Case ID: tex-civ-app_2/html/0598-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "STEPHENS, Associate Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The Fort Worth & Denver City Railway Company v. C. W. Ward et al.
    No. 106.
    Evidence — Opinion of Witness — Damages. — In a suit for damages caused by overcrowding cattle in cars during shipment, a witness who accompanied the cattle testified as to the injuries they had received, and that he was acquainted with their market value when delivered, and knew their condition at the time they were shipped, and at the time they arrived at market, and had been engaged in handling and shipping cattle for several years. Held, that it was error to permit the witness to further testify that in his opinion said cattle were damaged $5 per head. Following Railway v. Wright, 1 Texas Civil Appeals, 402.
    Appeal from Wichita. Tried below before Hon. P. M. Stine.
    
      Stanley, Spoonts & Meek, for appellant.
    The court erred in permitting Chatham, witness for plaintiffs, to state, over objection of defendant, that in his opinion all said cattle were damaged So per head from overcrowding in defendant’s cars, as it was a conclusion of the witness. Lea v. Wilkins, 1 Posey’s U. C., 287; Railway v. Hennessey, 75 Texas, 155; Hunt v. Reilly, 50 Texas, 104; 1 Greenl. on Ev., sec. 440; Giles v. O’Toole, 4 Barb., 264.
    
      
      Cobb & Boyd, for appellees.
   STEPHENS, Associate Justice.

This suit was brought for damages resulting to appellees from overcrowding their cattle in cars furnished by appellant for shipment from Harrold, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, as well as for the loss of some that escaped in loading. One Chatham, as agent for appellees, accompanied the cattle shipped as aforesaid, and testified as to the injuries received by the cattle; and that he was acquainted with the market value of said cattle at Chicago when delivered; and that he had been engaged in the business of handling and shipping cattle for several years, and knew the condition of said cattle at the time they were shipped and at the time they arrived at Chicago. Whereupon appellees requested him to state what the damage per head to said cattle was on arrival at Chicago; to which appellant objected, on the ground that the question called for a conclusion of the witness; which objection being overruled, the following answer was made: “ In my opinion all said cattle were damaged §5 per head.” Appellant having reserved a bill of exceptions to the introduction of this testimony, assigns its admission as error.

This question was passed upon by us in the case of Railway v. Wright, 1 Texas Civil Appeals, 402. On the authority of that case and the cases therein cited, we must hold this assignment to be well taken.

The other assignments contained in appellant’s brief, to-wit, the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth, are believed to be without merit.

As the illegal testimony was of a material character, and we can not say that it did not influence the verdict of the jury, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.

Delivered March 2, 1893.