The third act of negligence attributed to this company, in the complaint, is that by its engineer and fireman it operated the passenger train without proper or adequate lookout, safeguards, and warnings, and without giving any proper or adequate signals of its approach, in violation of law. A verdict having been practically directed by the Court in favor of the fireman, and the jury having found a verdict in favor of the engineer, the necessary inevitable result of this finding is to exonerate the Coast Line from liability based upon such alleged negligent acts of the engineer and fireman. See authorities cited above. It is declared in the leading opinion:

“Where the servant or employee sued was not the only agency under the pleadings and evidence which could have committed the wrong, then acquittal of the servant is not a discharge of the master.”

• — which is a distinct recognition of the converse proposition, that where the servant or employee sued ivas the only agency under the pleadings and evidence which could have committed the wrong, the acquittal of the servant is a discharge of the master.

The proposition is freely conceded that, if the pleadings and evidence allege and establish an act of negligence chargeable to the master alone, or to a servant other than the one sued, the acquittal of the servant sued does not work an acquittal of the master. As is said in the Jones case:

“Examination of the cases relied upon by respondent in which verdicts against the master were sustained, notwithstanding the acquittal from liability of his codefendant servant, will show that, in each of them, there was evidence either of a joint tort of master and servant, or of some separate and independent delict of the master for which the servant was not liable.”

This obviously does not mean that, in violation of all well-recognized rules of pleading, the plaintiff may recover upon an act of negligence not alleged in the complaint, simply for the reason that it may appear in the evidence; that is to say, that if the complaint alleges a specific act of negligence against the master and a specific act against the servant, he may recover upon- either or both of the acts alleged, but he may not recover upon a specific act against the master, or a specific act against the servant, or a specific act against some other servant, not alleged in the complaint.

In Spires v. Railroad Co., 47 S. C., 28; 24 S. E., 992, it is held that under a general allegation of negligence, in the absence of a motion to make more definite and certain, the plaintiff may introduce any competent evidence to show negligence on the part of the defendant. But the Court adds:

“If the complaint had alleged specific acts of negligence, * * * then the plaintiff would be restricted to the introduction of such testimony only as would tend to prove the acts of negligence alleged in the complaint” (opinion by the present Chief Justice).

In Proctor v. Railroad Co., 61 S. C., 170; 39 S. E., 351, after quoting the foregoing extract from the Spires case, the Court says:

“This is for the obvious reason that it.is neither fair nor just to require a party, who is brought into Court and called upon to answer for certain specified misconduct, to answer for other misconduct of a totally different character with which he has not been charged, as he cannot reasonably be expected to- be prepared to answer, as no such charge has been brought against him.”

In Goodwin v. Railroad Co., 76 S. C., 557; 57 S. E., 530, the Court said:

“Where a complaint is general in its allegation of negligence and the defendant does not move to have.the allegations made definite and certain, the plaintiff may introduce under the general allegations any competent evidence to support the-charge of negligence. Spires v. Railroad Co., 47 S. C., 30; 24 S. E., 992. Johnson v. Railroad Co., 53 S. C., 209 [303]; 31 S. E., 212 [69 Am. St Rep., 849], but where the complaint alleges specific acts of negligence the plaintiff is restricted to proof of such acts of negligence” (citing cases).

Approved in the later case of Sutton v. Railroad Co., 82 S. E., 345; 64 S. E., 401, where the above question is adopted.

In Fell v. Railroad Co., 33 S. C., 198; 11 S. E., 691, the Court held that, where there was an entire absence of evidence as to the only act of negligence alleged in the complaint as the ground of the plaintiff’s action, a nonsuit was proper.

In Jenkins v. McCarthy, 45 S. C., 278; 22 S. E., 883, the plaintiff was strictly confined to the sole act of negligence alleged in the complaint.

In McKain v. Water Co., 89 S. C., 378; 71 S. E., 949, the Court said:

“In the case of Spires v. Railroad Co., 47 S. C., 28; 24 S. E., 992, the rule is thus stated: If -the complaint alleges specific acts of negligence, then the plaintiff will be restricted to the introduction of such testimony only as would tend to prove the acts of negligence alleged.”

Since the acts of negligence charged to the Camp Company through its engineer, and to the Coast Line through its engineer, have been eliminated by the verdict in favor of these servants, the only conceivable theory upon which the plaintiff can hope to sustain the verdict against these masters alone is that the blocking of the crossing, even for a reasonable time and of necessity in the operation of the logging train, with the acquiescence, consent, and approval of the Coast Line, created a situation of peril, a cul de sac, into which the automobile would not have been driven if Pinckney and Miller had been suitably warned by flag or light of the situation by one or the other or by both of-these corporations. This is the theory upon which the leading opinion proceeds, as I understand it.

There are sufficient objections to sustaining this contention. In the first place, the negligence charged to the Camo Company, alone through its engineer, is in placing the train on the crossing and keeping it there an unnecessary and unreasonable time, without any safeguards, lights, or warnings to the public of such obstruction. The verdict of the jury has established the innocence of the engineer and the Camp Company of these alleged delinquencies; it is not permitted to the plaintiff to limit this exculpation to the blocking of the crossing unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time, and to insist that the alleged failure to safeguard, light, or warn, is still open; that is a part ofrthe entire charge, and is con-eluded by the verdict. In the next place, the complaint does not count upon a breach of duty on the part of the Coast Line to safeguard, light, or warn; it only alleges that the Coast Line acquiesced in, consented to, and approved of the alleged delinquencies of the Camp Company and its 'engineer, delinquencies which the verdict has established did not exist.

X. Brror in refusing the motion for a new trial as to both corporate defendants, upon the ground that, the verdict of the jtiry in favor of the employees of the Coast Line having eliminated the plaintiff’s cause of action based upon the signaling statute, the defense of ordinary contributory negligence was open to both defendants. The evidence is susceptible of only one inference, at least that the collision was due to the ordinary contributory negligence of the intestate.

The verdict of the jury having eliminated the charge of negligence against the engineer of the passenger train in not sounding the statutory signals, the case becomes one of negligence at common law and not under the statute. In such common-law action the defendant may be exculpated by showing contributory negligence on the part of the person injured, of an ordinary character, not of the degree of gross or willful negligence, or acting in violation of law, as is required in an action under the statute.

Viewing it, then, as an action at common law, I do not see how it is possible to arrive at any other conclusion than that the collision was due to the contributory negligence of the plaintiff’s intestate. See observations above in reference to the gross contributory negligence of the intestate. In reality, the defendant Camp Company had the right to rely upon the ordinary contributory negligence of the intestate, .as that companj? was not charged with the breach of statutory duty in the matter of signaling for the crossing.

XI. Brror in refusing the motions of the corporate defendants for judgments in their favor notwithstanding the verdict.

If the authorities which have been cited above, to the effect that a verdict acquitting the agent upon whose act the principal is sought to be held liable amounts to an acquittal of the principal, it logically must follow that in such case the principal is entitled to immediate judgment in his favor. It would be useless to remand the case for a new trial, when upon the record the Court must direct a verdict for the principal.

XII. A reversal of the judgment against the Camp Company, upon whose negligence the liability of the Coast Line is predicated, demands a reversal of the judgment against the Coast Line.

It may be suggested that the judgment against the Camp Company may be reversed, and that against the Coast Line be affirmed. I do not think that in justice to the latter company this can be done. As I have endeavored to show, the acts of negligence charged against the Coast Line, through the alleged defaults of its servants operating the passenger train, fade from the case, by reason of the verdict exculpating those servants. All that remains is the supposed connection of the Coast Line with the act of the Camp Company, in wrongfully obstructing the crossing, and failing to put out warnings to the public. That connection is assumed to be the consent, acquiescence, and approval of the Coast Line of the act of the Camp Company. But, as the Camp Company has been exonerated by reason of the verdict exculpating its engineer, I do not see how it is possible to predicate a verdict against the Coast Line upon its participation in an act which has been adjudicated free from negligence.

