Shelton v. Southern Railway Co.

139 S.E. 232, 193 N.C. 670, 1927 N.C. LEXIS 430

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: May 4, 1927
• Status: Published

Opinion

Brogden, J.

Plaintiff alleged “that in addition to the failure of defendant to blow his whistle and to ring his bell and otherwise give the plaintiff the proper necessary warning, the defendant maintained an embankment upon its right o£ way, as hereinbefore described, which extended within a short distance of said crossing, which said embankment obstructed the view of plaintiff and prevented him from seeing said train until same had approached him within a short distance of said crossing, and until plaintiff had proceeded to cross said track; that the defendant failed to provide a proper electric signal or gong at said crossing, in that the red signal light was not shining or burning, and thereby the plaintiff was not warned of the approach of said train.”

The defendant denied the foregoing allegations.

A witness for plaintiff was asked: “(Q.) I will ask you to state whether or not the embankment which was there at the time of this wreck is there at the present time. (A.) No, sir. (Q.) Please state what has happened to it since the time of the wreck. (A.) It has been moved away. (Q.) How long after the wreck was it before it was moved? (A.) I don’t recall exactly, but I do recall talking with the people who were doing the work. (Q.) Over how much distance, or about how much of that bank was cut down or moved? (A.) I don’t know exactly, but it was something like 150 feet of it; something in the neighborhood of that.”

To all of these questions, except the first, the defendant objected. The trial judge admitted the evidence, and the defendant excepted.

Another witness for plaintiff was permitted to answer the following questions over the objection of defendant:

(“Q.) Describe the condition of that embankment, or where the embankment was, and describe what you saw. (A.) I didn’t see it moved. (Q.) State what you did see. (A.) Prom appearances, it is new soil there, and the places along the edge of the cut where the cut goes down in the railroad there is a little embankment down to the bottom of the cut, and I saw a plow point and another piece of machinery there, and it had practically no vegetation on it; you can see it is new soil. (Q.) Over what distance did that condition extend in feet, parallel with the railroad? (A.) 112 feet.”

This evidence was not admitted in connection with a description of conditions existing at the time of the injury, or for the purpose of identifying the crossing where the injury occurred. It would seem apparent that the sole object of the testimony was to show changes made by the defendant near the crossing after the injury had occurred. The legal question raised, therefore, is, under what circumstances may evidence be offered to show changes, subsequent to the injury, made upon or near the premises where the injury occurred, or in the instrumentality causing the injury?

In Lowe v. Elliott, 109 N. C., 581, the Court said: “While we do not say that there may not be peculiar cases in which such testimony may be relevant, we are entirely satisfied with the above reasoning as applicable to the facts of the present case. The testimony was improper, and probably had a very important influence with the jury in making up their verdict.”

In Aiken v. Mfg. Co., 146 N. C., 324, Connor, J., delivering the opinion, said: “We are constrained, however, in view of the decisions of this Court, and the almost uniform opinion of text writers based upon the decisions of other courts, to order a new trial,.by reason of the error committed in admitting the evidence of the change made in the platform after the injury was sustained by plaintiff.”

In McMillan v. R. R., 172 N. C., 854, it is held: “The subsequent changes in signals or warnings for additional safety were properly ex-eluded under the circumstances as proof of negligence. Erecautions against the future cannot be considered as an admission of actionable negligence in the past.” The opinion of the Court approved the statement of Baron Bramwell as follows: “Eeople do not furnish evidence against themselves simply by adopting a new-plan in order to prevent the recurrence of an accident. I think that a proposition to the contrary would be barbarous. It would be, as I have often had occasion to tell juries, to hold that, because the world gets wiser as it gets older, therefore it was foolish before.” The Court, in its opinion, quotes R. R. v. Hawthorne, 144 U. S., 202 (36 L. Ed., 405), as follows: “Upon this question there has been some difference of opinion in the courts of the several states. But it is now settled, upon much consideration, by the decisions of the highest courts of most of the states in which the question has arisen that the evidence is incompetent, because the taking of such precautions against the future is not to be construed as an admission of responsibility for the past, has no legitimate tendency to prove that the defendant had been negligent before the accident happened, and is calculated to distract the minds of the jury from the real issue, and to create a prejudice against the defendant.”

