CI,YDE .". RICHMOND
&;
D. R. CO.
673
any of them, and if such commissioners shall determine that said works, rights, privileges and properties are necessary for the purposes of this act, they shall have the right to make application" to the supreme court for the purpose of acquiring the privileges and properties by condemnation. It does not seem open to reasonable doubt that the object and intention of this section is to enable the municipality, if, in the opinion of its board of water commissioners, the acquisition of the system of the existing cOI1Joration is necessary, to acquire it by condemnation, and to invest the board with plenary discretion either to acquire the existing system or leave it intact. If the board do not deem it necessary that it be acquired, they need not make any examination. If they deem it necessary that it should be acquired, they are to make a thorough examination. After this examination has been made, they are again to exercise their judgment and determine whether the acquisition is necessary. If they determine that it is, they are permitted to resort to proceedings for judicial condemnation. The mandatory language which compels the board to make a thorough investigation if they should deem the acquisition necessary is inserted for the protection of the municipality, in order to preclude any action by the board based upon a superficial judgment. The whole matter is intrusted to their sound discretion. It is true that permissive words in statutes which invest public officers with authority to perform or abstain from acts which concern the common good or the interests of others are often construed as mandatory, but in each case the question whether the statute is to be read as mandatory, or only as permissive, is one of intent, to be deduced from the context as well as the language of the particular provision; and where, as here, it is plain that the power confided is a discretionary one, there is no room for the application of the rule of construction by which the word "may" is often read as "must." The unfortunate situation of the complainants naturally evokes sympathy, and a desire to protect them against what seems to be a needlessly harsh exercise of the authority reposed in the board of water commissioners, but the plain meaning of the statute cannot be disregarded. The motion is denied. CLYDE et aI. v. RICHMOND & D. R. CO. (WYCHE, Intervener). (CirCUit Court, N. D. Georgia. June 19, 1895.) No. 587.
1.
EQUITY PROCEDURE-CONCLUSIVENESS OF MASTER'S REPORT-QUESTIONS OF FACT.
The report of a special master in respect to a question of contributory negligence, depending upon conllicting evidence, where he was directed to report his conclusions upon the questions hoth of law and fact, will not be disturbed, unless manifestly erroneous.
v
674 2.
J'EDERAL REPORTI1lR,
\'01.69.
!lAsTER AND SERVANT""':'VIOE PRINCipAL-RAILROAD TRAIN DISl'ATCHER.
The train dispatcher .of a railway company in the. possession of receivers .is the aiter ego of the receivers, in respect to· a locomotive engineer injured through his negligence in directing the running of trains.
8.
SAME-COLLISION oFRAIi.ROAD TRAINS-NEGLIGENCE OF TRAIN DISPATCHER.
The omission of a train dispatcher to notify a station keeper of the coming· of an extra freight train, ·whereby the train was allowed to follow so closely upon the heels of another extra freight that a coUiSiion occurred in a fog, on a down grade, and resulted in injuries to the engineer of the overtaking train, held to have been the proXimate cause of such injury, so as to render the receivers of the road liable.
The intervener, R. C.Wyche, filed his intervention in the abovestated equity cause, claiming damages for personal injuries received by him while in the service of the receivers. The intervention was referred to William D. Ellis, Esq., as special master, and his report is as follows: By virtue of an order of reference from the circuit court of the United States for the Northern district of Georgia, the above-named intervention was referred to the undersigned, as special master, with directions to COllsider the questions of law applicable thereto, and to hear the testimony and report his conclusions to the court. Due notice of said reference was given, and the case was duly and legally assigned for trial; and at the time and place assigned the intervener appeared in person and by attorney, and the defendants, receivers, appeared by counsel. A full and complete report of the testimony and proceedings before the special master was made, and is herewith sent up, approved, identified, and made a part of this report. Statement of the Case. The intervener contended before the special master that the defendants were operating the property knownl as the Georgia Pacific RailwaY,-a line of road extending from the city of Atlanta, in the state of Georgia, to the city of Birmingham, in the state of Alabama, and that he was in their employ, as a locomotive engineer. He also contended that on the evening of the 28th of January, 1893, the defendants, by their servants and agents, sent out from Woodlawn, at on very near Birmingham, two freight trains which were not scheduled, and which were known and designated as "l!'irst and Second Extras": the first extra being designated also by the number of Its locomotive, #558, and the second extra, or Wyche's train, was known by tEe number of Its locomotive, #594. The two trains, he contended, were started out about the same time, and that they were to run without schedUle, and by telegraphic order, under the control of the train dispatcher. He says that they were run without trouble or difficulty, and that at Bremen, a station on the road, a request was made for permission to go back to Bir'mingham, or, in the language of railroad men, he requested to be "turned" at Bremen, and that this request was made on account of anticipated difficulty in reaching Atlanta before 8 o'clock on the next morning, which was Sunday, it being claimed to be unlawful to run freight trains in the state of Georgia after the hour of 8 o'clock a. :m; :Mr. Wyche contended that permission to return to Birmingham was denied, and that instructions were given to go on to Atlanta, and that while he was waiting at Bremen an accommodation train (a scheduled train) passed in at that point, and got between him and the firsll extra, and that he never did know until after the collision had occurred when the passenger train ran out ahead of the first extra. He con· tended that at Douglasville the operator gave him the white board, or signal to go ahead, and that he proceeded according to such signal, and that between Douglasville and Lithia Springs, near which last point the collision occurred. there was a heavy down grade, and that by reason of his inabmty to control his train he ran into the first extra, and received painful, serious, and permanent injuries. He contended that he himself was without fault, and that he
CI,YDEV. RICHMOND & D. R. CO.
