{ "id": 8659457, "name": "STONE & CO. v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Stone & Co. v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad", "decision_date": "1907-04-03", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "220", "last_page": "232", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "144 N.C. 220" } ], "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": "142 N. C., 246", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651950 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/142/0246-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 N. C., 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660590 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/136/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "138 N. C., 295", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11269266 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/138/0295-01" ] }, { "cite": "78 N. C., 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "134 N. C., 612", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273745 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/134/0612-01" ] }, { "cite": "64 N. C., 743", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12117519 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/64/0743-01" ] }, { "cite": "46 Miss., 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Miss.", "case_ids": [ 9514960 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/miss/46/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 N. C., 163", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655953 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/137/0163-01" ] }, { "cite": "138 N. C., 630", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270144 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/138/0630-01" ] }, { "cite": "8 N. C., 41", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11275126 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/8/0041-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 N. C., 238", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "46 N. C., 211", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682109 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/46/0211-01" ] }, { "cite": "87 N. C., 255", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8690094 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/87/0255-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 U. S., 321", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 345020 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/201/0321-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N. C., 417", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11274398 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/95/0417-01" ] }, { "cite": "87 N. C., 260", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "86 N. C., 348", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "84 N. C., 694", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 U. S., 113", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5647121 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/94/0113-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N. C., 347", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682840 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/77/0347-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 N. C., 168", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "30 N. C., 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8687708 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/30/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "8 N. C., 192", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11275650 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/8/0192-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 N. C., 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660590 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/136/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "138 N. C., 295", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11269266 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/138/0295-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 974, "char_count": 24255, "ocr_confidence": 0.453, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.673750641753535e-07, "percentile": 0.9713338499657702 }, "sha256": "e88d55d892878ac24ad39ea257917ec04aba8c66a6d173bfb967a73b4a5ebae5", "simhash": "1:10696a63ce4db0be", "word_count": 4161 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:27:07.773177+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STONE & CO. v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Connor, J.,\nafter stating the case: The motion for judgment of nonsuit entitles the defendant to urge in this Court any view' of the plaintiff\u2019s testimony which involves his right to maintain the action. It was, therefore, open to defendant to insist, in this Court, as it does in the well-considered and interesting brief of counsel: 1. That the statute, upon the provisions of which this action is based, is invalid for the reasons assigned. 