Georgia R.R. v. Lawrence

• Decision Date: 10 March 1885
• Citation: 74 Ga. 534
• Parties: THE GEORGIA RAILROAD v. LAWRENCE.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

74 Ga. 534

THE GEORGIA RAILROAD v. LAWRENCE.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

March 10, 1885

February Term, 1885.

Although the allegations in a declaration may not warrant the introduction of certain evidence to establish a claim on the part of the plaintiff, yet if it be introduced without objection, it is proper for the court to charge the jury as to its legal effect.

( a. ) In a suit against a railroad company for causing the destruction by fire of the plaintiff's fences and crops, by the careless running of its engines, evidence having been admitted without objection to show that the grass on the right-of-way of the railroad was set on fire by sparks from the engines, and that from this the fences of the plaintiff were burned, such evidence tended to show negligence on the part of the railroad.

( b ) If property of a person has been destroyed by fire, caused by the running of the engines of a railroad without fault or negligence on the part of the latter or its agents, in any way, the railroad company is not liable.

Railroads. Damages. Negligence. Evidence. Verdict. Before Judge RONEY. Richmond Superior Court. April Term, 1884.

Reported in the decision.

JOSEPH B. CUMMING, for plaintiff in error.

HOOK & MONTGOMERY, by brief, for defendant.

BLANDFORD Justice.

Defendant in error brought his action against the plaintiff in error, and by his declaration claimed that he had sustained damages by reason of the careless running of the engines of plaintiff in error, whereby his fences were destroyed by fire and his crops injured and destroyed. Evidence was admitted without objection, which tended to show that the grass on the right-of-way of the railroad was set on fire from sparks of the engines of defendant's company and that from this the fences of the plaintiff below were set on fire and destroyed. This is the only evidence of neglect on the part of the railroad company. Under the pleadings in the case, it may be that the testimony as to the burning of the grass on the railroad company's right-of-way was inadmissible; yet it was admitted without objection; it was before the jury for their consideration, and, as decided by this court in the case of Ocean Steamship Company vs Williams, 69 Ga. 251, where evidence is admitted without objection, although there is no allegation in the declaration authorizing the same, it is proper for the court to charge the jury as to its legal effect. So we think...