120 Ga. 97 | Ga. | 1904
Mrs. A. R. Mallette sued E. C. Tabb in a justice’s court, and, upon filing her affidavit and bond, caused a summons of garnishment to be issued and served on the Central of Georgia Railway Company. The garnishee answered that it was indebted to the defendant in a named sum, which was due to him for his monthly wages as a laborer, and that such wages were exempt from the process and liabilities of garnishment. The defendant also filed his answer, claiming that all money owing him by the garnishee had been earned by him as a day laborer while in its employment. The issues formed on the answers were tried in the justice’s court, and an appeal was taken to the superior court. On the trial of the appeal the evidence was as follows: The paymaster of the garnishee company testified: The defendant, E. C. Tabb, “ was employed by the Central Railway Company as a policeman. He is paid at the rate of $60.00 per month. It is part of his duties to check off the number of bales of cotton or boxes of merchandise as they pass over the railroad bridge on the trucks, and to see that the number of bales and boxes correspond to the amount called for on the ticket held by the driver. In any case where there is a dispute he turns the truck back. Tabb has nothing to do with the marks of the shipper on the cotton and. boxes. He only counts the number of packages on the trucks and sees that they correspond to the number on the ticket. In case of a question arising, I think the sergeant would settle the dispute. Tabb receives all orders from the sergeant, such as the limits of his beat and the length of his tours of duty. He is not allowed to sit dowh at any time while on duty, but must walk his beat continually. If he loses a day and has no good excuse, he is docked for same. I don’t know of any mental work he does, except checking packages. Tabb is general custodian of the company’s property. He is hired, paid, and discharged by the company.” Another witness, the su
The defendant Tabb, as a witness in his own behalf,- testified: “I am a policeman on the Ocean Steamship Company’s wharf, and and have been for four years. Before joining the police force I had to pass a physical examination. My tours of duty run from seven to ten hours; seven in the day and ten at night. During my tours of duty I am continually walking; am not allowed to sit down or rest, and am exposed to all kinds and conditions of weather. I am not allowed to hold conversation with any one, except in the discharge of my duties. I receive all instructions from the sergeant. In any case of dispute, the matter is always left to the sergeant for settlement. In the absence of the regular bridge man, I check the number of packages on the trucks or drays that pass over the bridge. I only count the number of packages. I also catch the line" from incoming ships; and in case of had weather, I help move the boxes of merchandise on the wharf to places of safety. I am paid at the rate of $60.00 per month, and am docked for loss of time. I was not required to pass mental examination. No rule-book was ever given me. . . I make no written reports whatever. I have nothing whatever to do with the marks on cotton. . . The limits of my beat are not always the same. We are changed about. The sergeant directs us what to do. If I am in doubt about my right to arrest a person, I send for the sergeant. If it is a plain case, I send the person to' the barracks. There is a regular man to check packages at the bridge and to catch lines from the ships; but in case of his absence, I am required to do his work. It is a part of my duty. It is also part
The plaintiff introduced in evidence certain provisions of the Code of Savannah, declaring that the watchmen employed by the railway company should be under the supervision of the officers of the police department and under a duty to observe the rules therein set forth, by which the policemen of the city were governed. Upon the conclusion of the evidence the court directed a verdict for the plaintiff, finding the fund in the hands of the garnishee subject to process of garnishment. Error is assigned on the direction of the verdict.