It may be insisted, however, that as to the Coast Line the verdict may be referred to the neglect of that company, after permitting the obstruction, to put out some kind of warning to the public of its presence. This cannot be, for there is no such allegation in the complaint. See paragraph 6 (a) which charges such neglect solely to the Camp Company. Assuming that the Camp Company was negligent in the matter of the obstruction of the crossing (as to which there has been an express adjudication to the contrary, in the acquittal of its agent charged therewith), the Coast Line could be held liable only upon the charge (if it be anything more than an amplification of the charge against the Camp Company) that it consented to, acquiesced in, and approved of such obstruction by the Camp Company. The allegation of the complaint is that:

The “defendant Camp Manufacturing Company and its engineer, Arthur Pulley, with the consent, acquiescence, and approval'of its codefendant Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, had placed and kept a train of cars on a track of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company and across the public highway and crossing of said road, obstructing the crossing of said highway and said railroad necessarily and for an unreasonable length of time, and without any safeguards, lights, or warnings to the public of such obstruction.”

This is quite far from a charge of negligence against any other than the Camp Company. But, assuming that it was intended as a charge of negligence against the Coast Line, it does not allege any participation by the Coast Line in the act specifically charged against the Camp Company, so as to make the latter in pari delicto with-the Camp Corn-pan}'; its liability could be only a constructive liability, as that of a principal for the act of his agent. In such a case the principal, upon paying the damage caused by its agent, has recourse against the agent for reimbursement. To allow the verdict against the Coast Line to stand, and reverse the verdict against the Camp Company, would necessarily deprive the Coast Line of this right of reimbursement.

The only evidence connecting the Coast Line with the act of the Camp Company is that the station agent of the Coast Line directed the engineer of. the Camp Company’s train to back his train until the box car, into which the freight was to be loaded, was opposite the door of the warehouse through which it was to be trucked, and that under the law he could block the crossing, with his train for ten minutes. There is no evidence tending to show that under the circumstances ten minutes would have been an unreasonable length of time within which to stop the train and complete the loading. The effort of the plaintiff to prove that the blocking continued for 15 or 20 minutes is a tacit concession that 10 minutes would not have been an unreasonable length of time. And, if not the agent directed the engineer to do what the law permitted him to do. If the engineer exceeded the direction of the station agent, I do not see how it is possible to hold that the Coast Line participated in and was in pari delicto with the engineer in the unlawful obstruction of the crossing.

The most that can be said of the connection which the Coast Line had with the obstruction of the crossing by the Camp Company is that it gave permission to use its property for a perfectly lawful purpose, and the fact, if it be a fact, that the Camp Company availed itself of this permission to do an unlawful act, in no sense made the Coast Line a participator therein, and, if the Coast Line could be held liable for the act of the Camp Company, it assuredly, under these circumstances, would be entitled to reimbursement. As is said in 38 Cyc., 493 :

“Although it is established that a joint wrongdoer, who has been forced to respond in damages, cannot require indemnification at the hands of his co-tort-feasors, there are two classes of cases which constitute exceptions to the rule: First, where the party claiming indemnity has not been guilty-of any fault except technically or constructively; and, second, where both parties have been in fault, but not in the same fault, towards the party injured, and the party from whom indemnity is claimed was the primary and efficient cause of the injury.”

In Westfield Gas & Milling Co. v. Noblesville & E. Gravel Road Co., 13 Ind. App., 481; 41 N. E., 955; 55 Am. St. Rep., 244, it is said:

“The rule that there is no' contribution nor right of indemnity between joint tort-feasors does not apply to a case where one does the act or creates the nuisance, and the other does not join therein, but is thereby exposed to liability” (that is for damages).

Speaking of the general rule of no contribution between joint wrongdoers, it is said in 31 C. J., 455 :

“The general rule, however, does not apply, and there may be a recovery of indemnity, where the person seeking-indemnity and the person from whom indemnity is sought are not pari delicto, as where, although the relation of the party seeking indemnity to the negligent or wrongful act is such that he is liable therefor, he did not join in such act, or did not know and was presumed to know that the act was wrongful, or where he was only technically or constructively at fault, as from a failure to perform some legal duty, and the negligent or wrongful act of the party from whom indemnity is sought was the primary or proximate cause of the injury, or where both parties were at fault, but not in the same fault toward the person injured, and the fault of the party against whom indemnity is claimed was the primary and efficient cause of the injury. Thus, although a municipality, through its general duty as to the safety of its streets, is constructively at fault in neglecting to repair a defect or remove an obstruction on the city streets, and is compelled to pay damages to one injured by reason of such defects or obstructions, it is entitled to be indemnified by the person who^ caused such defect or obstruction and who, therefore, was the efficient cause of the injury, and the fact that it consented to the operation which caused the defect or obstruction does not make it a joint tort-feasor so as to prevent it from being indemnified.”

“But to render this rule [the general rule of no contribution] applicable there must be a joint participation in the tort, and the parties must be guilty in equal degreeactual knowledge and failure of duty of one of the parties are not sufficient to invoke the rule.” Id.

See, also, 6 R. C. L., 1055.

“Where two or more are acting lawfully together in the furtherance of a common lawful purpose, one is not liable for the unlawful act of another, done in furtherance of the common purpose without his concurrence.” 26 R. C. L-, 767.

See, also, the innumerable cases cited in support of the above quotation from 31 C. J., 455, and especially the case of Washington Gaslight Co. v. District of Columbia, 161 U. S., 316; 16 S. Ct., 564; 40 L. Ed., 712.

It may be assumed, as the authorities seem to hold, that if the Coast Line consented to, acquiesced in, and approved of the act of the Camp Company in unlawfully obstructing the crossing for an unreasonable length of time, it became a joint tort-feasor with the Camp Company in such unlawful act. 26 R. C. L., 767. Richardson v. Emerson, 3 Wis., 319; 62 Am. Dec., 694. Guille v. Swan, 19 Johns. (N. Y.), 381; 10 Am. Dec., 234. Brittain v. McKay, 23 N. C., 265; 35 Am. Dec., 738. Ross v. Rutter, 12 Vt., 265; 36 Am. Dec., 342. But the evidence does not tend to show a permission to do other than a perfectly legitimate act, to block the crossing for 10 minutes, which does not appear to have been an unreasonable length of time; and even if it had consented, etc., to such an unlawful act, although joint tort-feasor, it would not have lost the right of indemnity from the actual perpetrator of the tort.

XIII. Error in permitting the cross examination of the witness Huggins as to a statement of an opinion alleged to have been made by him relating to the cause of the collision, and in permitting contradictory testimony in the denial of Huggins that he had made such statement.

Upon cross examination Huggins was asked by counsel for the plaintiff whether, upon a certain occasion, he had made the statement that the collision would not have occurred if the Camp Company had not obstructed the crossing. He replied that he had made no such statement, but had said that the collision would not have occurred if the travelers had continued over the crossing. Objection was interposed upon the ground that the matter was collateral and merely the expression of an opinion. In reply, over similar objection, testimony was allowed that he had made the statement attributed to him. It is generally held that a witness may not be impeached with reference to statements made by him upon collateral matters. State v. Wyse, 33 S. C., 582; 12 S. E., 556. State v. Adams, 49 S. C., 414; 27 S. E., 451. Jones v. McNeill, 2 Bailey, 466.

It is not always easy to determine what is a “collateral matter.” Mr. Wigmore says, in 2 Wig., Ev. (1st Ed.), § 1003:

“The test that is dictated by the principle above explained, and the only test in vogue that has the qualities of a true test — definiteness, concreteness, and ease of application— is that laid down in Attorney General v. Hitchcock; could the fact, as to which error is predicated, have been shown in evidence for any purpose independently of the contradiction?” (Italics by the author.)

I do not think that there can be a doubt under the decisions of this Court and everywhere else, but that the fact, in reference to which the contradiction is attempted, must be a fact relevant to some issue in the case.

“Contradictory statements of a witness, to be admissible for the purpose of impeachment, must be material to the issue, and must ordinarily be a statement of fact and not a mere opinion of the witness.” 28 R. C. L., 634.

