{
  "id": 8652616,
  "name": "JOSEPH KAHN v. ATLANTIC AND NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY",
  "name_abbreviation": "Kahn v. Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad",
  "decision_date": "1894-09",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "638",
  "last_page": "641",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "115 N.C. 638"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "81 N C., 461",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "85 N. C., 423",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        11278229
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/85/0423-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "6 Jones, 343",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Jones",
      "case_ids": [
        11277595
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/51/0343-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "110 N. C., 58",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        11272614
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/110/0058-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "109 N. C., 589",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8651170
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/109/0589-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 405,
    "char_count": 7056,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.581,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 1.5757396033482905e-07,
      "percentile": 0.6794853676797373
    },
    "sha256": "dc7d455992ba4208bd8f26b65e0e88799365b4bb2575c2dd1ba97b431279e8ac",
    "simhash": "1:9e6a52ebb76b1dad",
    "word_count": 1259
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:29:52.252220+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "JOSEPH KAHN v. ATLANTIC AND NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Shepherd, C. J.:\nThere was error on the part of the Court in leaving the question of ordinary care to be determined by the jury, upon no other instruction than that \u201c ordinary care was such care as an ordinarily prudent man would have used in the protection of his own property.\u201d This is obnoxious to the ruling in Emry v. Railroad, 109 N. C., 589; Knight v. Railroad, 110 N. C., 58, and the long line of decisions cited in the opinions in those cases. The well-established practice in this State is, that \u201c if the facts are undisputed, it is for the Court to decide; if they are controverted, or if the inferences to be drawn from them are doubtful, the jury must find such facts or inferences, and the Court must instruct them as to the law applicable to the same.\u201d Emry\u2019s case, supra..\nThere was also error in so much of the charge as states that the burden was on the defendant to show that the property had not been lost or destroyed by reason of the defendant\u2019s negligence. It very clearly appears that the defendant\u2019s liability as a common carrier had ceased when the property was destroyed by fire, and that it was liable only as a warehouseman, for a want of ordinary care. Hilliard v. Railroad, 6 Jones, 343; Chalk v. Railroad, 85 N. C., 423.\n. \u201c The rules of law require, in an action for damages resulting from the negligence of the defendant, or his agents and employees while engaged in his service, that the plaintiff shall prove the negligence as a part of his case \u201d (Doggett v. Railroad, 81 N C., 461), and we see nothing in the record to show that the present case falls within any of the exceptions to this general principle. New Trial.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Shepherd, C. J.:"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mr. P. II. Pelletier, for plaintiff.",
      "Messrs. W. W. Clark and P. M. Pearsall, for defendant (appellant)."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "JOSEPH KAHN v. ATLANTIC AND NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY.\nAction for Damages \u2014 Negligence\u2014Ordinary Care \u2014 Province of Judge and Jury \u2014 Practice\u2014Instruction to Jury.\n1. Upon the trial of an action involving the question of ordinary care, it was error to leave the question to the jury upon no other instruction than that \u201c ordinary care was such as an ordinarily prudent man would have used in the protection of his own property,\u201d the well established practice being that \u201c if the facts are undisputed, it is for the Court to decide; if they are controverted, or if the inferences to be drawn therefrom are doubtful, the jury must find such facts or inferences, and'the Court must instruct them as to the law applicable thereto.\u201d\n2. In an action for damages resulting from the negligence of the defendant or his agents while in his service, the plaintiff is'required to prove the negligence as a part of his case.\nCivil action, begun before a Justice of the Peace and tried on appeal at Fall Term, 1898, of Craven Superior Court .before Bynum, J., and a jury. The plaintiff sought to recover $150 as damages for the loss of property by fire at the company\u2019s depot at Newbern. The defendant denied the allegations of the complaint.\nUpon the trial the plaintiff testified that he came to New-bern on the night of the 15th of April, 1889, on the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, having a trunk containing clothing, etc., valued at $150; he had a check for the trunk and demanded delivery of the trnnk on the morning of the 17th of April, 1889.\nSamuel L. Dill for defendant testified, \u201c Was Superintend-ant and Passenger Agent of defendant in April, 1889. That train on the 15th of that month and year arrived about sis o\u2019clock p. m., about sunset. The custom in Newbern is that baggage is delivered upon delivery of check. Generally immediately after train arrives. It was moved. We have a baggage room; we store it in, and hold it until parties call for it. We charge no storage. We have the baggage under lock and key. Watchman in the yard. We never had a piece stolen. The building, one story. In it were waiting rooms, sleeping apartments and a baggage room. This building was burned in 1889. Don\u2019t know how fire originated. The same burnt about three or four o\u2019clock a. m.; I was there. Had a man who looked after stoves, etc. Plaintiff demanded trunk two or three hours after fire. I saw part of trunk after fire.' Not a large trunk Examined some of contents therein. Saw nothing but paper sacks. Thick paper burnt easier than shoes and pants. I asked plaintiff what his damage was. He would not say. I got to fire in twenty minutes. Don\u2019t think it caught in centre of building. Eire was near baggage room. We saved safe and tickets. Don\u2019t think baggage room was opened at all We let a man sleep in the sleeping-room. He was an employee. Don\u2019t think he was in there that night. I can\u2019t swear that the articles set out by plaintiff were not in trunk, but don\u2019t think they were. Blake slept in room. He was a careful and prudent man.\u201d .\nMorris Sultan for plaintiff testified: \u201c That he was at fire. Got there immediately after alarm. Pump opposite office. I had charge of hose. Boyd and several others in office handed out things. Back part in blaze. Door of baggage room closed. Room between baggage room and office. Boyd handed things out. Boyd ticket agent. Eire in back part of baggage room, and partition was burning. Don\u2019t know what, was lost. All of the work that was done was in the ticket office. I know plaintiff, he is a drummer. I got there five minutes after fire began. I belong to a steam fire company. Good engine. Building pretty well burned, the fire was eating its way towards baggage room and the partition was on fire when I got there. There was no effort made in baggage room. We could not make any because door was locked. We were putting water on fire. We try to save property sometimes.\u201d\nHis Honor charged the jury that the defendant, if liable at all upon the testimony, was liable as a warehouseman and not as common carrier. That it being admitted that the defendant had received the property of the plaintiff, and had failed to deliver it upon the demand of plaintiff, that the burden was upon the defendant to satisfy the jury by a preponderance of the testimony as to the reason of the failure to deliver the said property when demanded, or that the said property, if lost or destroyed, had been destroyed through the negligence of the defendant or its employes.\nDefendant excepts to so much of said charge as states that that the burden, etc., was on the defendant to show that said property had not been lost or destroyed through defendant\u2019s negligence.\nHis Honor also charged the jury that the defendant was required to use ordinary care for protecting said property, and that ordinary care was such care as an ordinarily prudent man would have used in the protection of his own property.\nDefendant excepted to so much of said charge as stated that \u201c ordinary care was such care as an ordinarily prudent man would have used in the protection of his own property.\u201d\nThe jury found the issues in favor of the plaintiff. Motion for a new trial was overruled, and there was exception by the defendant. Judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.\nMr. P. II. Pelletier, for plaintiff.\nMessrs. W. W. Clark and P. M. Pearsall, for defendant (appellant)."
  },
  "file_name": "0638-01",
  "first_page_order": 658,
  "last_page_order": 661
}