The general rule, established by the overwhelming weight of authority, is that evidence of such subsequent changes is not admissible to show negligence, nor as an admission of negligence. There are, however, certain clearly established exceptions to the general rule within which such evidence is competent. These exceptions ■ may be classified as follows :

(1) Where such evidence tends to show ownership or control of the place where the injury occurs, where such ownership or control is controverted; (2) when the question in controversy is as to whose duty it was to make repairs; (3) to contradict a witness; (4) to show that the injury was brought about in the manner alleged; (5) to show existing conditions under certain circumstances at the time of the injury. Myers v. Lumber Co., 129 N. C., 252; Blevins v. Cotton Mills, 150 N. C., 493; Tise v. Thomasville, 151 N. C., 281; Pearson v. Clay Co., 162 N. C., 224; Boggs v. Mining Co., 162 N. C., 393; McMillan v. R. R., 172 N. C., 853; Muse v. Motor Co., 175 N. C., 466; Farrall v. Garage Co., 179 N. C., 389; Ledford v. Lumber Co., 183 N. C., 614.

The testimony admitted by the trial court in this case does not fall within any of the exceptions. 'While the defendant entered general denial to all of the allegations in paragraph twelve of the complaint, there was no evidence offered by it denying the existence of the embankment some distance from the crossing at the time of the injury. So that the existing conditions, with respect to the embankment, prevailing at the time plaintiff was struck by the train were not in controversy, and this is the only possible exception to the general rule under which the testimony objected to could be classified. Moreover, there was no evidence that the embankment near the crossing was cut down by the defendant, or by its direction and approval. Indeed, the undisputed testimony was to the effect that any dirt that had been removed therefrom was moved by the Highway Commission.

The plaintiff, however, contends that, even if the evidence was incompetent, in the first instance, the defendant lost the benefit of its exception by virtue of the fact that on cross-examination of one of plaintiff’s witnesses the following testimony was elicited: “There has been a whole lot of road work done in the last year, and they used metal machinery. Of my own knowledge, I do not know that there has ever been any work done there, cutting down a bank, or how much was cut down.” And further, that witness for the defendant testified: “The railroad has never moved any dirt off this fill since 10 October, 1924. . . . The State Highway people are the only people I know anything about getting any dirt.” . . .

It is thoroughly established in this State that if incompetent evidence is admitted over objection, but the same evidence has theretofore or thereafter been given in other parts of the examination without objection, the benefit of the exception is ordinarily lost. Smith v. R. R., 163 N. C., 143; Tillett v. R. R., 166 N. C., 515; Beaver v. Fetter, 176 N. C., 334; Marshall v. Tel. Co., 181 N. C., 410.

The principle of law relied upon by the plaintiff is thus stated in the headnote of Hamilton v. Lumber Co., 160 N. C., 47: “The erroneous admission of evidence on direct examination is held not to be prejudicial when it appears that on cross-examination the witness was asked substantially the same question and gave substantially the same answer.”

This rule is sound and wholesome, and tends to confine the inquiry to the points in issue, and obviate prolix and needless questioning of a witness, and endless repetition of testimony; but when a trial judge admits evidence over objection, it thereupon becomes proper evidence to be considered by the jury so far as the particular trial in the Superior Court is concerned, and the rule does not mean that the adverse party may not, on cross-examination, explain the evidence or destroy its probative value, or even contradict it with other evidence, upon peril of losing the benefit of his exception.

“The right to have an opportunity for a fair and full cross-examination of a witness upon every phase of his examination-in-chief is an absolute right, and not a mere privilege. Cross-examination Teats and boults out the truth much better than when the witness only delivers a formal series of his knowledge without being interrogated.’ ” Varser, J., in Milling Co. v. Highway Commission, 190 N. C., 692, citing authorities. That this interpretation of the rule' is in accord with the greater weight of authority will appear from an examination of decisions upon the subject in other jurisdictions.