“It is not permissible to impeach a witness by showing that he has made contradictory statements as to collateral, irrelevant or immaterial matters, and the test is whether, if the matter alleged to have been stated by the witness out of Court were true, the party seeking to impeach the witness would be entitled to prove such matter in support of his case.” 40 Cyc., 2699, citing perhaps 100 cases.

In State v. Alexander, 2 Mill, Const., 171, the Court said:

“But a witness cannot be examined [as] to matters irrelevant to the issue, for the purpose of contradicting his testimony on these matters, and thereby impeaching his testimony.”

In Smith v. Henry, 2 Bailey, 118, it is held that it is only as to matters relevant to the issue that a witness can be contradicted for the purpose of impeachment. In State v. Adams, 49 S. C., 414; 27 S. E., 451, the Court says:

“It is equally well settled that it is not competent to offer testimony tending to contradict the witness as to irrelevant or merely collateral matter.”

In State v. Watson, 94 S. C., 458; 78 S. E., 324, the Court quotes with approval the following extract from the opinion in State v. Hasty, 76 S. C., 105; 56 S. E., 669:

“The presiding Judge ruled that the testimony therein mentioned was irrelevant, and that it was not competent for the purpose of contradiction, as it related to a collateral question. This Court is satisfied that the testimony was not only irrelevant, but that it was not admissible, for the purpose of discrediting the witnesses for the State therein mentioned.”

In People v. Chin Mook Sow, 51 Cal., 597, it is said:

“Where the question asked on cross examination calls for a response in respect to a matter which the party asking .the question would have a right to prove as an independent fact, the rule [as to collateralness] does not apply.”

See, also, to the same effect: State v. Jones, 74 S. C., 456; 54 S. E., 1017. State v. Tidwell, 100 S. C., 249; 84 S. E., 778. Harbert v. Railroad Co., 78 S. C., 537; 59 S. E., 644.

The test of relevancy in this case is whether, if the witness Huggins, who was sought to be impeached, had been a witness for the plaintiff, he could have testified to the matter contained in the statement attributed to him, that in his opinion the collision would not have occurred if the Camp. Company had not obstructed the crossing. The connection of Huggins to the transaction, where he was, what he Was doing, - what he saw, and what he had the opportunity of seeing, as testified to by him before the question was asked, was as follows: He and his wife were standing in front of Osterman’s store, which is very near Funk’s stoi'e, south of it, and nearly opposite the crossing; he observed the approach of the passenger train, heard certain signals given by it, and noticed the Ford car as it passed going in the direction of the crossing. Fie stated that he did not see the collision, and it is apparent from both his testimony and the testimony of his wife that they did not know anything had happened until some one rushed up and announced the news. It will also be noted that the witness admitted that he had thought that the automobile had gotten across. He admitted that he -did not see the accident. He was watching the train as it approached and was not giving particular thought to the automobile one way or the other. There is nothing to show that he saw the car go beyond the crossing, turn to come back, and stop before proceeding on the track, and -any view which the witness might express as to the cause of the accident was mere conjecture.

As I understand the law as declared by this Court, the general rule is that a nonexpert witness may not give his opinion in reference to the issues involved in a case, but that to this general rule there are exceptions. It is manifest, therefore, that to render such an opinion admissible, it must come within the well-established exceptions. It must be made to appear':

(1) That the witness has detailed the facts, within his personal knowledge, upon which the proposed opinion is based; and

(2) That the statement of such facts by the witness is sufficiently comprehensive as to be the basis of an intelligent opinion; and

(3) That the opinion of the' witness was necessary for the information of the jury by reason of the fact that the entire surroundings could not be reproduced, so as to afford the jury the same opportunity of forming a correct opinion as when viewed by the witness; or,

(4) That the necessity of the case compelled the admission of the opinion testimony.

There is some difference of opinion among the authorities as to whether it is always necessary that the witness have detailed the facts upon which his opinion is asked. See 3 Wig., Ev. (1st Ed.), § 1918. But the decisions of this Court are unvarying in the requirement. In Jones v. Fuller, 19 S. C., 66; 45 Am. Rep., 761, the Court said:

“It is necessary that the witness should first state the facts upon which he bases his opinion, where the facts are such as are capable of being reproduced in language.”

In Ward v. Charleston City R. Co., 19 S. C., 521; 45 Am. Rep., 794, the Court said:

“It is a general rule of evidence that opinions of witnesses are not competent, but to this there are several exceptions; for instance, experts may give opinions, and even ordinary witnesses, after, stating the facts upon which their opinions are founded, may also state their opinions resting on the facts.”

In this case the Court concludes as follows :

“Under the principles upon, which these cases were decided, we think the question propounded here was competent, especially as the witnesses were present when the accident occurred, and were speaking from the facts as they occurred within their sight and under their immediate observation.”

In Couch v. Railroad Co., 22 S. C., 557, the Court makes this statement: ,

“The plaintiff also complains that the Judge erred in not allowing William Davis and other witnesses, after the}'- had stated that the condition of the waterway, or heard it described by others, to go on and give their opinion as to the dangerous character of the place, and that prudence required that notice should have been given to one> situated as the plaintiff was. The general rule certainly is that the mere opinions of witnesses are not admissible. There are some exceptions to the rule for particular reasons, but we do' not think that any of them cover this case. The subject-matter was not of such character as to authorize the introduction of opinion from the necessity of the case.”

In Cothran v. Knight, 45 S. C., 3; 22 S. E., 596, the Court, in an opinion by the present Chief Justice, said:

“The witness was not interrogated as to the facts upon which he based his opinion, although the case was one in which they could be ‘reproduced and made palpable in the concrete to the jury’ ” Evidence excluded.

In Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co. v. Kirven, 57 S. C., 445; 35 S. E., 745, it w^as held (quoting syllabus) :

“A witness may give his opinion, based on facts capable of reproduction in language, after first stating such facts.”

In Easler v. Railroad Co., 59 S. C., 311; 37 S. E., 938, the opinion testimony was admitted upon the specific ground that the witness had “previously given the facts upon which such opinion would be based.”

In Burnett v. Railroad Co., 62 S. C., 281; 40 S. E., 679, the Court, in admitting the testimony, said:

“The witness stated the grounds upon which he based his opinion, which thereby renders it competent as testimony.”

In Machen v. Telegraph Co., 72 S. C., 256; 51 S. E., 697, the Court, admitting the testimony, said:

“The testimony falls within the rule of the cases that hold that a nonexpert witness may give his opinion after stating the facts upon which it is based.”

In Henry v. Railroad Co., 93 S. C., 125; 75 S. E., 1018, the Court said:

“Exception 2 cannot be sustained as his Honor [correctly] ruled that a nonexpert witness could not' give an opinion unless he had detailed facts to base it on.”

It goes without saying that, if the witness must detail the facts upon which his proposed opinion is based, the statement must of necessity be sufficiently comprehensive to form the basis of a reasonably intelligent opinion. The most important element is that the testimony must not be superfluous. It is superfluous, if it is unnecessary, that is, not needed for the information of the jury. In this respect the admission of expert opinion and nonexpert or lay opinions rest ujbon the same basis. Exipert opinions are admitted upon the ground of the superior knowledge or skill which the expert possesses; lay opinions are admitted upon the ground that “his facts cannot be so told as to make the jury as able as he to draw the inference.” 3 Wig., Ev. (1st Ed.), § Í917. Both, therefore, are admitted on account of the superior prospect of the witness, necessary or at least helpful to the jury.

“Whenever inference and conclusions can be drawn by the jury as well as by the witness, the witness is superfluous, and thus an expert’s opinion is received because and when his skill is greater tiran the jury’s, while a lay opinion is received because and whenever his facts cannot be so told as to make the jury as able as he to draw the inference.” 3 Wig., Ev. (1st Ed.), § 1917.

“Whenever the point is reached at which the tribunal is being told that which it is itself entirely equipped to determine without the witness’ aid on this point, his testimony is superfluous and is to be dispensed with.” 3 Wig., Ev. (1st Ed. >, § 1918.

