Middleton v. Wilmington & Weldon R.R. Co.

• Decision Date: 31 October 1886
• Citation: 95 N.C. 167
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court
• Parties: D. J. MIDDLETON v. THE WILMINGTON AND WELDON RAILROAD CO.

95 N.C. 167

D. J. MIDDLETON

v.THE WILMINGTON AND WELDON RAILROAD CO.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

October Term, 1886.

This was a CIVIL ACTION, tried before Clark, Judge, and a jury, on appeal from a judgment of a justice of the peace, at Fall Term, 1886, of DUPLIN Superior Court.

The action was brought for the recovery of the penalty prescribed in §1967 of The Code.

The plaintiff introduced as a witness, O. P. Middleton, who testified that he was a son of the plaintiff, and that on the 20th day of December, 1884, a bale of cotton marked “D. J. M.”, which were the initials of the plaintiff, was brought to his store in Warsaw, by a negro servant of plaintiff; and he and other witnesses testified to facts tending to show, that said bale of cotton was received on that day, for shipment by defendant's agent at its depot at Warsaw, and that it was not shipped until the first or second day of January, 1885.

The defendant, by way of defence, offered to prove that O. P. Middleton set up a claim against the defendant for the same penalty as sued for in this action, and that the said O. P. Middleton and defendant, on the 11th day of February, 1885, agreed to refer, and did refer, the matter to two arbitrators, who made an award, of which said O. P. Middleton and the defendant company were duly notified.

It was admitted that said O. P. Middleton had never commenced any suit to recover said penalty, and had never caused any process to be issued against the defendant company.

His Honor excluded this evidence, upon the ground that no suit had been commenced by said O. P. Middleton by the issue of process, and that the award was therefore no bar to action of the present plaintiff.

Defendant excepted. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff. Appeal by defendant.

Mr. W. R. Allen, for the plaintiff .

Mr. Chas. M. Stedman, for the defendant .

SMITH, C. J. (after stating the facts).

The action is for a penalty which the statute gives “to any person suing for the same.” The defendant company sets up in bar of the recovery, an agreement entered into between itself and O. P. Middleton, a son of the plaintiff, who was claiming the penalty, for a reference, and the award made against the defendant's liability. The evidence in support of this defence was properly ruled out. No interest is acquired by any person which can be the subject of compromise or arbitration, until the demand for the penalty is asserted by the institution of suit for its recovery. The reference and arbitration were entirely gratuitous on the part of O. P. Middleton, and whatever misplaced confidence his assuming to act in the controversy may have inspired in the company, that it was with the concurrence of his...