Case ID: tex-civ-app_15/html/0502-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WILLIAMS, Associate Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Houston and Texas Central Railroad Co. v. Houx & Co.
    Delivered March 4, 1897.
    1. Carriers—Choice of Route.
    Although under the bill of lading the carrier is entitled to choose the route of shipment, it cannot select a route which it knows to be so obstructed that delivery cannot be made over it, when there is another route open and unobstructed.
    2. Practice in County Court—Appeal From Justice—Charge.
    In a case appealed from a Justice Court, the County Judge is not required to give any charge not requested.
    Appeal from the County Court of Waller. Tried below before Hon. A. G. Lipscomb.
    
      Blake Dupree, for appellant.
    [No brief for appellees reached the Reporter.]
   WILLIAMS, Associate Justice.

If it be conceded that the bill of lading, showing no routing of the carload of melons, was the exclusive evidence of the contract, and that, under it, the defendant was entitled to choose the route, and that paroi evidence was inadmissible to show a verbal contract to send the car over a particular road, the judgment must still be affirmed. Under the contract, evidenced by the bill alone, the defendant could not select a route which it knew to be so obstructed by the strike that delivery could not be made over it, when there was, open and unobstructed, another route, over which it was practicable to ship and deliver the melons in due time.

The conversation “between the agent and the shipper was admissible to show negligence in failing to deliver the goods, under the contract represented by the bill of lading. We do not deem it necessary to determine whether or not the bill of lading, under the facts shown here, was the exclusive evidence of the contract. Hutchinson on Carriers, sec. 128.

The assignments based upon the charges of the court must be overruled, because the record does not show that any charges were asked or given. The papers purporting to embody instructions are not signed by any one. The case was appealed from the Justice’s Court, and the County Judge was not required to give any charge not requested.

Affirmed.