In State v. Summers, 36 S. C., 479; 15 S. E., 369, it was held (quoting syllabus) :

“A witness having fully testified as to the language, gestures, attitude, and position of the parties to a homicide, the necessity that alone justifies nonexpert opinion evidence did not exist, and, therefore, there was no error in refusing to permit such witness to say whether he thought the defendant had cause to consider his life in danger from the deceased.”

In Dent v. Railroad Co., 61 S. C., 329; 39 S. E., 527, the testimony was admitted specifically upon the ground:

“The witness based his opinion upon facts within his own knowledge, which it would have been difficult fully to reproduce and make palpable before the jury.”

In Nickles v. Railroad Co., 74 S. C., 102; 54 S. E., 255, the Court said:

“These exceptions are intended to bring' in question the ruling of the Circuit Judge in excluding the opinions of witnesses * * * as to what caused the wreck in which Mrs. Black was killed. These two witnesses, whose opinions were sought, had both testified as to all the facts which came within her knowledge, hut neither of them was an eyewitness to the occurrence. Neither one was present when the catastrophe occurred. So, if their opinion as to the cause of the same could be given, it could only be given as experts.”

In Fitzgerald v. Manufacturing Co., 74 S. C., 232; 54 S. E., 373, the Court said:

“It is a cardinal rule that the evidence must be of such a character as not to fall within the range of common experience and observation, and, therefore, not to be intelligible to jurors without the aid of opinion.”

In State v. Stockman, 82 S. C., 388; 64 S. E., 595; 129 Am. St. Rep., 888, the witness was asked:

“State, if your" father had not killed him at the time he did, what would have happened?.”

The Court, holding the testimony inadmissible, said:

“What the deceased was doing or threatening to do when he was slain was an issue, and the witness testified fully as to all the circumstances, the meaning of which could not be made plainer by his opinion, and the inference for the jury.” from the circumstances was peculiarly for the jury.”

In Hand v. Power Co., 90 S. C., 267; 73 S. E., 187, the Court said:

- “The rule is well settled that, when the matter or thing to which the evidence relates cannot be reproduced or clearly described to the jury, the wintess, though not an expert, may give his opinion, after stating the facts and circumstances upon which it is based.”

In Dodd v. Railroad Co., 95 S. C., 9; 78 S. E., 525, the Court, in admitting the testimony, said:

“The surroundings could not be reproduced, so as to afford the jury the same opportunity of forming a correct opinion as when viewed by the witness.”

See, also, as bearing more or less directly: State v. James, 31 S. C., 218; 9 S. E., 844. State v. Merriman, 34 S. C., 16; 12 S. E., 619. State v. Lee, 58 S. C., 335; 36 S. E., 706. Oliver v. Railroad Co., 65 S. C., 1; 43 S. E., 307. Mauldin v. Railroad Co., 73 S. C., 9; 52 S. E., 677. Cain v. Railroad Co., 74 S. C., 89; 54 S. E., 244. Gosa v. Railroad Co., 67 S. C., 347; 45 S. E., 810. Riser v. Railroad Co., 67 S. C., 419; 46 S. E., 47. State v. Hyde, 90 S. C., 296; 73 S. E., 180. McCown v. Muldrow, 91 S. C., 528; 74 S. E., 386; Ann. Cas., 1914-A, 139. Miller v. Railroad Co., 94 S. C., 388; 77 S. E., 1111.

If this statement, attributed to Huggins, had been offered as coming from his lips, as a witness for the plaintiff, its admission would have violated ever)'- condition essential to its validity as evidence. It did not purport to be based upon facts within his knowledge, for he admits that he did nor see the accident and knew, nothing even of its immanence, until he had been told of its happening; he makes no statement of facts upon which such opinion may have been based; it does not purport to have even been made upon information received from others; and, lastly and conclusively, it did not purport to be an inference which the jury could not draw as well as he. If he could not have testified to it, it is necessarify irrelevant, and, under the authorities cited, cannot form the basis of impeachment.

It is impossible to affirm that the admission of this contradicting evidence was not prejudicial to the interests of the defendants. Huggins was not an agent of either of the defendants and his declarations were not binding upon them. The presiding Judge did not warn the jury that the testimony could be used only for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of the witness, as he should have done upon its admission. They may have believed the contradicting witnesses, that Huggins did make such a statement, and it is not improbable that it sunk into- their minds as a declaration supporting the main contention of the plaintiff that the obstruction was the proximate cause of the collision. The admission was error, and prejudice is presumed. Templeton v Railroad Co., 117 S. C., 44; 108 S. E., 363. The prejudice is apparent from the remark of the presiding Judge, “He was there and is telling what he saw,” in spite of the fact that Huggins denied the statement, and testified that he did not see the accident. The rule, in my opinion, should be strictly enforced, on account of the extreme difficulty of impressing upon the jury the single purpose of a contradiction, the impeachment of the credibility of a witness, and that it cannot be used as substantive evidence, a tendency which the average juror is prone to indulge.

---

Concurrence Opinion

Mr. Acting Associate Justice C. J. Ramage

(concurring in dismissal of petition) : In addition to the order indorsed on the back of the original petition in this case, I wish to add a few points to the opinion of the Court filed by Mr. Justice Watts.

The first point I wish to make is in reference to the criticism of the Circuit Judge in adding the words “unnecessary or” to the request to charge of the defendants. I think the addition of these words not reversible error. Webster defines these words as follows :

“'Unnecessary: Not required under the circumstances; useless; needless.”

“Unreasonable: Irrational; immoderate; exorbitant.”

I think the jury ought to have understood and did understand the Circuit Judge in the sense above given by Webster, and not in the sense that the law imposed on the defendants the burden of showing an absolute necessity. It is further my judgment that his Honor put the matter in a way that cut rather in favor of the defendants, ■ when he made the request to read that the “obstruction is unnecessary or for an unreasonable length of time considered with reference to existing circumstances.”

“A delay may be ‘necessary,’ and yet ‘unreasonable,’ if it is made necessary by the negligence of the party chargeable therewith, and such delay is in legal contemplation ‘unreasonable,’ however imperatively necessary it may have been. In an action for delay in the shipment of cattle, an instruction holding the carrier liable only in case the delay was both unreasonable and unnecessary was erroneous, since it would be liable if the delay was unreasonable, though rendered necessary by its negligence.” Rogers v. Texas & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tex. Civ. App.), 94 S. W., 158, 162.

So it appears that this addition, as stated above, was in favor of the defendant; as the Texas Court shows that, if the delay was necessary, nó' matter from what cause the necessity arose, yet the defendants would be well within their rights under the charge of Judge Townsend, even though the said delay at the same time was unreasonable. Furthermore, the charge of the Judge below is sustained by the following authority:

“But a railroad is liable for injuries caused by reason of such obstruction, when it amounts to negligence, as where it allows its train or cars to remain on the crossing unnecessarily, or for an unreasonable length of time, by reason of which injuries are received by one who attempts, with due care, to cross or go around the obstruction.” 22 Ruling Case Taw, p. 994.

The next matter we shall take up is the question as to whether or not the Circuit Judge erred in refusing a request to charge by defendant, which, among other things, contained this expression, “That these defendants -could not reasonably have anticipated the collision would result from such obstruction,” and in substituting the words, “Some injury h> travelers on the highway.” It does seem that the action of Judge Townsend carries its own justification on its face. To allow a party guilty of negligence or willfulness which injures some one else as a proximate ■cause to escape, unless a person of ordinary prudence and foresight could have foreseen the particular injury inflicted, would be tantamount to saying that the guilty party could not be held liable; for in most cases it is impossible to foresee the thing that actually happens, no matter how culpable the guilty party may be. The Judge’s charge was in strict accord with the decided weight of authority on this subject.

“In order, however, that a party may be liable for negligence, it is not necessary that he should have contemplated, or even been able to anticipate, the particular consequences which ensued or the precise injuries sustained by the plaintiff. It is sufficient, if by the exercise of ordinary care, the defendant might have foreseen that some injury would result from his act of omission, or that consequences of a greatly injurious nature might have been expected. It is likewise unnecessary to the constitution of negligence that the defendant should have been able to anticipate the form of the injuries sustained or the particular manner of their occurrence.” 21 American & English Encyclopedia of Raw (2d Ed.), p. 487.