2. That, if valid, the plaintiffs do not bring themselves within its terms. Other questions are raised by exceptions to rulings of his Honor during the trial. These we do not deem it necessary to discuss, as, in our opinion, the appeal must be disposed of upon the motion for judgment of nonsuit. It may not be improper, however, to say that we think his Honor had the power, and properly exercised it, to allow the amendment to the warrant. Re-visal, sec. 1467. The original warrant was defective in that it neither stated the facts upon which the penalty was alleged to have accrued, nor made any reference to the statute. To simply say that the amount claimed is \u201cdue by penalty\u201d is insufficient. The complaint was in the same language. Scroter v. Harrington, 8 N. C., 192; Wright v. Wheeler, 30 N. C., 184. The complaint, which in the justice\u2019s court may be oral, should, at least, inform the defendant what omission of duty he is charged with or under what statute the penalty is claimed. The defendant insists that the statute is invalid because it is not within the police power vested in the Legislature. It concedes that this Court has recognized the validity of similar statutes imposing penalties upon common carriers for failing to perform their public duty, but says that the question was not considered, and that, in the last case (Walker v. Railroad, 137 N. C., 168), the reference to it was obiter. In Branch v. Railroad, 77 N. C., 347, being the first case in this Court in which an action was brought to recover a penalty for failing to ship goods, Rodman, J., discusses the validity of the statute and holds that it is clearly witbin tbe police power, citing Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S., 113. Tbis case was followed in Katzenstein's case, 84 N. C., 694, Keeter\u2019s case, 86 N. C., 348, Whitehead's case, 87 N. C., 260, McGowan's case, 95 N. C., 417, and Walker v. Railroad, 137 N. C., 168, and many others. Tbe validity of sucb legislation has been uniformly sustained in State and Federal Courts, and Mr. Rose in bis exhaustive note to Munn's case says that tbe question is \u201ctoo well settled to be longer tbe subject of controversy.\u201d Notes, vol. 9, 26. That certain expressions in tbe opinion in that case have been criticised, and to some extent modified, is-conceded, but tbe fundamental principle upon which tbe power of tbe State to regulate tbe conduct of all public service corporations in tbe discharge of their duties, and prescribe penalties for failure to discharge them is founded, is not only unshaken but more firmly established by each declaration of tbe courts. Freund Police Power discusses tbe question in all of its aspects. Defendant insists that, conceding tbe power to rest in tbe State, tbe statute (Rev., 2632) imposes unreasonable burdens on tbe carrier and urges upon our attention tbe case of H. & T. C. Ry. v. Mayes, 201 U. S., 321. We think that counsel inadvertently fail to note tbe distinction between tbe statute there under discussion and that under which tbis action is prosecuted. The point upon which the decision of that case rested was that tbe statute, \u201cwhen applied to interstate commerce, was void as a violation of tbe commerce clause of tbe Federal Constitution.\u201d It is true that Justice Brown says- that tbe statute, upon which the action is brought, \u201cis not far from tbe line of police regulation,\u201d and expresses 'the opinion that it falls on the \u201cwrong side\u201d of tbe line. The decision is confined to its interference with interstate commerce. There the stock was shipped from a point in Texas to Red Rock, Okla. It may be that, if tbe Court was called upon to pass upon the validity of the statute as a police regulation, it would have held that by giving to it a \u201creasonable construction,\u201d thereby avoiding the difficulties and hard.-' ships pointed out, it would have been upheld, as this Court did in Whitehead v. Railroad, 87 N. C., 255. However this may be, the statute under which this action is brought does not impose any \u201chard-and-fast rule\u201d on the carrier. It has always been the common-law duty of a carrier to receive and safely transport and deliver, within a reasonable time, all freight .tendered it for that purpose ,at a proper time and place and in proper condition. In respect to the safe delivery, it is an insurer, except \u201cagainst the acts of God and the King\u2019s enemy\u201d; but as to the time of delivery, the measure of liability is defined to be \u201creasonable.\u201d Boner v. Steamboat Co., 46 N. C., 211; Foard v. Railroad, 53 N. C., 238; Alexandre v. Railroad, 143 N. C., at this term. The latest work on the subject says: \u201cThe general rule in reference to the liability of a carrier for delay in the transportation and delivery of goods is that it is required to exercise due care and diligence to guard against delay and to forward the goods to their destination with all convenient dispatch and deliver them promptly.