In Bank v. Middleton, 201 Pac., 683 (Montana), it appeared that defendant’s witness, on direct examination, related a conversation with a person who was not a witness in the case or party to the suit. Plaintiff objected to the conversation on the ground that it was hearsay. The objection was overruled, and an exception duly noted. On cross-examination the conversation was repeated. Plaintiff assigned error in the ruling of the court admitting the testimony. The defendant contended that since the plaintiff had cross-examined the witness and elicited a repetition of the testimony objected to, the error, if any, was thereby cured or waived. The Court says: “We have carefully analyzed the cases cited by defendants, and find that, while they state the rule of curing error by cross-examination, yet from the facts and circumstances of each case it is plainly evident that they are in no sense applicable to the point as it is involved here.” In Barker v. R. R., 126 Mo., 143, the Court said: “Nor can it matter, in the result, that the defendant’s counsel, on cross-examination, asked the witness to repeat his account of the interview with the conductor. That course did not amount to a waiver of the right to urge the exception already saved to the ruling of the court in admitting the interview. Counsel might properly conform to that ruling for the purposes of the trial, without thereby waiving the right to review the admission of incompetent evidence that had come in, over his objection. After that evidence was before the jury, he might then combat it or meet it, as best he might, without waiving the exception already taken.” In Marsh v. Snyder, 14 Neb., 237 (15 N. W., 341), the Court said: “Where an exception is duly taken to the admission of illegal testimony, it is not waived by mere cross-examination of the witness respecting it.” In Cathey v. R. R., 104 Tex., 39, 33 L. R. A. (N. S.), 103, the Texas Court said: “There are cases holding that objections to testimony are waived when tbe objecting party on cross-examination subsequently goes' into the same matter, but tbis is clearly against tbe weight of authority. It would indeed be a strange doctrine, and a rule-utterly destructive of tbe right and all tbe benefits of cross-examination to bold a litigant to have waived bis objection to improper testimony because, by further inquiry, be sought on cross-examination to break tbe force or demonstrate tbe untruthfulness of tbe evidence given in chief, in tbe event, as would most usually occur, that tbe witness should on bis cross-examination repeat or restate some or all of bis evidence given on bis direct examination.”

In Bank v. Kelly, 152 N. W., 125 (North Dakota), tbe defendant introduced testimony to tbe effect that tbe cashier of tbe plaintiff bank bad agreed that tbe defendant would not be required to pay tbe note. Plaintiff objected and excepted to tbe admission of tbis testimony. Tbe defendant insisted that tbe plaintiff was estopiped to claim tbe benefit of bis exception for tbe reason that be bad cross-examined about tbe same matter. Tbe Court said: “It is true that there are cases bolding that objections to.testimony are waived when tbe objecting party on cross-examination subsequently goes into tbe same matter, but we do not believe that these holdings are sound in principle, and they are clearly contrary to tbe weight of authority. ... We are satisfied that tbe plaintiff did not waive tbe erroneous admission of evidence over its objection by cross-examining tbe witness on tbe same subject; but that it bad tbe right to attempt to destroy its harmful effect by cross-examination, if possible.”

In Electric Co. v. Corbin, 72 Atlantic (Md.), p. 610, tbe Court said: “When testimony has been admitted and an exception noted, counsel may deem it necessary to cross-examine tbe witness on tbe subject; and, if it is simply a cross-examination, be ought not to be deprived of his exception: Prometed, tbe record shows be does not intend thereby to waive it, and that ought to be inferred when it is strictly cross-examination. There is perhaps some confusion in tbe eases on tbis subject, but tbe rule ought not to be carried to tbe extent of placing an attorney in tbe position that be must either waive bis exception or permit tbe evidence in chief to stand without cross-examination.”

The Indiana Court, in Washington, etc., Co. v. McCormick, 49 N. E., 1086, held: “After tbe court bad held, over tbe appellant’s objection, that tbe evidence was competent, and bad permitted appellee, who bad tbe burden, to introduce such evidence to maintain bis case, appellant, in seeking to overcome tbe case made by appellee, could follow tbe theory laid down by tbe court without impliedly admitting tbe court’s theory to be right, and without waiving bis right to question tbe court’s action.”