This is the universally accepted doctrine, and is the law of South Carolina, and the Judge below properly left the matter of proximate cause to the jury under the facts of this case.

The next point is: That his Honor did not charge that:

While “violation of the statute, although declared negligence per se, must be shown to have been the proximate cause of the injury, and the burden of showing this devolves upon the plaintiff throughout.”

It is clear to me that the Judge did not err as charged, but that he clearly left the matter of a proximate cause to the jury, and plainly stated to the jury that the plaintiff must prove by the greater weight of the evidence that the violation of the statute was a proximate cause of the injury. See folios 929, 931, 937, 938, 945, 953, 983, and other statements to the same effect. (The reporter will preserve in reporting the charge the marginal figures, so that these excerpts may not have to be set out twice.)

His Honor’s charge is also borne out by the following and other excerpts from Lawson v. Railway Co., 91 S. C., 201; 74 S. E., 473 :

“Where it appears that an injury occurred at a crossing and that the statutory signals were not given, there arises a presumption that the failure to give the signals, which is negligence per se, contributed to the injury.”

So we see no basis in the charge itself for the objection thus urged to it. Under the facts in this case, all this was property left to the jury.

The point is further made that the majority, through the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts, did not consider the fifth exception. It has never been deemed essential to name every exception by number in writing an opinion. Such an ironclad rule would destroy the beautiful symmetry of many of our great decisions. It is only necessary to consider and decide the questions realty determinative of the appeal.

Now, Justice Watts wrote a full and adequate opinion in this case, and one that fairly covered all questions arising on this appeal. It has formerly been deemed adequate for the opinion to show in any decisive way clearly how the case was decided, and the reasons therefor. This may be done by reference to other decided cases, to an extract from a text-book; to a decree, or charge, or sometimes merely overruling the exceptions. To lay down any “hard and fast” formula would be'to stifle the infinite variety that we find, even among the best decisions of the Courts, and would be a bane to originality in the building of judicial opinions. All this must depend upon the case, the nature and training of the judge, and many other factors too numerous to mention. If the Court makes it clear what disposition has been made of the case, and -the reasons for its action, nothing more is essential. Sometimes a short opinion, that hits the mark, will be better than one of more extended length. However, this is largely a matter of taste, and the old Latin maxim, “De gustibus non est disputandum” ought to suffice. Judge Watts’ opinion was and is eminently satisfactory to the majority of the Court, and leaves no doubt whatever as to the disposition the Court had made of the case. And, too, to set all matters at rest, he winds up his opinion in these words: “All exceptions are overruled .and judgment affirmed.” This includes the fifth as well as all other exceptions. •

The point is next made that there is no allegation in the complaint charging wrongdoing to Camp Manufacturing Company, except as made in reference to its engineer, Arthur Pulley, who was exonerated by the verdict of the jury. An inspection of the pleadings will not bear out this contention. The complaint alleges:

“Defendant Camp Manufacturing Company and its engineer, Arthur Pulley, with the consent, acquiescence, and approval of its codefendant, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, had placed and kept a train of cars on a track of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company and across the public highway and crossing of said road, obstructing the crossing of said highway and said railroad unnecessarily, and for an unreasonable length of time, and without any safeguards, lights, or' warnings to the public of such obstruction. The said obstruction was in violation of the laws of the State-and the ordinances of the town of St. Stephens, in which it occurred.”

Arthur Pulley and Camp Manufacturing Company are both charged here, and it is hard to see how any one could fail to see this.

The Camp Manufacturing Company in its answer admits that its train was temporarily on a side track, and does not in its answer deny responsibility for the train’s being there. In other words, Camp Manufacturing Company admits that the train was there, put there by them “by permission of said Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company,” and does not repudiate the action of the parties who put the train here, but attempts to justify itself on other grounds. Hence it would be unfair for the Camp Manufacturing Company to make its fight all through the case, justifying the fact of blocking the street and claiming that the train’s being there was not wrongful, and then, when thére was an adverse verdict against it, claim that it was not responsible, but that its agent, Arthur Pulley, was at fault, after a favorable verdict had been rendered in favor of Pulley.

This position would commend itself more to a sense of justice, had it been taken by the Camp Manufacturing Company while the case was being tried; but it comes suspiciously late after Pulley is out of the case. In other words, the Camp Manufacturing Company took the position before the jury that Pulley was not liable and now, on appeal, it attempts to exonerate itself by throwing all the blame on Pulley, when it is too late to hold Pulley.

It is further contended that nothing is alleged in the complaint about there being an insufficiency of help on the Camp Manufacturing Company’s train. I think that the absence of sufficient help in the train crew would be admissible under the following allegations of the complaint: “Without any safeguards, lights, or warnings to the public of such obstructions.” The following matters were brought out in the testimony: The crossing was blocked completely, and that this was habitual; that it was done by Camp Manufacturing Company by direction of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company’s representative on the spot; that the train backed with no rear light or flagman; that the train remained over the crossing and that the two flat cars were calculated to make one traveling the road to think that the crossing was not blocked till one got right up to the track; that there was an insufficiency of help; that the light on the Camp engine was shut off; that the blocking was unnecessary and for an unreasonably long time; that the night was dark, cold, and rainy. There are other facts to go to the jury on the allegations of the complaint, and it is not' necessary to rehearse them here. Even if the jury did find no verdict against the engineers of the two trains personally, yet these engineers were agents and servants ©f the two defendants, respectively, and their acts would still be imputed to the masters, if the jury under the testimony saw fit to do this.

It is suggested that the two defendants against whom verdicts have been found are being deprived of property without due process of law. This expression, SO' often invoked by litigants in the last desperate struggles to avert an adverse decision, simply means “the law of the land,” Bouv., Law Diet. (1914 Ed.), p. 947. The following cases have laid down the law substantially as the rule has been applied in the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts: Littlejohn v. Railway, 49 S. C., 12; 26 S. E., 967. Fletcher v. Railway, 57 S. C., 205; 35 S. E., 513. Mack v. Railway, 52 S. C., 323; 29 S. E., 905; 40 L. R. A., 679; 68 Am. St. Rep., 913. Nohrden v. Railroad Co., 59 S. C., 87; 37 S. E., 228; 82 Am. St. Rep., 286. Mercer v. Railway, 66 S. C., 246; 44 S. E., 750. Burns v. Railway Co., 61 S. C., 404; 39 S. E., 567. Hutto v. Railway Co., 61 S. C., 495; 39 S. E., 710. Edwards v. Railway Co., 63 S. C., 271; 41 S. E., 458. Davis v. Railway Co., 63 S. C., 370; 41 S. E., 468. Kirby v. Railway Co., 63 S. C., 494; 41 S. E., 765. Bishop v. Railway Co., 63 S. C., 532; 41 S. E., 808. Cooper v. Railway Co., 65 S. C., 214; 43 S. E., 682. Mercer v. Railway Co., 66 S. C., 246; 44 S. E., 750. Gosa v. Railway Co., 67 S. C., 247; 45 S. E., 810. Osteen v. Railway Co., 76 S. C., 368; 57 S. E., 196. Sanders v. Railway Co., 93 S. C., 543; 77 S. E., 289.

We refer especially to Folk v. Seaboard Air Line R. Co., 99 S. C., 284; 83 S. E., 452. We have not named any of the recent cases to the same effect, but most of these were decided by men long gone to their reward, and the crossing law was laid down time and again by these men, and it is no new doctrine that we are laying down here. Legislatures and Courts in practically every civilized country have recognized the principles reiterated in the present case. The humblest citizen traveling along the highway is under the protecting arm of the law, and it would be a sad day for any land or country in which the Courts failed to render every man his due.

We are satisfied that the majority opinion is based on both law and justice, and the petition for a rehearing ought to be and is dismissed.

Mr. Chiee Justice Watts and Messrs. Justices BeEasE and StabeER concur.

---

Dissenting Opinion

Mr. Justice Cothran

(dissenting from dismissal of petition) : I think that the petition for a rehearing in this case should be granted, for the reasons stated in the petition, and for the reasons which I shall herein submit, supplementary to the dissenting opinion which has been filed by me.