\u201d Moore on Carriers, 238. Another author of standard authority states the rule with the additional words \u201cwith such suitable and sufficient means as he is required to provide for his business, which is commonly defined as a reasonable time. This duty to carry within .a reasonable time is one engrafted, by the law, upon the principal contract, which is to carry safely.\u201d 2 Hutchinson Carriers (3 Ed.), sec. 651. In the next succeeding section some of the factors and conditions which may be taken into consideration, in ascertaining what, in any case, is a reasonable time are pointed out, and in other sections such conditions and circumstances as'will excuse delay \u2014 citing a number of decided cases. Such being the common-law duty of the carrier, does the statute in this respect make any change in regard to it % The language is: \u201cIt shall be unlawful for any railroad company, steamboat company, express company or other transportation company doing business in this State to omit or neglect to transport, within a reasonable time, any goods, etc., received by it for shipment and billed to or from any place in the State of North Carolina, unless otherwise agreed upon, or unless the same be burned, stolen or otherwise destroyed,\u201d etc. Por a violation of the duty imposed a penalty is given to \u201cthe party aggrieved.\u201d It is further provided: \u201cIn reckoning what is reasonable time for such transportation, it shall be considered that such transportation company has transported freight within a reasonable time if it has done so in the ordinary time required for transporting such articles of freight between the receiving and shipping station; and a delay of two clays at the initial point and forty-eight hours at one intermediate point for each hundred miles of distance or fractions thereof over which said freight is to be transported shall not be charged against such transportation company as unreasonable and shall be held to be prima facie reasonable; and a failure to transport within such time shall be held prima facie unreasonable.\u201d As we have seen, the duty imposed by the statute to transport within a reasonable time is but declaratory of the common-law and the definition of reasonable time as \u201cthe ordinary time required,\u201d etc., does not shorten the time because the \u201cordinary time\u201d within which an act is to be done is \u201cthe regular \u2014 customary\u2014 usual\u201d time (21 Am. and Eng. Enc. Law, 1007), and is synonymous with \u201creasonable time,\u201d being \u201cas soon as the party conveniently could.\u201d Murry v. Smith, 8 N. C., 41. Two days are allowed, or \u201cshall not\u201d be charged at the \u201cinitial point,\u201d and \u201cforty-eight hours at each intermediate 'point for each hundred miles or fractions thereof.\u201d To this extent the statute lowers the standard of duty because it is by no means clear that so much time would be given, under all circumstances, as reasonable. The last sentence in the statute is not very clear \"and a.failure to transport within such time shall be held prima facie unreasonable.\u201d These words cannot refer to time which \"shall not be charged,\u201d because to do so would be contradictory and destructive of the immediately preceding sentence. No rule of construction would permit this to be done. It is our duty first to reconcile all apparently conflicting language in, a statute, and, failing in this, to reject that portion which is so contradictory as to. destroy the intention of the Legislature as-manifested in the general terms of the act. We think that the last sentence should, therefore, be referred to the terms \u201cordinary time,\u201d thus making the act to read, \u201ca failure to transport within ordinary time shall be held prima facie unreasonable.\u201d While we think such would be the law without the concluding words of the section, this construction gives to them a declaratory effect. That it is within the power of the Legislature to make acts or conduct prima facie evidence of the fact in issue is well settled. State v. Barrett, 138 N. C., 630. The only other point discussed before us upon which the validity of the statute was attacked is that the words \u201cunless the same be burned, stolen or otherwise destroyed\u201d imposes the imperative duty to transport, permitting no relief for the acts of God or the public enemy,\u201d unforeseen and unavoidable causes. We do not think the statute capable of such construction. While in the exercise of the police power large latitude is given the Legislature, and the courts are reluctant to interfere, they have never hesitated to do so when the statute imposes burdens impossible to be borne or duties impossible of performance, as said by Justice Walker in Walker v. Railroad, 137 N. C., 163: \u201cNo text imposing obligations is understood to demand impossible things.