McPeek v. Western Union Telegraph Co.

43 L.R.A. 214, 107 Iowa 356
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedJanuary 26, 1899
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 43 L.R.A. 214 (McPeek v. Western Union Telegraph Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McPeek v. Western Union Telegraph Co., 43 L.R.A. 214, 107 Iowa 356 (iowa 1899).

Opinion

Ladd, J.

September 20, 1896, after mortally wounding John Finley, the marshal of Morning Sun, Orman McPherson fled. A few days later the plaintiff saw McPherson’s wife, who promised -to assist him in procuring the arrest of her husband. McPeek obtained McPherson’s pension papers from Keithsburg, 111., for her and she advised him (being in secret correspondence under an assumed name) of having these, and he came to her room at the hotel at Morning Sun, where she was employed as cook, October 22, 1896, at about 10 o’clock p. m. (having so arranged earlier in the evening), and there remained until, between 3 and 4 o’clock the following morning. Before coming in, he gave up his revolvers, and she placed them in a bureau, where they remained during his stay. She had agreed to write to McPeek when she expected her husband, but, if he came unexpectedly, then to telegraph him. At about 7 o’clock p. m. of the twenty-second, she delivered to the defendant’s agent at Morning Sun this telegram: “E. E. McPeek, Winfield. Oome on first train. Answer. M. E. M.”; telling him she wanted it' “sent right away and delivered, and wanted an answer.” Ridge-way, the agent at Winfield, usually closed his office at 6 o’clock, but was ordinarily at the station at about 9 o’clock, lie received the message at 9 :15-o’clock p. m., and carried it to the plaintiff’s house, reaching there at about 9:30. After repeatedly rapping on the door, and being unable to arouse any one, as he says, he placed the message over the door knob, with the end of the envelopejbetween the door and the jamb, where it was found the next day-at between 9 and 10 o’clock a. m. It sefems, the agent supposed the family jyas away from home, and would find it upon their return. They had in fact retired, and all testify that they did not hear the rapping of Ridgeway, or any-noise at the door, and that they would have heard it, had there been any. The only train, carrying passengers, leaving Winfield for Morning Sun, a distance of about twelve miles, left the former place [360]*360at -6 o’clock a. m. McPeek had told Ridgeway he was making an effort to capture McPherson, and might get a telegram from Morning Sun concerning the matter, and that if a message came, and he was unable to find him, to deliver it to Siberts, a constable. Both had repeatedly called at the office for such a telegram. It also appears that Siberts, by direction of McPeek, had arranged for a team at the livery stable and a driver to be ready for-him at any time, and that Siberts was to go with McPeek in case McPherson should come to Morning Sun. The constable at the latter place, and another, had agreed to assist him, though not advised as to the nature of the business, except that it was to make an arrest. The evidence was such that the jury was warranted in finding the facts as stated, though it must be added that Ridgeway denies having previously talked with either the plaintiff or Siberts; and McPherson, who was after-wards arrested, declared he was not at Morning Sun as testified by his wife, and did not correspond with her. On the twenty-first day of October, 1896, the governor of Iowa, by proclamation, offered a reward of three hundred dollars for the arrest of McPherson, and his delivery to the proper authorities. The plaintiff’s action is based on the allegation that he lost this reward through the negligence of the defendant in not delivering the message on the evening of October 22d. With these preliminary statements, we shall be able to consider the 'different questions presented by the record.

[361]*3611 [360]*360I. A copy of the governor’s proclamation, duly certified by the secretary of state, was received in evidence over the objection of defendant. That such a reward was authorized by section 58 of the Code of 1873 is not questioned. The method of making the offer is not pointed out, but it is to be paid upon the certificate of the governor. Usage has approved offering such rewards by way of proclamations, and this fully complies with the statute. That the original proclamations made by the executive of a state should be preserved, admits of no doubt. The statutes make no express provision [361]*361for such preservation, but by_ section 66 the secretary of state “shall have charge of and keep * * * papers which are now or may be hereafter deposited to be kept in his office.” The secretary certified that he was the custodian of the record of the official acts of the executive department, and that the proclamation was a part of the files of his office. .We take it, then, that this was ■deposited, to be kept by the secretary of state. Section 4649 provides, in substance, that acts of the executive of this state •are proved by the records of the state department. The very evident purpose is to avoid the nepessity of calling the gov•ernor before a co-ordinate branch 6f government to give evidence or answer for any of his acts. While the statute does 'not in express terms make such papers a part of the files to be kept and preserved by the secretary of state, we are of ■opinion that section 66 is broad enough to include them, that by fair implication section 4649 authorizes them to be so kept, and that, under sections 4649 and 4635 of the Code, ■a certified copy thereof is admissible in evidence in lieu of 'the originals.

2 II. The defendant also interposed objections to the testimony of the plaintiff, Siberts, and Mrs. McPherson to the arrangement made between them with reference to the capture of McPherson. This was original, and not hearsay, evidence. It related to circumstances and facts essential to be proven as leading up to the sending of the telegram, and had a direct bearing upon the prob- ■ ability of the plaintiff effecting the arrest of McPherson, h.ad the telegram been promptly delivered. It was necessary 'to show the exact situation, and all that had been done to accomplish that purpose. The appellant is impressed by the ■danger of fraud in this class of evidence. It is suggested that, if there be possibility of fraud, it may readily be obvi•ated by the exercise of diligence.

[362]*3623 4 [361]*361III. It is insisted that the damages were remote, and mot such as either party might have contemplated from the [362]*362wording of tbe message. But extrinsic evidence was admissible to show tbat defendant had notice of the importanee of the message. Cable Co. v. Lathrop, 131 Ill. 575 (23 N. E. Rep. 583); Telegraph Co. v. Edsall, 74 Tex. 329 (12 S. W. Rep. 41). The appellant argues-the case on the theory that the action of plaintiff is for the-breach of contract. He made no contract with the defendant. This is conceded by ajDpellant in its opening argument, and denied in. its reply. The first impression was undoubtedly the correct one. The contract was with the sender of the-message, and whether recovery might be had for breach thereof, because made for plaintiff’s benefit, we need not determine. This action is based on the negligence of the-defendant in the performance of a duty in its public capacity as a common carrier of messages. In all such actions,, sounding in tort, the injured party is not limited to damages which might reasonably have been within the contemplation of the parties, but recovery may be had “for all the-injurious results which flow therefrom, by ordinary natural sequence, without the interposition of any other- negligent act or overpowering force.” Mentzer v. Telegraph Co. 93 Iowa, 757; Code, section 2163; Telegraph Co. v. Du Bois, 128 Ill. 248 (21 N. E. Rep.

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43 L.R.A. 214, 107 Iowa 356, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcpeek-v-western-union-telegraph-co-iowa-1899.