675
was in the discharge 01' his duty when injured, and he contends that the defendants were negligent in several particulars: First. That they furnished him with a locomotive on which was a defective air pump, and that the defendants' governing officials at Birmingham knew of this defect when they put the locomotive in his charge. Second. That the hand brakes were defective, and failed to hold when applied, and that the defects in the hand brakes were such as could have been discovered by the defendants by the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in the line of inspection, or, in other words, by such inspection as reasonable care and diligence required them to make. Third. That the defendants, opera,ting said road by a super intendent, and said superintendent, being represented by a train dispatcher were negligent in the management of these extra trains and of said passengel train, in this: that he was not notified at Douglasville that the passenger train at that point had gone forward ahead of the first extra, and that he was not held at Douglasville for the time required by the rule, to wit, twenty minutes after the first extra had departed. T\) all contentions on the pari ilf the intervener, defendants replied: First. That the air pump was not defective. Second. That the hand brakes were not defective. Third. That the defendants, if said hand brakes were defective, could not be held liable, because they had made all inspections which ordinary care an.d diligence required them to make. Fourth. That the receivers stood in the relation to the intervener of master and servant, and that, if intervener was injured in the collision, that it was through the fault and negligence of fellow servants. and that he could not recover. Fifth. That the intervener was injured by his own negligence, and, if not, that his negligence contributed to the injury, and in either event he could not recover. Conclusions and Findings. The testimony. in the Wyche case, according to the report herewith transmitted, covers 253 pages of typewritten matter, and, in addition thereto, it was agreed that the testimony taken in the Cosby and Dodgen cases might be considered in evidence; and it will be seen that the testimony in the Dodgen case footed up 122 pages on close, typewritten matter, and in the Cosby case the testimony covers in like manner 180 pages,-making 555 pages of testimony to be considered in this case. The special master heard the testimony delivered by the witnesses, and has read it all over since that time, carefully, twice, and has reached a conclusion after much difficulty. The testimony shows that two extra freight trains left 'Voodlawn, near Birmingham, on the evening of January 28, 1893, with instructions to proceed in the direction of Atlanta. These two trains were running without schedule, and under telegraphic control from the train dispatcher, whose office was in Birmingham. They ran at a safe distance, and there was no trouble or difficulty for a part of the journey. At Bremen there was a request on the part of Wyche's train to be "turned," or, in ordinary language, to -be allowed to return to Birmingham; and this request was denied, and inshllctions were given to proceed to Atlanta. At Bremen th!) accommodation train, designated the schedule as #55, passed Wyche's train, and thus got in between these two extras. The evidence shows that at Douglasville the first extra took the Bide track, and#55 passed on beyond it, and proceeded towards Atlanta. At least, the evidence fails to disclose anythmg further in connection with that train after it passed DouglasvlIle, and the subsequent developments of the morning show that it had safely passed at least beyond the scene of the wreck, near Lithia Springs. The evidence shows that Wyche had no notice that the passenger train had passed the first extra at Douglasville, nor is any notice shown to him as to an what time the first extra pulled out of tlie siding at Douglasville and; proceeded towards Lithia Springs; but the testimony preponderates in favor of the proposition that the first extra had scarcely more than left the side track at Douglasville, and proceeded on it! way, before Wyche's train came up to the station. The testimony shows that the train dispatcher at Birmingham was notified of the arrival of the first extra and ofti55 at Douglasville: and the evidence shows that the telegraph operator at "Douglasville, who reported the arrival of the other two trains, was not notified that 'Vycbe's train, or the second extra, was on the road at
676
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 69.
