Daniels v. Savannah F. & W. Ry. Co.

• Decision Date: 26 November 1890
• Citation: 12 S.E. 365,86 Ga. 236
• Parties: DANIELS v. SAVANNAH, F. & W. RY. CO.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

12 S.E. 365

86 Ga. 236

DANIELS v. SAVANNAH, F. & W. RY. CO.

Supreme Court of Georgia

November 26, 1890

Error from city court of Savannah; HARDEN, Judge.

R. R Richards and W. R. Leaken, for plaintiff in error.

Chisholm and Erwin & Du Bigon, for defendant in error.

BLANDFORD J.

When the plaintiff had submitted her evidence to the jury, the court awarded a nonsuit, and plaintiff excepted. The plaintiff showed by her testimony that she was dependent upon her son, her husband, and upon her own labor, for a support that her son contributed in part to her support. We think the court misapprehended the decision of this court in the case of Clay v. Banking Co., decided on the 10th of February 1890, and reported in 10 S.E. 967, wherein it was held that under the act of October 27, 1887, amending section 2971 of the Code, relating to the recovery of damages in cases of homicide, and extending the right to recover to the mother or father for the homicide of a child upon whom she or he might be dependent, or who contributed to her, or his support, in cases where the child left neither wife, husband, nor child a mother cannot recover for the homicide of a child who contributed to her support without showing that she was dependent upon him. This court did not mean by said decision to decide that the mother could not recover unless she was wholly dependent upon such child for a support, but, on the contrary, we think the meaning of the statute is that a mother may recover for the homicide of a child who contributed to her support when she was in whole or in part dependent upon such child for support substantially. We think the words used in the statute, "who contributes to his or her support," mean that the contribution to the father or mother by the child need not be wholly sufficient but only such as is in part sufficient, for such support; and that the word "dependent" means wholly or in part dependent materially upon such child for support. For instance, a mother may have several children who support her, or contribute to her support, and she may not be dependent upon one child more than another; yet if she should be dependent upon any one of them wholly or partially, and he contributed to her support, she would be entitled to, recover for the homicide of such child, if killed by the negligence of any railroad company, its servants or employes. We think the evidence submitted by the plaintiff in this case...