In the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts I do not think that he has at all answered the principal objections urged against the validity of the judgment in this case, and this I say with the greatest respect for his discriminating sense of justice. The opinion, as I see the law, does not correctly state the rights and duties of a railroad company in respect to the obstruction of a street, at a railroad crossing, with its standing cars. It is manifestly of the greatest moment to such corporations, in the operation of trains over hundreds of crossings, that these rights and duties be clearly and correctly defined. Assuming the right, in a given case, of the company to lay its track upon its right of way, and across streets that traverse it, a situation of correlative rights and duties is created. The public has the right to the use of the street or highway, and the company has the right to. the use of its track at-the point of intersection. Each must exercise this right with due regard to that of the other. Upon the principle of “sic utere tuo,” the reasonableness of such use is the test, and not the necessity therefor.

The defendants requested the following charge:

“The use of a railroad side track for shifting cars or loading and unloading freight is a lawful use, and cannot be considered negligence or willfulness, even if a highway is temporarily • obstructed thereby, unless such obstruction is for an unreasonable length of time, considered with reference to the existing circumstances.”

According to my conception, that request correctly stated the law, and is entirely in harmony with the principle by which the duty of the company is to be measured, “sic utere tuo ut alienum non Icedas. The Circuit Judge refused, to give the charge as requested, without the modification produced by the insertion of the words “unnecessary or,” the effect of which was to impose the burden upon the company of showing not only that the obstruction continued only for a reasonable time, but that it was a matter of necessity, and that, if the plaintiff showed either that it was not a matter of necessity, or that it continued for an unreasonable time, he made out a case of negligence against the company. It is easily conceivable that a crossing may be blocked for only a reasonable time, under circumstances which do not present a case of necessity, as I endeavored to demonstrate -in my dissenting opinion. At the same time the question whether the blocking was necessary or not may well be considered in determining the other question of reasonableness.

I do not contend that the matter is controlled by Section 2922, Code of 1922, which prescribes a penalty for allowing cars to obstruct, a street or highway for a longer period than five minutes after notice to remove them, and concede that, irrespective of this statute, the duty at common law remains not to obstruct a crossing unreasonably; but I do not find anywhere that the right to use this part of a track, which with the right of way belongs to the company, for the uses of the company, is limited to cases of necessity.

“And a temporary obstruction, * * * by leaving cars in or across a street for an unreasonable time, may constitute a nuisance.” 3 Elliott, R. R. (3d Ed.), § 1440.

“If a railroad company obstructs a highway for an unreasonable length of time, or for a longer time than the law permits, unless it is without fault, the railroad company thereupon becomes a trespasser.” Littlejohn v. Railroad Co., 49 S. C., 12; 26 S. E., 967. Walker v. Railroad Co., 77 S. C., 161; 57 S. E., 764; 12 Ann. Cas., 591.

(A more accurate statement, I think, would have been that the company thereby will be held to have created a nuisance.)

The opinion of Mr. Justice Watts in several places repeats the modification, holding that the unnecessary or unreasonable obstruction constitutes negligence.

I do not think that there can be the shadow of a doubt that the Circuit Judge committed error in his charge as to what constitutes the proximate cause o-f an injury. The defendants requested the following charge:

“Even if you find from the evidence that the defendant Camp Manufacturing Company and its engineer, Arthur Pulley, were negligent and willful in obstructing the crossing, but that these defendants could not reasonably have anticipated that the collision would result from such obstruction, then I charge you that under such circumstances such obstruction would not be a proximate cause of the collision, although you find the same to- be a remote cause, and your verdict must under such circumstances be in favor of these defendants.”

I think that this request was in exact conformity with the law of proximate cause. The Circuit Judge, however, refused to charge it without the modification produced by striking out the word “collision” and inserting the words “some injury to travelers on the highway ” and specifically charging:

“In order that an injury be the proximate result of an act, it is' not necessary that the actor should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury which resulted. It is enough if he should have foreseen that his act of negligence would probably result in injury of some kind to some one to whom he owes a duty.”

If a person commits an act, and should have foreseen that his act would probably result in injury of some kind to some one to whom he owes a duty, such act will be held to have been an act of negligence. It will not be held to be actionable negligence, unless the particular injury is shown to have been a result reasonably to have been anticipated from the negligent act. The tests of negligence and proximate cause are not the same. I do not contend that the actor should have foreseen the particular injury; the question is, not alone whether the act was negligent, which may be assumed, but whether the particular injury was one which naturally flowed from, the act, and for that reason should have been foreseen by a person of ordinary prudence. To say that the act was .the proximate cause, because it was an act of negligence, is necessarily to preclude the further vital inquiry whether it was the proximate cause of the injury.

In Glenn v. Railroad Co., 21 S. C., 466, the Court said :

“Applying these principles to the case under consideration, in which the negligence imputed to the defendant was in failing to furnish a headlight for the engine, we find that the testimony as to such negligence was quite sufficient, as to that point, to send the case to the jury; but we look in vain for any evidence whatever tending to establish the equally material and necessary point'that the injury complained of was in any way the result of such negligence.”

In Adkins v. Railroad Co., 27 S. C., 71; 2 S. E., 849, the Court said:

“To recover damages for an injury done to a party by another, the plaintiff must not only produce evidence of negligence by such other, but also that the injury compained of was the result of such negligence.”

In Petrie v. Railroad Co., 29 S. C., 303; 7 S. E., 515, the Court said:

“It is not sufficient to make out plaintiff’s case that there should be simply evidence of defendant’s negligence, but that there must also be some evidence that the injury complained of was the result of such negligence.”

In Barber v. Railroad Co., 34 S. C., 444; 13 S. E., 630, the Court said:

“It was not sufficient, to sustain a case of this kind, to show negligence, but there must be also some evidence showing that the injury complained of was the result of such negligence.”

In Ruff v. Railroad Co., 42 S. C., 114; 20 S. E., 27:

“It was not only necessary to introduce testimony tending to show that the injury to the horse was the result of such negligence.”

So it is clear that the proof of negligence is one thing, and proof that the negligence was the proximate cause of the particular injury is an entirely different one. As a matter of fact it was not at all necessary for the plaintiff to prove that an injury “of some kind to some one” would probably result from the unreasonable obstruction of a crossing; the law stamps it as a negligent act. The charge necessarily withdrew from the jury the issue whether the negligence was the proximate cause of the collision.

Mr. Justice Watts, in disposing of this objection, quotes from Sandel v. State, 115 S. C., 180; 104 S. E., 567; 571 (13 A. L. R., 1268.), as follows:

“But, in application, the rule may need explanation; for instance, it is not necessary to show that a person charged with negligence should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury that resulted. It is enough that he should have foreseen that his negligence would probably result in injury of some kind to some one.”

By reference to the opinion from which this quotation is made (somewhat garbled in the typewritten copy of Mr. Justice Watts’ opinion), the rule to which reference is made appears in the defendant’s request to charge:

“An injury that could not have been foreseen or reasonably anticipated as the probable result of an act of negligence is not actionable,”

—as to which the Court remarked:

“As a general statement of the law, the request was correct. The same request was charged in Miles v. Telegraph Co., 55 S. C., 403, 420; 33 S. E., 493, and approved by this Court.”

There follows the statement:

“But, in application, the rule may need explanation; for instance, it is not necessary to show that a person charged with negligence should have foreseen the particular consequences or injury that resulted,”

—as to which there can be no objection. It is followed by the statement:

“It is enough that he should have foreseen that his negligence .would probably result in injury of some kind to some one,”

—a declaration absolutely inconsistent with the rule which had been previously announced, and making the test of proximate cause the existence of negligence.

In the case of Dallas v. Maxwell (Tex. Com. App.), 248 S. W., 667; 27 A. L. R., 931, cited by Mir. Justice Watts, as sustaining the charge, the Court said:

“Whether injury might result to some one whose relation to the act or omission is wholly dissimilar or unanalogous to that of the injured party is a purely abstract and immaterial question.”