all. 'l'hatwas the testimony of the operator himself. The operator (peace) at Douglasville, on page 160 (record in Wyche's case), says that it was well understood that there was no operator on duty on Sunday morning after the passenger train passed, and he had no notice of these extra trains. He says that it is not customary to run extra trains on Sunday, and that he would not let a train pass unless some one was on duty. On page 41 (testimony in Floyd Green case) he says he reported first extra and passenger train to train dispatcher, and, according to his testimony, there was no want of opportunity for notice to him of Wyche's train. There is confiict between the testimony. of 'Wyche and the operator as to the character of the sign given him ,M Douglasville. Wyche testifies that he had received the signal of safety, and to proceed, and that he was following a passenger train. The operator testified that the boards were tied down, and that such position indicated that the operator was off duty. Conductor Slaton, on page 144, says his train (the same one Wyche was pulling) bad "white," or a signal to proceed. The three witnesses agree that the boards were down,-both down. Wyche and Slaton testify that such a condition was equivalent to "white," or llJ signal to proceed. Mr. Peace, the operator, contends that the condition simply meant, "The operator is off duty, and there is no signaL" The intervener puts his case, apparently, mainly upon the idea that the air pump failed to work, and by that reason he had no air to control his train, and that when he called for brakes there was negllgence In the conductor and his crew, in not putting them on, or, if they were put on, they were defective, and did not hold. From these facts, he claims that his train got away from his control, and ran down the hill rapidly, and into the rear of the first extra, and hence the collision. The special master heard the testimony of the experts on the condition of the air brakes, and on their construction and the proper method of operating them. In addition to all this, he had a complete air brake before him, and in addition to that a train was fixed up, and he saw the particular demonstration of the operation of air brakes; and upon this demonstration, and upon the testimony of the witness Broadnax, he arrives at the conclusion on this branch of the subject without diffiCUlty. The truth is that an engineer sets his brakes by exhausting the air froon his train pipe, and, if the train pipe leaked, it would have set every brake under the air cars. If there was a leak at the locomotive, through the packing, it was a most unusual thing. The special master believes the statement of Wyche that he had the sixty or seventy pounds of air when he turned over the hill, and his conclusion is that this fact destroys the contention that it all leaked out by the time he says he attempted to apply the all', just before the collision. The special master believes from the evidence that Wyche was greatly excited by the sudden appearance of the train ahead of him, and that the severe injUry to his head produced a confused recollection of the events which took place at and about the time of the collision. No one could see and hear Wyche testify, and not feel that his recollection of what occurred at the scene of the accident was confused. He was unconscious for some time after the. accident, and does not know how he got off the engine. In searching after the cause of the collision, it will be well to consider the time it occurred. According to Conductor Dodgen's watch, he passed Douglasville at 7:35 a. m., and the collision occurred at 7:47 a. m., and by that calculation the train was out from Douglasville twelve minutes. Wyche says that he passed Douglasville at 7:37 or 7:39 a. m., and that the collision occurred at 7:54:40 a. m. At least, his watch stopped at that time, and the purport of his testimony is to the effect that the jar of the collision stopped his watch. Taking the average of the time of passing Douglasville as he gives it, it would show that, if his watch and Dodgen'S were together, lie left Douglasville only three minutes after Dodgen, and it took him until 7:54,. or sixteen minutes, to get to the scene of the collision. This would make his train average about twenty miles an hour,-not above the maximum allowed by schedule. But by Dodgen's time the collision took place at 7:47 a. m., and by Wyche's at 7:54, or seven minutes later. It will be seen that the watches of theBe two men must have been widely apart, or else were jarred out of time by the collision. It is more than probable that the excite-
CLYDE t1. RICHMOND & D. R. CO.
