Case ID: nh_3/html/0465-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Richakdson, C. J ,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GRAFTON,
    MAY TERM, 1826.
    SAMUEL DALTON vs. JACOB FAVOUR, jr.
    Where A , through carelessness and negligence, bat undesigned!}', discharged a firelock in such a manner as to wound B , it was held, that B. had his election tiff trea' ’he negligence oí A. as the cause of the injury, and declare in case; or to treat he act itself, as the cause of the injury, and declare in trespass.
    Trespass on the case, for that the said Favour, on the 27th September, 1825, at D. having in his hands a firelock, highly charged with powder, and a great quantity of wadding, so exceedingly carelessly managed his said firelock, that he discharged its contents into the foot of the plaintiff ; whereby he was put to great pain, &c.
    The cause was tried here, upon the general issue, at November term, 1825 ; when it appeared in evidence, that the plaintiff was standing in an entry of a house in sight of the defendant, who was about six feet distant from him, when the defendant discharged the firelot'k and wounded the plaintiff in his foot ; but it did not appear, that the lirelock was discharged with the intent to injure the plaintiff, but the accident was the consequence of great carelessness.
    Webster, for the defendant,
    objected, that case could not be supported on the facts proved in the case ; but the court overruled the objection ; and the jury having returned a verdict for the plaintiff, he moved the court to grant a new trial, on the same ground.
    
      
      Smiley, for the plaintiff.
   Richakdson, C. J ,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Tlit, principles, upon which the decision of this case must depend, arc well settled in the books.

In all case-, where the injury is done with force and immediately by llu; act of the defendant, trespass may be maintained. 1 Chitty’s Pl. 122.—3 East 593, Leame vs. Bray.—19 Johns, 381.—18 ditto, 257, Percival vs Hickey.

And in every case, where the iijury is the immediate effect of the defendant’s act, and is stated in the declaration, or appears upon the trial, to have been wilfully done, the remedy must be trespass. 1 Chitty’s Pl. 121.-8 D. & E. 188, Ogle vs. Barnes.—6 D. & E. 128. And Savignac vs. Rooms, 6 D & E. 125.—5 D. & E. 648, Day vs. Edwards.

But where the damage or injury ensues, not directly from the act of the defendant, the remedy must be case. I Chitty’s Pl. 126.

In all cases, where the injury is attributable to negligence, although it were the immediate effect of the defendant’s act, the party injured has an election, either to treat the negligence of the defendant as the cause of action, and declare in case ; or to consider the act itself as the cause of the injury, and to declare in trespass. 1 Chitty’s Pl. 127.—5 Bos. & Puller 117, Rogers vs. Imblelon.—3 Burrows 1560—5 B. & P. 447, note.—3 East 600 and 601.-8 D. & E. 188, Ogle vs. Barnes.—14 Johns. 432, Bliss vs. Campbell, where it was decided, that case might be maintained for wounding; the plaintiff’s leg, by negligently firing a pistol. 1 Bos. & Puller 472, Turner vs Hawkins.

In the case now before us, it did not appear, that the injury was wilfully done, but it was the consequence of great carelessness. This is an instance then, where either trespass or case may be maintained ; and there must be

Judgment on the verdict.