In the case of Wilson v. Railroad Co., 30 N. D., 456; 153 N. W., 429, L. R. A., 1915-E, 995, also cited by Mr. Justice Watts, the precise distinction for which I am contending is sustained. The Court says:

“There can be no question that the defendant must have anticipated that the fire would be injurious to some one. The act, therefore, was negligent and gives rise to a cause of action. The only question to be determined is whether the injury to the plaintiff was a proximate result of that act. If so, damages can be recovered therefor, even though they were not anticipated.”

The test of proximate cause is thus stated by the Supreme Court of the United States:

“In order to warrant a finding that negligence * * * is the proximate cause of an injury, it must appear that the injury was the natural and probable consequence of the negligence or wrongful act, and that it ought to have been foreseen in the light of the attending circumstances,” not that any other injury ought to have been foreseen. Milwaukee, etc., R. Co. v. Kellogg, 94 U. S., 469; 24 L. Ed., 256.

“One is held responsible for all the consequences of his act which are natural and probable, and ought to have been foreseen by a reasonably prudent man.” Atchison, etc., R. Co. v. Calhoun, 213 U. S., 7; 29 S. Ct., 321, 323 (53 L. Ed., 671).

In the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts, no attention at all is given to the exception assigning error in the charge that a failure of a railroad company to give the statutory signals for a highway crossing raises a presumption that such failure was the proximate cause of a collision which may have occurred.

The Circuit Judge charged as follows:

“When the signals are not given, as and in the manner provided by statute, and an injury occurs at the crossing of a railroad and public highway, a presumption would arise that the failure to give the signals is the proximate cause of the injury. But such presumption would be rebuttable by evidence, and the jury should consider any and all evidence that may be in the case, in determining the question of proximate cause.”

The defendant Coast Tine excepted to this charge upon this ground:

“This was error, since the violation of a statute, although declared negligence per se, must be shown to have been the proximate cause of the injury, and the burden of showing this devolves upon the plaintiff throughout.”

After some variant decisions, this Court has finally-settled upon the doctrine declared in Whaley v. Ostendorff, 90 S. C., 281; 73 S. E., 186, in which it is distinctly held that, while the violation of a city ordinance is negligence per se:

“The fact that there was negligence per se does not, however, tend to show that such negligence is actionable. The question whether negligence is actionable depends upon the further question whether such negligence was the direct and proximate cause of the injury.”

The latest deliverance upon the subject is the case of Cirsosky v. Smothers, 128 S. C., 358; 122 S. E., 864, in which it is held:

“That the violation of a statute, although declared negligence per se, must be shown to have been the proximate cause of the injury, or at least a contributing proximate cause, is abundantly shown by the authorities and sustained by common sense and justice.”

In the last-named case an array of authorities is cited, sustaining the proposition. The reason for the rule, which in every case is the anchor of the rule, is thus expressed in the Cirsosky case:

“The only difference between an act which the law declares negligence (that is, an act which is negligence per se), and an act of negligence, is in the particular branch of the legal machinery of the trial which adjudicates the question and characterizes the act; in the one case the Judge, and in the other the jury. The further essential to liability (the causal relation between the act and the injury) is unaffected by the distinction. It is just as necessary to show that the act declared negligence per se was the proximate cause of the injury as to show that an act so declared by the jury was such cause.”

As Mr. Elliott says in 3 Elliott, Railroads (3d Ed.) § 1648, p. 503:

“Ordinarily the omission of the statutory duty [of giving the required signals on approaching a crossing], is negligence-per se,- and, where the omission is established, such negligence arises as a matter of law; but such omission by no means conclusively establishes the company’s liability, for the injured party must have been free from fault, and the negligence of the company must have been the proximate cause of the injury in order to enable him to recover. * * * In no event is the omission to give the statutory signals sufficient of itself to make out a case, for there must be evidence showing that it was the proximate cause of the injury. * * * The consequences of an act or omission do not of themselves show that an act is or is not negligent, and it is not necessary, in order to render an act or omission negligent, that it produce some disastrous result. Negligence per se may work no serious injury to any person, not because it is not wrongful in itself, but because no one is in a position at a particular time to be injured. The liability of the wrongdoer to the person injured, is, however, generally dependent upon the element of proximate cause.”

“While this statute subjects railroad companies to liability for the damages occasioned by its violation, it does not confer a right of action upon the -person injured, unless the omission of the signals caused the disaster.” Horn v. Railroad Co. (C. C. A.), 54 F., 301.

“It is evident from this language that the failure to give signals must have occasioned the accident — that is, must have been the proximate cause of it — before a recovery can be had. * * * Before, therefore, the plaintiff can recover because the signals were not given, he must cause it to appear that this failure of duty brought about the disaster.” Pennsylvania Co. v. Rathgeb, 32 Ohio St., 66.

See, to the same effect, cases cited in note 37 to Section 1648, 3 Elliott, R. R. (3d Ed.), p. 505, from the Courts of Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin all in accord with the rule declared by this Court as late as April, 1924, in the Cirsosky case.

Section 4925 of the Code of 1922 prescribes two essential elements to recovery under the signaling statute, Section 4903; the neglect to give the signals and that such neglect contributed to the injury, which has often been held contributed as a proximate cause. It is familiar law that one who claims the benefit of a statutory remedy must bring himself within the statutory condition. As stated above, this exception has not been considered in the leading opinion, in disregard of Article 5, Section 8, of the Constitution, mandatory in all its terms, that:

“Every point made and distinctly stated in the cause and fairly arising upon the record of the case shall be considered and decided, and the reason thereof shall be concisely and briefly stated in writing and preserved with the record of the case.”

The verdict of the jury exonerated the engineer of the Camp Company’s train and the engineer of the railroad company’s train from all negligence in connection with the collision. In other words, it is an adjudicated fact in the case that Pulley, the engineer of the Camp train, did not place and keep a train of cars across the street, obstructing the railroad crossing unnecessarily and for an unreasonable time, and without safeguards, lights, or warning to the public of such obstruction, in violation of law. Notwithstanding this specific and unalterable adjudication, it is sought to hold the Camp Company liable upon the principle, as stated:

“That where the servant or employee sued was not the only agency, under the pleadings and evidence, which could have committed the wrong, then acquittal of the servant is not a discharge of the master.”

There can be no doubt of the correctness of this proposition ; but in conformity with its terms the allocation of such other agency, to whose participation the wrong may be ascribed, must be justified by the pleadings and the evidence. I do not think that it can be done as to either, in this case.

This question was last considered by this Court in the case of Durst v. Railroad Co., 130 S. C., 165; 125 S. E., 651 (decided Dec. 10, 1924). The Court there held that, even in a case involving the relation of carrier and passenger, where there is no general allegation of negligence against the carrier but only a specific charge against an employee, with the resulting imputation of negligence upon the carrier, there could be no recovery based upon the presumption of negligence against the carrier, or upon proof of negligence of some other employee of the carrier.

“In the absence of a general allegation of negligence on the part of the master, no valid reason appears for departing from the salutary rule that the plaintiff must rely upon the specifications made”- — -citing numerous authorities sustaining that declaration.

The allegation of the complaint, so far as the Camp Company is concerned, reads thus:

“Defendant Camp Manufacturing Company and its engineer, Arthur Pulley, * * * had placed and kept a train of cars on a track of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company .and across the public highway and crossing of said road, obstructing the crossing of said highway and said railroad unnecessarily and for an unreasonable length of time, and without any safeguards, lights, or warning to the public of such obstruction.”

This is clearly not a general charge of negligence against the Camp Company, but a specific charge against its engineer in unreasonably obstructing the crossing and without safeguards, lights, or warning to the public of such obstruction, with the resultant imputation of negligence to the Camp Company — acts of commission and omission of the engineer. It manifestly was not intended to charge that, after the engineer had obstructed the crossing, there was present negligence on the part of the company in not putting out the safeguards, lights, and warnings, for it could not have been cognizant of the act of the engineer. Such being the case, the plaintiff, concluded by the specific allegations of negligence on the.part of the engineer, had no right to recover upon any other act of negligence, either of the Camp Company or of some other servant of the company than that of the engineer.