677
ment of the wreck, the terrible falls whlc)h each had, and the severe InjurIes each had, not only dIsturbed the condition of their timepieces, but the accuracy of their recollections. Mr. Peace says, on page 158 of the record in the 'Wyche case, that the passenger passed Douglasville fifteen or sixteen minutes before 'Vyche came up, and that the first extra left about ten minutes after the passenger. It this be true, then Wyche's train was allowed to pass Douglasville five or sIx minutes after the first extra had gone forward. The testimony shows that the two extra trains were out without schedules; they were run by telegraph. Orders were to be given by the train dispatcher, the "alter ego" of the company. It shows that at Bremen a refusal to let Wyche's train return to Birmingham came by Wire, and Instructions were gIven to go on to Atlanta. Defendants claimed that these telegraphic messages, it sent, were only to be regarded when received and delivered In a particular way; but Slaton says, on page 149, that they frequently got verbal orders, and he says this in connection with the order illi question, received at Bremen, to go to Atlanta. At Bremen the time of the two extras was so arranged that the passenger train got between them, and Wyche says-and he is uncontradicted in this-that he never had any notice of when the passenger train passed, or was to pass out beyond the first extra, and thus leave him to follow a freight The train dispatcher knew where all these trains were. None of the other trains knew exactly where the others were. The train dispatcher knew that the first extra had reached DouglasvnIe. He knew that the passenger train reached that point, and there passed the first extra. He knew that Wyche was close behind, and he failed to notify Wyche of what had happened, and he f-ailed to notify the operator even of the existence of Wyche's train, even though he was In wIth him, and knew that Wyche would be there In a few minutes. Peace was negligent in giving Wyche the white board, if he knew he was coming, He was negligent in letting him out in five or six minutes after the first extra left, if he knew he was coming. 11' he did not know it, the train dispatcher was negligent .in not giving him the Information; and this, in the opinion of the special master, was the prOXimate cause of the injury. The contention by the intervener that the hand brakes were defective, and that the defendants either knew of the defects, or: by the exercise of ordinary care could have discovered them, is not established, in the opinion of the special master. The testimony of Horace Reed Is not believed. His contradIctions, hIs manner, his statement in writing, all go to show that he is not worthy of credit. The only other witness to that effect, Wylie Harris, puts his statement on the subject that the brakes were not good on the fact that the train was not checked. But, even If they were defectIve, the evidence does not establish the fact that the defendants knw of It, or ought to have known of It JUdge Pendleton showed that there was a more perfect way to Inspect brakes than the inspection, but the testimony shows that the way the inspection was made up to the usual way, and that it was a good way. A careful study of the whole testimony, In the opinion of the special master, does not show that 'Wyche's train came down that hill at the tremendous speen he Imagined, but rather that he came almost Immediately after Dodgen, and, wIthout knowledge that he was following him, ran into him in the dense fog of the early morning. There is great conflict In the testimony on the subject of the extent of the injury. One eminent physician says Mr. Wyche Is injured for life, and Is past the hope of recovery. Another eminent physIcian says he Is not permanently injured, but will be completely restored by a decision In hIs case and an easy and not dangerous operation. Each theory Is strongly supported. The special master reports as follows: FIrst. The intervener was in the employ of the defendants as alleged. Second. Defendants, as receivers, were operating the Georgia Pacific Railway as alleged. ThIrd. The relation or master and servant, as at common law, exIsted. Fourth. The Intervener was of the age and earning capacity as alleged. Fifth. He was without fault that contributed to the InjUry. Sixth. The was severely, seriously, and to some extent permanently, Injured. Seventh. The collision was not brought about by defective air brakes. Eighth. The colHsion was not produced by defective hand brakes. Ninth. The collision resulted from negligent handllDJ:
678
of the two C!xtra trains by the train dispatcher. Tenth. The train dispatcher was the "alter ego" of the defendants. Eleventh. The intervener is entitled to recover damages. Twelfth. 'l'he damages are fixed at the sum of three thousand dollars. Respeetfully submitted. April 4, 1895. Attention is called to the agreement of counsel to use testimony in ollie:' (,ases.
Smith & Pendleton, for intervener. Jackson & Leftwich, for defendants. NEWMAN, District Judge (after stating the facts). It will be perceived that the matters for the determination of the special master were almost entirely questions of fact, issues of fact, and conflicting testimony. The master, who is usually diligent and eareful, seems to have given unusual care and attention to the con sideration of this case. His l;eport shows most thorough consideration of all the questions involved. The trial before the master occupied many weeks, and the testimony is voluminous. It seen,S clear that the master was correct in finding that the controllh g eause of this accident was the negligence of the train dispatcher. 'l'he ()nly doubtful question seems to be as to whether there was a eontributory negligence on the part of intervener, Wyche, in running his train. This question of contributory negligence is one, above all others, which courts leave to the determination of jurors, when a case is for jury trial, or to a master, when the case is one for the determination of that officer. The findil'lg of the jury or master in such a case will not be disturbed, unless it is manifestly erroneons. Such is not the case here. The question, it may be conceded, wra doubtful, and so the master seems to have regarded it. He seems to have hesitated long, and to have given the subject the most earnest consideration. It comes within that class of cases where the court will not interfere with the finding of a master on questions fact. The only legal question involved is as to the finding of the spedi\l master that the train dispatcher is the alter ego of the defendun t. The correctness of this finding is too clear for discussion. He is not, either upon principle or authority, a fellow servant of the engineer, and there is no difficulty whatever in the case 011 that groUII<J. Railroad Co. v. Oamp, 13 O. O. A. 233, 65 Fed. 952, citing the following authori ties on pageR 959 and 960, 65 Fed., and page 240, ):j O. C. A.: Hankins v. Railroad Co., 142 N. Y. 416, 37 N. E. 4Gfi; Dana v. Railroad 00., 92 N. Y. 639; Sheehan v. Railroad Co.. !n N. Y. 342; Slater v. Jewett; 85 R Y. 62; Darrigan v. Railrond Co., 52 Conn. 285; Lewis v. Seifert, 116 Par St. 628, 11 Atl. 5H; Hunn v. Railroad Co., 78 1\1ich.513, 44 N. W. 502; Railroad Co. \, Barry, 58 Ark. 198, 23 S. W. 1097; Railroad Co. v. McLallen, 84 III 109; Smith v. Railway Co., 92 1\10.359, 4 S. W. 129; Washburn v. Railroad Co., 3 Head, 638; Railway Co. v. Arispe, 5 Tex. Civ. App. G11, 23 S. W. 928, and 24 S. W. 33; McKin. Fel. Servo § 143. The amount found in favor of the intervener by the special was r.easonable, and the exceptions must be overruled and the report confirmed.