\u201d We should be slow to find in the language of a statute the imposition of a penalty for the omission to perform a dirty, the standard of which is fixed \"by the law, which did not, either in terms, or by necessary in-tendment, except from its operation causes which a high degree of foresight and precaution could not anticipate or prevent. Without going beyond the terms of this statute, we find a clear recognition of the elementary principle of justice that no obligation is to be imposed to do impossible things. The penalty is imposed for failure to transport within a \u201creasonable time\u201d; because an exception is made\u2014 \u201cwhen otherwise agreed,\u201d or where the goods are \u201cburned, stolen or otherwise destroyed\u201d \u2014 it is not to be supposed that in all other respects an arbitrary \u201chard-and-fast\u201d rule is prescribed. These are exceptions to the general rule of \u201creasonable time,\u201d and cannot be construed to impose any higher duty or greater burden than are imposed by the general rule. Again, quoting the well-considered language of Justice Walker in regard to the construction of this statute: \u201cWe must regard the context and the general scope of the law, as well as the mischief to be suppressed and the remedy provided for that purpose, so as to arrive at the intention of the Legislature.\u201d We do not find in the language of the statute any indication of an intention to require common carriers to transport freight in any other than a reasonable time or any purpose, as in section 1967, Code, to fix the time at any specific number of days. It would be impracticable to'do so in regard to transporting goods. Eliminating the time \u201cnot charged,\u201d the standard of \u201creasonable time\u201d fixed is \u201cordinary time.\u201d The question whether, in the light of the distance, and all other conditions proper to be considered, tbe transportation is made within snob time, would be for the jury. \u201cEach case must be referred to its own peculiar circumstances, having regard to the mode of conveyance, nature of goods, season of the year, character of the weather and the ordinary facilities for transportation under the control of the carrier.\u201d N. & M. R. R. v. Ragsdale, 46 Miss., 458. The cases illustrating the principle may be found collected in o Am. and Eng. Enc., 245; 6 Cyc., 442. The burden of proof to show the conditions preventing the transportation within the ordinary time required for carrying the goods would be on the defendant, the statute expressly making such failure prima facie evidence of unreasonableness. As said by Rodman, J., in Branch's case, supra: \u201cThe Legislature considered the common-law liability insufficient to compel the performance of the public duty. * * * The act does not supersede or alter the duty or liability of the company at common law. The penalty in the case provided for is superadded. The act merely enforces an admitted duty.\u201d We are all, therefore, of the opinion that the statute is clearly within the police power and is reasonable in its provisions.\nThe defendant says, however this may be, the plaintiffs are not the parties \u201caggrieved,\u201d who alone are entitled to sue. It' is undoubtedly true that in the absence of any suggestion that the goods were not shipped \u201copen,\u201d the delivery to the carrier taking a bill of lading to the consignee, vests in the consignee the title to the goods, making the carrier liable to him for failure to transport and deliver. \u201cPrima, facie the consignee is the owner of the goods in transit, the property therein vesting in the consignee upon delivery to the carrier, the latter being commonly the agent of the consignee, and he only can sue the carrier for non-delivery, though a receipt was given to the consignor. The carrier is entitled to consider, and bound to treat the consignee as such owner, unless it is .advised that a different relation exists, or unless notice of such fact is to be implied from the manner of shipment, as when the goods are sent C. O. D.\u201d Moore on Carriers, 188; Tiffany on Sales, 195; Crook v. Cowan, 64 N. C., 743; State v. Patterson, 134 N. C., 612; Ober v. Smith, 78 N. C., 316. This we.do not understand to be denied, but it is contended that there is evidence in the record from which a jury could infer that the plaintiff retained some interest in the goods, or ivas not to receive payment until delivery, and that therefore they\u2019were \u201caggrieved\u201d by the failure to transport within a reasonable time, bringing the case within the principle announced in Summers v. Railroad, 138 N. C., 295. Mr. Justice Hoke says in that case: \u201cOrdinarily, in case of a shipment of goods by a railway to ,a, person who has ordered them on delivery to the railway, the company receives them as the agent of the vendee or consignee, and such person would be the aggrieved party by delay in forwarding. But in this case, by the terms of the agreement between the plaintiff and W. & Son, the plaintiff was not getting credit for the returned goods until they were received by W. & Son.