It is an equally adjudicated fact in the case, by reason of the verdict in favor of the engineer of the passenger train, that he did not operate the train at a high, excessive, and dangerous rate of speed, and that he did not operate it without proper or adequate lookout, safeguards, and warnings, and without giving any proper or adequate signals of its approach. The allegations of the complaint in regard to these matters do not contain a general allegation of negligence against the railroad company, and for the same reason, as above stated in reference to the Camp Company, the plaintiff is cpnfined to the specific allegations of negligence on the part of the engineer, except that it is also specifically alleged that the railroad company acquiesced in, consented to, and approved of the act of the Camp Company and its engineer in obstructing the crossing.

I think, therefore, that it is clear that the allegations of negligence against the railroad company, in reference to the operation of the train by the engineer, go out of the case, by reason of the exoneration of the engineer in the verdict of the jury, and that the plaintiff is confined to the remaining act of negligence charged to the railroad company by reason of its alleged acquiescence in, consent to, and approval of the conduct of the engineer of the Camp train in unreasonably blocking the crossing without safeguards, lights, and warnings to the public of the obstruction. Nothing else is charged against the railroad company.

I really do not think that the matter of acquiescence in the act of the engineer is of any consequence in the case at all. It is manifest that the railroad company allowed the Camp Company, for the mutual benefit of both, to connect their spur track with the side track which ran close to the warehouse, and to operate their train upon that side track. The railroad company thus became practically a guarantor of the proper operation of trains on that side track, so far as the public was concerned. 1 Elliott, R. R. (3d Ed.), § 541. If, therefore, the Camp Company negligently obstructed the crossing, and one was injured as a proximate result of such obstruction, the railroad company, as well as the Camp Company, would be responsible in damages therefor. So that it makes no difference whether Clintworth, the station agent of the railroad company, advised Pulley that he could block the crossing for 10 minutes, or not, if as a matter of fact Pulley did block the crossing with his flat cars an unreasonable length of time, and failed to take the alleged proper precautions to warn the public of the obstruction, and the plaintiff was injured as a proximate result of such acts of commission and omission.

The real questions therefore, are whether, as the case stands, regardless of the alleged directions of Clintworth, it has been established that Pulley was negligent in the matters complained of, and, if so, was the plaintiff injured as a proximate result thereof ? As to those questions the answers must be the same. The jury has settled the questions as to Pulley’s negligence. If Pulley was not negligent, the Camp Company was not; if the Camp Company was not negligent, the railroad company was not.

But, assume for the purpose of argument that Pulley was negligent as alleged, the vital question is: Did the negligent obstruction of the crossing, as a proximate cause, produce the collision between the passenger train and the automobile? Ordinarify, of course, the issue of proximate cause is one for the jury; but where the facts are all admitted, or not in controversy, and only one reasonable inference can be drawn from them, the issue is for the Court.

I can add but little to what I have said upon this question in my dissenting opinion. Under the settled rules of proximate cause, before the negligent obstruction of the crossing can be considered the proximate cause of the collision, the conclusion must be drawn that the intervening causes, the failure of the railroad engineer to give the signals for the crossing and the consequent entry of the occupants of the automobile upon the crossing, were both the probable and natural results, which should have been foreseen by the engineer of the Camp train. If, as a matter of fact, so found by the jury in the exoneration of the engineer-of the passenger train, the signals were given, the entry upon the crossing was an intervening efficient cause, without the semblance of an excuse, amply sufficient to break the contimiity between the act of obstruction and the collision. If, as claimed by the plaintiff, the engineer of the passenger train failed to give the statutory signals, and that the occupants of the car drove upon the track without knowledge of the approaching train, then unquestionably the neglect of the en•gineer was an intervening efficient cause of the collision, amply sufficient to break the continuity between the act of obstruction and the collision. It could hardly be contended that the obstruction caused the engineer to neglect his duty; if not, there could have been no causal connection between . the two, a perfectly plain case of an independent intervening cause. See Green v. Railroad Co., 131 S. C., 124, at page 132; 126 S. E., 441, 443 (38 A. L. R., 1448), where the following quotation from Cooley is made:

“If the original wrong only becomes injurious in consequence of the intervention of some distinct wrongful act or omission by another, the injury shall be imputed to the last wrong as the proximate cause, and not to that which was more remote.”

It seems to me that the case of Foster v. Union, 129 S. C., 257; 123 S. E., 839, is conclusive of the matter. At page 269 (123 S. E., 843) it is said:

“Obviously, the foresight which the law imputes to a tortfeasor cannot extend to consequences brought about by the intervention of a responsible human being, where the act of the intervener breaks the chain of causation between the original wrong and the injury complained of, and is in itself sufficient to constitute an efficient, responsible cause of an injury. * * * In that situation we think the act' of the father was such an efficient, intervening, responsible cause of the plaintiff’s injury as would as a matter of law make of that act the proximate cause of the injury, and the alleged negligent placing of the wires in Rawson Avenue merely the condition by which the injury was made possible, and not a concurring proximate cause thereof.”

A very clear statement of the rule appears in the case of Steenbock v. Country Club, 110 Neb., 794; 195 N. W., 117:

“It is not sufficient that the negligence charged furnishes only a condition by which the injury is made possible, for if such condition causes an injury by the subesquent independent act of a third person, the two acts are not concurrent and the existence of the condition is not the proximate cause of the injury.”

So far, then, as the obstruction being the proximate cause of the collision is concerned, it is absolutely immaterial whether the passenger train was properly operated by signals, lookout; and warning, or not. If it was not, the neglect was an intervening efficient cause of the collision; if it was, the inexcusable entry upon the track was an intervening efficient cause neither of which could have been connected in a causal degree with the obstruction.

The opinion of Mr. Justice Watts declares that there was evidence tending to show that the railroad company provided no lights at the street crossing; that it had no flagman there to warn approaching travelers of the presence of the obstructing cars; that the Camp Company was operating its train in violation of Section 4898, which requires the presence of one brakeman on the last car of a freight train.. It is a sufficient answer to these suggestions that no such acts of negligence are alleged in the complaint; as to the railroad company, the complaint does not count upon a breach of duty on its part to safeguard, light, or warn. It only alleges that it acquiesced in, consented to, and approved of the alleged delinquencies of the Camp Company, through its engineer — delinquencies which the verdict has established did not exist.

Mr. Justice Watts summarily dismisses the objection to the testimony of Pinckney, detailing, in reply to the denial of Huggins, the declaration of Huggins, who was not a party to the suit nor an employee of either defendant, to the effect that the collision would not have occurred if the Camp Company had not obstructed the crossing, with a quotation from the case of Smoak v. Martin, 108 S. C., 474; 94 S. E., 869:

'“We shall not reverse a judgment because some questionable testimony was allowed, if questionable it was, where there is a large sufficiency of competent testimony to support the verdict.”

In the first place the testimony of the witness in that case was'held admissible; it was not even questionable. In the case at bar the testimony was upon the vital point in the case, and was not simply questionable, but absolutely inadmissible and exceedingly hurtful. There was not only not a “large sufficiency of competent testimony to support the verdict,” or to sustain the contention that the obstruction was the proximate cause of the collision, but abundant testimony to show that it was not and could not possibly have been.

I give notice that, if the petition for a rehearing is not granted and the Court declines to consider the fifth exception of the appellant railroad company, in violation, I respectfully submit, of the Constitution of this state as above indicated, I shall ask that the Court en banc be called to the assistance of this Court in the final decision of this case. If that be denied, I am assured that the property of the defendants will be taken from them without due process of law, in violation of the Constitution of this State and of the United States.

---

Rehearing

On Petition eor Rehearing

Per Curiam.

Petition dismissed.

Mr. Justice Cothran:

I think, for the reasons stated in opinion herewith, that the petition should be granted.

Case Details

Case Name: Miller v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

Court Name: Supreme Court of South Carolina

Date Published: Sep 10, 1926

Citation: 138 S.E. 675

Docket Number: 12063

Court Abbreviation: S.C.