Central of Georgia Ry. Co. v. Wilson

111 So. 901, 215 Ala. 612, 1927 Ala. LEXIS 560
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedJanuary 20, 1927
Docket4 Div. 275.
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 111 So. 901 (Central of Georgia Ry. Co. v. Wilson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Central of Georgia Ry. Co. v. Wilson, 111 So. 901, 215 Ala. 612, 1927 Ala. LEXIS 560 (Ala. 1927).

Opinion

*615 THOMAS J.

The suit was for fire damage to a building by a passing engine. The assignments of error are treated in the order of presentation by counsel.

The plaintiff, as a witness, having testified: “That is my signature to that paper, I swore to that paper,” was asked the following question: “Didn’t you state in this paper that you did not know what time the fire occurred?” The bill of exceptions contained ■the statement that the paper exhibited was the answers of the plaintiff to interrogatories propounded to him by the defendant. The court having sustained the objection of the plaintiff, defendant’s counsel stated:

“ ‘It is the answer to the interrogatories,’ and asked the witness the following question: T am going to ask the question, if you did not state under oath, on the 13th day of September, 1924, that you did not know what time of the night the fire occurred, but saw the fire from your home about 1 or 1:30 o’clock in the morning. I am asking if you did not swear that?’ To this question the plaintiff duly objected, unless defendant introduces it. (Stating) if defendant introduces it, it is all right. The court sustained the objection, and to its action in so doing, defendant there and then duly excepted.”

The record fails to show that the defendant stated to the court that the purpose of the evidence sought was that of impeachment. Birmingham R. L. & P. Co. v. Bush, 175 Ala. 49, 57, 58, 56 So. 731; Gunter v. State, 83 Ala. 96, 106, 3 So. 600; Wills v. State, 74 Ala. 21.

The court is not required to search for grounds of admissibility when the same is not limited. Lester v. Jacobs, 212 Ala. 614, 103 So. 682. It may be further noted that the entire deposition, under the rule, should have been shown or read to him (Wills v. State, 74 Ala. 21; Phœnix Ins. Co. v. Moog, 78 Ala. 310, 56 Am. Rep. 31; Floyd v. State, 82 Ala. 22, 2 So. 683; Carden v. State, 84 Ala. 420, 4 So. 823), which was not done, though not made the ground of objection. (Shelby Iron Co. v. Morrow, 209 Ala. 116, 95 So. 370). Later in the trial the deposition and answers were introduced in evidence, and thus the appellant had the opportunity of argument of contradiction or impeachment, if such were presented by the witness’ deposition and oral testimony. And if the ruling was error, it was without injury and not an error on which a reversal may be rested. Johnston v. Warrant Warehouse Co., 211 Ala. 165, 99 So. 920; Portsmouth, etc., Co. v. Madrid, etc., Co., 200 Ala. 634, 77 So. 8.

The witness Williams, having testified for the plaintiff, was cross-examined about a contrary statement made and signed at the still in the presence of Joe Ingram, Saunders, and McGehee, as to his and Joe Ingram’s actions and whereabouts on the night of the fire, and as to what he did or did not state to said persons or in their presence when the paper later introduced in evidence was signed. The plaintiff had the right to prove the whole conversation, including the preliminary statements of Joe Ingram to the witness. Gibson v. Gaines, 198 Ala. 583, 73 So. 929.

The defendant called as a witness Mr. Casey, who testified that—

He was “ ‘Chief train dispatcher with the Central of Georgia Railroad Company, on December 31, 1923. I have got the telegraphic records of the movements of passenger trains and freight trains between Dothan and Lock-hart on that night.’

“Counsel for defendant then propounded the following question to the witness: T will ask you to refer to your record and tell the court and the jury what passenger train, or trains of any description, passed Scranton in Geneva county during that night.’ Plaintiff objected to the question, on the ground that the witness did not make the records himself.

“Then counsel for defendant propounded to *616 the witness the following question, ‘Did you make the record, Mr. Casey?’ The witness then answered, ‘No, not personally.’ And then testified: ‘X saw it made. I know it is correct. It was made under my supervision.’ The plaintiff objected to the question, and the court sustained the objection made by plaintiff, and to its action in so doing the defendant then and there duly excepted.

“The witness further testified: ‘The train dispatcher directs all the movements of the trains, makes a record of what we call the train sheet of trains as they pass each telegraph office, from the time it leaves the initial terminal until it arrives at final destination. The train dispatcher is in touch with the location and movement of trains from the time it gets in operation till it reaches its destination, at all times. I get that on wire. Keep in touch with it on the wire. That is the business of the train dispatcher. I know the number of the train that went down on December 31, 1923, and passed Scranton about 9 o’clock. The number of the engine is 1556.’

“Counsel for defendant then propounded to the witness the following question: ‘Did any other train pass Scranton, going either way, that night, after 9 o’clock?’ To this question the plaintiff objected, and asked permission of the court to ask the witness, the answers to which were as follows: ‘My record was made up from reports coming to me, or to the dispatcher, from the various telegraphic stations on the road, and that is the way I get it. Personally I don’t know anything about it, except I put down what they say, over the wire. In this case, I did not put it down, but somebody in the office did. I personally received the information over the wire from which this record was made. It is done under my supervision; I mean that I give directions generally — I was chief — to have this done. I give general instructions, and in that way this was made up.’

“Then counsel for defendant stated, ‘We insist on the question whether or not any train pabsed Scranton that night after 9 o’clock.’ The court sustained the objection of the plaintiff, and to its action in so doing the defendant then and there duly excepted.”

In this ruling there was error. It was a part of the res gestse of the business of operation of defendant’s trains on the date indicated, being that of the fire. The limited ground of the objection was that the witness did not make the record himself. However, the witness testified that he saw the record made and knew it to be correct. Moreover, the questions as framed would have authorized Casey to refresh- his recollection from the memorandum if he could, and then testify, if so refreshed, to the state of facts as he may remember. The general rule as to mem-oranda and the right of consultation thereof need not be restated. Oden-Elliott Lumber Co. v. Daniel-Gaddis Lumber Co., 210 Ala. 582, 98 So. 730; Byars v. James, 208 Ala. 392, 94 So. 536; Floyd v. Pugh, 201 Ala. 29, 33, 77 So. 323; J. H. Burton & Sons Co. v. May, 212 Ala. 435, 103 So. 46; Ala. Trunk & Luggage Co. v. Hauer, 214 Ala. 473, 108 So. 339; Singleton v. Doe ex dem. Smith, 184 Ala. 199, 63 So. 949; Birmingham R. L. & P. Co. v. Seaborn, 168 Ala. 658, 53 So. 241; Acklen v. Hickman, 63 Ala. 494, 35 Am. Rep. 54; Bondurant v. State Bank, 7 Ala. 830.

The train record was competent, it being shown to be true and correct, as made up under the supervision of the dispatcher in the due course of and in line with the performance of his duties, and appears to be trustworthy on its face and under the predicate therefor. The rule in the premises is stated in Floyd v. Pugh, 201 Ala. 29, 33, 77 So.

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Bluebook (online)
111 So. 901, 215 Ala. 612, 1927 Ala. LEXIS 560, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/central-of-georgia-ry-co-v-wilson-ala-1927.