\u201d In Grocery Co. v. Railroad, 136 N. C., 396, it was expressly stated in the bill of lading: \u201cDestination, Eranldinville, N. C. Consignee\u2019s address as information only, and not for purpose of delivery.\u201d There of course the failure to ship \u201caggrieved\u201d the consignor; the goods remained his property, thus falling within the exception to the general rule. In McGowan's case, supra, and other, cases under section 1967 of The Code, the question could not arise because the penalty was given to \u201cwhoever should sue for same.\u201d The only evidence throwing any light on the question is, \u201cthey (the consignees) were anxious for the hay, they had paid in full for the hay after delivery.\u201d We fail to see how any inference could be drawn from this testimony, taking the case out of the general rule by which the title vested in the consignees, and that for failure to ship they were the parties aggrieved. It is- manifest that the statute does not contemplate that two penalties should be recovered for the same breach of duty; it is equally manifest that upon this evidence the consignee may sue. We should not regard the last proposition open to debate, and certainly by the same process of reasoning the plaintiffs may not maintain the action. A judgment in this case would not protect the defendant from a suit by the consignees. It is suggested that the plaintiffs were out of their money until the delivery of the hay to the consignees. The answer is obvious, there is nothing to indicate the terms upon which the hay was sold. Again, suppose it be conceded that they sold and shipped to be delivered \u201copen\u201d for cash. That is, that although the hay was to be paid for cash, it was shipped \u201copen.\u201d Certainly such terms did not prevent title vesting in the consignee by delivering to the carrier. If, therefore, the fact that by reason of the delay the plaintiffs were out of their money twenty days, and thereby were entitled to sue for the penalty as the party aggrieved, it is equally clear that as consignees were during the same time \u201cout of their hay\u201d by reason of the failure of their agent, the carrier, to transport' within a reasonable time, and were thereby \u201caggrieved,\u201d so that from this process of reasoning both consignor and consignees were \u201caggrieved,\u201d and could sue for the penalty. The argument proves too much. Again, it is. said, \u201cthey may have bought also.subject to approval.\u201d Surely it will not be contended that jurors should be invited to find a fact in regard to which there is not a scintilla of proof. The testimony shows that the consignees are the only parties aggrieved, and therefore entitled to sue. ITis Honor therefor\u00a9 erred in denying the motion to render judgment of nonsuit. Let this be certified, to the end 'that such judgment be entered in the Superior Court of New Hanover County. Hollingsworth v. Skelding, 142 N. C., 246.\nError.", "type": "majority", "author": "Connor, J.," }, { "text": "Clark, C. J.,\ndissenting from conclusion: Eully concurring as to the constitutional right of the Legislature to impose penalties upon common carriers for unreasonable delay in the discharge of their duties, and that only one party is entitled to recover the prescribed penalty, it seems to me that whether the plaintiff is an \u201caggrieved party\u201d upon the facts of this case, was an issue of fact which if raised by plea might have been submitted to the jury, and not a conclusion of law to be determined lip\u00f3n a motion for nonsuit. The statute does not restrict the recovery to the consignee bxit to the \u201cparty aggrieved.\u201d\u2019 Therefore the consignor may be the party aggrieved. Indeed, there are cases, and this may be one of them, in which both the consignor and consignee are \u201caggrieved.\u201d In such cases, though only one party can recover, the recovery may be had by that one of them which first institutes action, just as where the penalty is given to \u201cany one who shall sue for the same.\u201d\nHere the evidence is that the consignor was not paid till after the long-delayed delivery of the goods, and that such delay caused the consignor, the plaintiff, to go to the trouble to look up the goods. The plaintiff lay out of his money during the delay. There is no evidence that the consignee ordered the goods, or was aggrieved by the delay. But concede that presumedly he was, the above evidence that the plaintiff was also aggrieved should have been submitted to the jury. If both the consignor and consignee 'were aggrieved, the question is not which was most aggrieved, but which first instituted the action.