The California Court, in Jameson v. Tully, 173 Pac., 577, said: “Tbe respondent does not, in fact, attempt to justify tbe admission in evidence o£ these written and oral statements of the wife, implicating the defendant in her transgression, except upon the utterly untenable ground that the defendant, having, after the admission in evidence of the plaintiff’s testimony as to these matters over his objection, undertaken to cross-examine the plaintiff thereon, in so doing waived his objection to their admissibility and his right on app.eal to complain of the. court’s error in their admission. The authorities cited by counsel for the respondent in support of this contention do not sustain it. The eases cited all refer to the later introduction by the objecting party of independent evidence to the same point and effect as that to which the evidence objected to related. By the presentation on his own part of such independent proofs the objecting party, of course, waives his objection and point upon appeal; not so, however, when the objecting party undertakes to exercise his right to cross-examine a witness as to statements to which he has erroneously been permitted to testify. Were it otherwise, one of the main functions of cross-examination would be most seriously impaired; for a party, after rightfully objecting to the admission of evidence, may, by his cross-examination, lay the foundation for an obviously proper motion to strike it out, or may compel its contradiction or withdrawal, or may utterly destroy its effect, and thus render unnecessary his.remedy by appeal from the court’s erroneous action.”

The Virginia Court, in Virginia Power Co. v. Davidson, Admr., 89 S. E., 229, in discussing the question, said: “In this state of the record, we have no hesitancy in holding that the subsequent cross-examination of other witnesses on this subject, without formally repeating the objection, and the introduction' of rebuttal testimony by the defendant, did not waive the previous objection, and that the motion to exclude was a timely and proper method of further saving the point.”

The South Carolina Court, in Green v. Shaw, 134 S. E., 226, decided, 19 July, 1926, in an able and discriminating opinion by Justice Stabler, holds: “The defendant in this case offered as witnesses two Columbia physicians to testify to his reputation as a physician. The appellant strenuously objected to this testimony, but the court overruled his objection and admitted the testimony. The appellant having done all in his power by proper and timely objection, to exclude the objectionable testimony, elicited on cross-examination of the same witness a repetition of the same testimony that had been given on direct examination. Without making the testimony elicited the testimony of the cross-examining party, cross-examination may serve a number of useful purposes in the trial of a case, such as, for instance, testing the credibility of the witness or combating the effect of the testimony upon the minds of the jury. And we are unable to see why a litigant who has duly objected to the admission of incompetent testimony should be required to choose between foregoing tbe opportunity to accomplish such legitimate purposes through cross-examination of the testifying witness and waiving his right of appeal based on the court’s error in admitting the testimony.”

“The appellant’s cross-examination of the witness in the case at bar coming clearly within the limits of strict cross-examination as herein set forth, we hold that she did not waive thereby her right to have her objection to the admission of the incompetent testimony reviewed on appeal. This holding is not in conflict with any rule laid down by this Court heretofore, and is supported by the great weight of authority.”

The same rule, contained in the foregoing authorities, has also been announced and adhered to by the courts of South Dakota, West Virginia, New York, and Oregon. McIlbaine v. First National Bank, 146 N. W., 574 (South Dakota); Poteet v. Imboden, 88 S. E., 1024; Woods v. Buffalo R. R. Co., 9 N. E., 505 (New York); Wallace v. American Life and Ins. Co., 225 Pac., 192 (Oregon). This case was decided 15 April, 1924, and contains an-imposing list of authorities.

We are of the opinion that, upon the record as presented, the defendant did not waive his exception to the evidence erroneously admitted by the trial court, because the cross-examination was strictly confined to the point, and the rebuttal evidence as to the moving of the dirt was no more than a mere explanation of the testimony erroneously admitted. Therefore, under the authorities, for the error specified, a new trial must be awarded.

There are other grave exceptions in the record, but, as they may not occur at a subsequent trial, they will not be discussed.

New trial.