Jefferson v. Southern Railway In Mississippi

• Decision Date: 14 July 1913
• Citation: 62 So. 643,105 Miss. 571
• Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
• Parties: FRANK JEFFERSON et al. v. SOUTHERN RAILWAY IN MISSISSIPPI

62 So. 643

105 Miss. 571

FRANK JEFFERSON et al. v. SOUTHERN RAILWAY IN MISSISSIPPI

Supreme Court of Mississippi

July 14, 1913

March 1913

APPEAL from the circuit court of Sunflower county, HON. J. M CASHIN, Judge.

Suit by Frank Jefferson and another against the Southern Railway in Mississippi. From a judgment for defendant, plaintiffs appeal.

The facts are fully stated in the opinion of the court.

Reversed and remanded.

Chapman & Williams and Whitfield, McNeil & Whitfield, attorneys for appellant.

Catchings & Catchings, attorneys for appellee.

OPINION

SMITH C. J.

Appellants instituted this suit in the court below to recover of appellee damages for the death of Anna Jefferson, the wife of one and the mother of the other of appellants, who they allege was struck and killed by one of appellee's trains. At the close of the evidence the jury, at the request of appellee, was instructed to find for it, and there was a verdict and judgment accordingly.

Appellants rested their case, after making out a prima facie case of negligence under the statute, by showing that Anna was found dead early one morning between the rails of appellee's railroad, at a curve in the track, with a wound in her head and one of her feet cut off. To meet this prima facie case, appellee introduced evidence showing that three of its trains passed over the track at the place where, and on the morning that, Anna was killed; that she was probably struck by the one of which a man by the name of Murff was the engineer. Murff was then introduced, and testified that his train passed the place where Anna was killed between 4:45 and five o'clock a m.; that he was on the lookout and did not see her, and was not aware that she had been struck until some hours thereafter. He was then asked and answered the following questions: "Q. And this engine was equipped with an oil light? A. Yes, sir. Q. Going east on that curve, is it, or not, possible to see an object from the headlight that is about half way in the curve? A. Yes, sir; it would be impossible for the man to see the object on the left-hand side of the engine laying in the curve. Q. Well, would it be impossible on the other side? A. Yes, sir. Q. How close would you have to get up to an object before you could see from the headlight? A. You would be right on top of it, in twenty-five or fifty yards anyway. Q. State to the jury whether or not on that occasion you saw any...