\nThe penalty is in the nature of a public regulation to secure the discharge of the duty of delivery of freight without unreasonable delay. The penalty is recoverable by the plaintiff if aggrieved. The above evidence tends to show that the plaintiff suffered some detriment (whether greater than that suffered by the consignee or not is immaterial), and the Judge properly refused the motion to nonsuit. In the recent cases of Grocery Co. v. Railroad, 136 N. C., 396, and Summers v. Railroad, 138 N. C., 295, the Court sustained a recovery of such penalty by the consignor.\nThe gist of the action is the \u201cunreasonable delay\u201d'by the carrier. Whether the consignor or consignee was most inconvenienced is not material. Either that shows any evidence to that end and first brings the action should be entitled to recover. Unlike the common-law action, it is not necessary to show actual damage.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Clark, C. J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Thomas D. Meares, Jr., for plaintiff.", "Davis & Davis for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STONE & CO. v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.\n(Filed 3 April, 1907).\n1. Nonsuit \u2014 View of Evidence. \u2014 An appeal from a denial of motion for nonsuit entitles defendant in the Supreme Court to urge any view of plaintiff\u2019s evidence which involves the right to maintain the action.\n2. Statute \u2014 Penalty\u2014Facts\u2014Amendment.\u2014In a warrant to recover a penalty under a statute, an averment alone that the amount claimed is \u201cdue by penalty,\u201d without stating the facts or pointing out the particular statute under which the penalty is claimed, is insufficient, but the Judge below may allow an amendment in his discretion.\n3. Same \u2014 Railroads \u2014 Transport \u2014 Reasonable Time \u2014 Declaratory. Section 1467, Revisal 1905, mailing it unlawful for certain classes of carriers operating in this State to omit or neglect to transport, within a specified reasonable time, any goods, etc., \u2019 received by it for shipment from or to any point in the State, unless otherwise agreed upon, or unless the same be burned, stolen or otherwise destroyed, is declaratory of the common law, and does not exclude any defense as to delay in transportation that could properly be made thereunder, the burden of proof being upon defendant to show reasonableness in delays beyond the ordinary or reasonable time prescribed.\n4. Same \u2014 Rules of Evidence \u2014 Enforcing Common-law Duty. \u2014 Section 1467, Revisal 1905, fixing a time limit within which the transportation of goods, etc., by certain carriers shall be prima facie reasonable, and beyond which prima facie unreasonable, changes the rule of evidence alone, and the penalty imposed is solely to enforce a common law and admitted duty, and is within the legislative authority.\n5. Same \u2014 Consignor and Consignee \u2014 Owner of Shipment \u2014 Revisal, Sec. 1467. \u2014 When goods are delivered to a common carrier for transportation and bill of lading issued, the title, in the absence of any direction or agreement to the contrary, vests in the consignee, who is alone entitled to sue as the \u201cparty aggrieved\u201d for the penalty given by section 1467, Revisal.\nOlarh, G. J. dissenting.\nCivil actioN, tried before Jones, J., and a jury, at tbe December Term, 1906, of'tbe Superior Court of New IIaN-oveR County.\nThis was an action prosecuted by the plaintiffs for the recovery of the penalty incurred by defendant for failure to transport freight within a reasonable time, pursuant to sec. 2632, Revisal. The action was instituted in a justice\u2019s court and brought by appeal in the Superior Court of New Hanover. The plaintiffs introduced a bill of lading issued by defendant at Wilmington, N. C., showing shipment by Stone & Co. to Williamson & Brown Sand and Lumber Co., at Cerro Gordo, N. C., for one car-load of hay.\nB. O. Stone, one of the plaintiffs, testified: \u201cCerro Gordo is on the line of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co., and about ninety miles from Wilmington. We shipped this car of hay April 20, 1906, to Williamson & Brown Sand and Lumber Co. They were anxious for the hay. In consequence of information, I went to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot and made inquiry of Mr. Graham, chief clerk to local freight agent.\u2019 I was referred by him to freight agent. He said that he had looked up this car and found it in the yard; it was out of repair and would have to be repaired, and he would endeavor to get it off next day. This was 10 May, 1906. * * * \u201d The Williamson & Brown Sand and Lumber Co. paid Stone & Co. in full for the hay after delivery. There was no other evidence. Defendant moved for judgment of nonsuit. Motion denied. Defendant excepted. The Court instructed the jury to find for plaintiffs, explaining to them the .method of c\u00e1lculating the number of days for which plaintiffs were entitled to recover. Defendant excepted. Judgment and appeal.\nThomas D. Meares, Jr., for plaintiff.\nDavis & Davis for defendant." }, "file_name": "0220-01", "first_page_order": 260, "last_page_order": 272 }