W ALTERS fl. WESTERN .It A. B. CO.
679 Intervener).
WALTERS et al. v. WESTERN & A. R. CO. (CircuIt Court, N. D. Georl:,-rIa. L
June 28, 1895.)
CORPORATIONS-DISSOLUTION-ABATEMENT OF SUITS.
The dissolution of -a corporation, pending garnishment proceedings against It, and before the adjudication of any liability, abates such proceedinl's; and the plaintiff' therein acquires no right, by virtue ot such proceedings, to share in the dIsU'ibutlon of the assets of the corporation. 2. CONTHACTs-PAR1'JEs--RwHTs OF SUBCON'fRACTORS.
One P. was appointed to a clerical position by the W. R. Co. He asked to have the appointment transferred to one B. The railway company declined to consent to such transfer, but permitted P. to fill til' oIDce oy deputy, and B. accordingly performed the duties, and sometimes drew the salary, which appeared on the pay 1'011 in P.'s name. P. afterwards resigned, and B. continued for one month to perform the duties, his own nume appE.'llring on the pay roll. At the end of the month P. was reappointed, and tile original arrangement resumed. Held, that there was no liability of the railway company to B., except tor the month during which P. did not hold the appointment.
This was a suit by William T. Walters and others against the Western & Atlantic Railroad Company. J. 8. McLendon filed an intervening petition, asking the allowance of a claim against the assets of the corporation, which petition was referred to a special master. Julius L. Brown and Tbos. L. Bisbop, for intervener. Payne & 'rye, for defendant Western & A. R. Co. NEWMAN, District Judge. This case is heard on exceptions to the special master's report, which states the facts and issues in the case as follows:
Special 1\la8ter's Report. To the Hon. William T. Newman, Judge of the United StateS Circuit Court for the Northern District of Georgia: 'l'he subscriber, having been, appointed by the honorable court special roaster to hear the evidence in saLd case, and to determine the liability therefrom, having heard and considered the evidence in said case and the arguments of counsel, reports as follows: It appears from the evidence that a judgment was rendered against one Perino Brown on March 27, 1884, in the superior court of Fulton county. for $1,916.66 principal, $368.94 interest, with intel'est from the judgmeut at 7 per cent. per annum, on which there was a return of nulla bona. Garnishment issued upon the jndgment, and was served upon the Western & Atlantic Railroad Company, which answered an indebtedness of $80 to defendant in jUdgment. This answer was traversed by the plaintiff' in judgment, and, UpOIl the trial of the traverse before a jury, a verdict was rendered agaInst th(l traverse. A motion for a new trial was made, and the verdict set aside, and a new trial granted; but before new trial was had the bill in this case was tiled. The judgment above referred to was assigned to J. S. McLendon on Janual'Y 7, 1888. and was alive at the date of the proceedings upon the garnisllment, and is still alive. There were two garnishments,-the first was sued out Janual'Y 28, 1888, and served Janua,ry 31, 1888; the other was sued out on the 8th of November. 1888, and served the same day. The joint answer to the two garnishments was filed April 27, 1880. and was traversed upon the same day by the plaintiffs. The trial above referred to was upon the first garnishment sued out. W. H. Patterson was ap);lointed to a clerical position in the depot of the Western & Atlantic Railroad Company at Clmttanooga in the year 1881 or