Savannah, Thunderbolt & Isle of Hope Railway v. Fennell

| Ga. | Mar 8, 1897

Little, Justice.

1. It appears that the plaintiff below instituted a summary proceeding, under sections 2252 et seq. of the Oivil Code, to have damages assessed against the defendant company for the killing of a cow by the running of the cars of the latter. The magistrate, after hearing evidence, adjudged that the defendant was not liable, and rendered judgment accordingly. From this judgment, the plaintiff sued out a •writ of certiorari to the superior court, which, upon the hearing in the latter court, was sustained and the cause remanded to the justice’s court to be retried. To this latter judgment defendant company excepts and brings the case to this court by writ of error.

By reference to the testimony introduced at the trial before the magistrate, a report of which is contained in the ■foregoing official statement of facts, it will he observed that, while there was no conflict touching 'the value of the animal killed, nor as 'to the killing of the anim'al by the operation ■of the car of the defendant company, there was a conflict-in the testimony as to whether the defendant company had -exercised ordinary care and diligence to prevent the killing of the cow. The killing occurred at or near a private road crossing. The moto-rman in charge of'the car testified, -among-other things, that just before getting to the crossing he noticed some cattle on the right-hand; that he cut off the-current and put on brakes, but seeing they were “stationary,” he took off the brakes an-d turned the current on again; that a moment or fiwo later be saw a calf coming - apparently from a clump of busbes on tbe left; that it got' on the track in front of the car, running diagonally across ■ the track and towards the car; that when he discovered the-animal, he was in too close proximity to it to stop, etc. In rebuttal, there was evidence offered by the plaintiff, to theeffeet, among other things, that -the track was clear on the-left-hand side, and that witness did not remember any clump of bushes on the left near the track. Thus it will be-s-een that in the case made by the writ of certiorari was involved -a question -of fact as to whether or not the defendant company could, by the exercise of ordinary care and diligence, have prevented the killing of the cow, and there being a conflict, as has been pointed out, in the evidence touching this question of fact, the case falls within the principle so-frequently announced by this court, to tbe effect that where-facts are involved and the evidence is conflicting, the discretion of the presiding judge in refusing or sustaining a certiorari will not be controlled or disturbed unless it is apparent that such discretion has been abused. Formby v. Smith, 69 Ga. 769; Baldwin v. Hiers, 73 Ga. 739; Hill v. Johnson, 74 Ga. 362; Whitley v. Ramspeck & Green, Id. 391; Worthington v. W. & A. R. R., Id. 408; McCullough v. Anderson, Id. 839; Cox v. Snell, 77 Ga. 469; Emmons v. So. Bell Tel. Co., 80 Ga. 760. And that insuda a case, if tbe certiorari is sustained, tbe case should be-remanded. Shannon v. Daniel, 64 Ga. 448; James v. Smith, 62 Ga. 345; Claton v. Ganey, 63 Ga. 331; Cherokee Lodge v. White, Id. 743; Sapp v. Adams, 65 Ga. 600; Healey v. Dean, 68 Ga. 514; Smith v. Bragg, Id. 650; Boroughs v. White & Stone, 69 Ga. 841; Holliday v. Poole, 77 Ga. 159. Where quiesibilon of negligence of a railroad company in killing cow involved and certiorari sustained, the case must go back for a rehearing. Georgia Railroad v. Bird, 76 Ga. 13.

2. It was argued before this court by counsel for plaintiff in error, that .the plaintiff below having instituted his action and proceeded under sections 2252 et seq. of the Civil Code, he had no. further remedy after the magistrate rendered .judgment against him, inasmuch as by the provisions of ¡section 2255 the judgment of the justice is made final and •conclusive as between .the plaintiff and the defendant touching the particular matter for which such judgment may be .rendered, with the exception, however, that under the provisions of section 2256 a right of appeal is preserved to the .railroad company. • If was therefore insisted in the argument ■here by counsel for the plaintiff in error that the plaintiff beloiw was nbt authorized by law to. sue out the writ. "Whether or not the point is well taken, is a question which, under the record as it comes to us, we are not at liberty to ■determine. Erom an inspection of the record, we find that the question whether or not a certiorari will lie from proceedings had under §§2252 et seq. of the Givil Code was not made before the trial judge, nor indeed in the record "brought here. This court has often declared the inherent ■disability in its organization to determine or consider questions which were not made in the court below, and as the reasons for this ruling have been heretofore fully stated .and may be found in the authorities below cited, we deem further elaboration unprofitable. See Howard v. Gray, 65 Ga. 182; Trammell v. Woolfolk, 68 Ga. 628; Baker v. W. & A. R. Co., Id. 699; Dickinson v. Mann, 69 Ga. 729; Steed v. Cruise, 70 Ga. 169; Wostenholms v. State, Id. 720; McCall v. Walter, 71 Ga. 287; Inman v. Miller, Id. 293; Rattaree v. Morrow, Id. 528; Rumph v. Cleveland, 72 Ga. 189; Ogletree v. Sharp, Id. 899; O’Brien v. White, Id. 900; Parish v. McLeod, 73 Ga. 123; Columbus Railway v. Flournoy & Epping, 75 Ga. 745; Bates v. Messer, 76 Ga. 696.

Judgmeivt affirmed.

All the Justioes concurring.