Case Title: Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company v. Johns

Citation: 101 So. 2d 265

Docket Number: 

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 1958-03-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
101 So. 2d 265 (1958)
LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY
v.
Edgar L. JOHNS, as Adm'r.
3 Div. 696.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
March 6, 1958.
*266 Steiner, Crum & Baker, Montgomery, and B. E. Jones and R. L. Jones, Evergreen, for appellant.
Jones & Nix, Evergreen, for appellee.
*267 COLEMAN, Justice.
This is an action by the administrator of the estate of J. A. Johns, deceased, to recover damages from Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, a corporation, for the death of plaintiff's intestate, who was run over by the cars of defendant on its tracks in Evergreen, Alabama.
On the former appeal, Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Johns, 258 Ala. 440, 63 So. 2d 574, 578, we held there was a fatal variance between the pleading and proof in that all counts of the complaint alleged that deceased was injured while he was crossing the tracks of defendant, but the "* * * proof * * * was undisputed that the deceased at the time of his injury was walking longitudinally along the track of the defendant and between the rails."
We further held on the former appeal:
On the second trial, the evidence was in dispute as to whether deceased was crossing the track or walking longitudinally between the rails, and on this second trial the jury found a verdict for plaintiff on which judgment was entered. Defendant appeals from that judgment and from the judgment overruling defendant's motion for a new trial.
For a detailed description of the place where the injury occurred and the movements of the train, we refer to the opinion on former appeal, supra.
To summarize briefly, the tracks of defendant are located in the center of the city of Evergreen, the general direction of the tracks being north and south. Defendant has there four straight, parallel, connected tracks, and there is a street on each side of the railroad open up to the edge of the railroad right of way. These streets are called East Front Street and West Front Street, respectively. The injury to deceased occurred on the easternmost track, which is called the team track.
The L & N Station is at the south end of town. Just at the north end of the station over the four tracks and at right angles thereto, there is a public crossing known as the Depot Crossing which connects East Front Street and West Front Street. Four hundred and twenty-three feet north of the Depot Crossing is another public crossing connecting East and West Front Streets. This latter crossing is called the Rural Street Crossing. The injury to deceased occurred on the team track between these two grade crossings. Count 6 of the complaint alleges that deceased was proceeding across the tracks "at a point 250 feet South of the Rural Street Crossing," and Counts 7 and 8 fix the point at "to-wit: 250 feet South of the Rural Street Crossing." As we understand the testimony, the point where deceased was injured was approximately 150 feet south of Rural Street Crossing. The tracks between the Depot Crossing and Rural Street Crossing appear to be almost level, although there was *268 testimony showing a rise of 91/100ths of a foot to the north on the team track.
Over defendant's objection, evidence was introduced to show that numbers of people were accustomed to cross the defendant's railroad tracks between West Front Street and East Front Street, over the entire area between the two crossings, between the hours of eleven o'clock and noon. W. A. Suddith placed the number of persons at 25 to 30; J. D. Hyde at around 50 or 60; H. L. Riley at sometimes a dozen, sometimes maybe fifty; M. E. Wilson at 8 or 10.
About noon, on the day of the accident, a local freight train of defendant, going south, came in on the second track from the west and traveled on south until the caboose was south of the depot crossing. After receiving instructions at the depot, the train crew switched the engine with the merchandise car attached, over to the team track and there picked up three box cars and also a car of pulpwood. The car of pulpwood was the last car from the engine. The trainmen proceeded to "kick" or push the pulpwood car onto the main track, which is the second track from the east. The pulpwood car stopped and was "chocked" on the main track between the two crossings. The engine with four cars attached pulled back south onto the team track.
After pulling the cars onto the team track, and after the switch from the main line to the team track had been closed, the engine with the cars behind it, was backed up north along the team track to give the cars an impetus towards the north. After receiving this impetus the last three box cars were uncoupled from the engine and permitted to roll free, the purpose being to cause them to roll on north along the team track across the Rural Street Crossing until they should stop. The testimony as to the speed of the cars when they hit Johns varies from 4 or 5 to 15 or 20 miles per hour. No person was on the cars after they were cut free from the engine, which was stopped in the vicinity of the Depot Crossing. This operation is referred to as a kicking or flying switch.
During the switching operations, the witness Bethea, trainman employee of defendant, was protecting the Depot Crossing, and the witness Hicks, flagman, was stationed at the Rural Street Crossing. As to his duty to direct the switching movements, Hicks testified as follows:
At some time during the switching operations, plaintiff's intestate, Johns, entered the railroad right of way on the west side at a point between the two crossings. The testimony is without dispute that he walked directly across the tracks of defendant without stopping, until he reached the easternmost track, known as the team track.
While the three cars were rolling north along the team track, they struck the intestate, Johns, at a point 150 feet, more or less, south of the Rural Street Crossing. As a result of injuries there received Johns died.
As we have noted above, the testimony on the first trial was undisputed that Johns reached the team track a safe distance north of the rolling cars, and then turned and walked north along the team track between the rails until he was struck from behind by the cars. On the first trial, Floyd Dees, who was an eyewitness, testified for plaintiff. Dees' testimony was to the effect that Johns, when injured, was walking north between the rails of the team track. On the second trial, Dees was not placed on the stand by either party.
*269 On the second trial, plaintiff placed on the stand Charles Barfield who did not testify on the first trial. Pertinent portions of Barfield's testimony are as follows:
A. He was going across the railroad when I saw him.
*270 Theodore Sherman who did not testify on the first trial was also called by plaintiff on the second trial. Sherman's testimony in pertinent part is as follows:
On the second trial, the flagman Hicks, who had been a witness called by defendant on the first trial, testified that he, Hicks, while at or near the Rural Street Crossing, saw Johns "* * * coming from the west over this way going across * * *;" that Johns walked across the three westerly tracks without stopping or looking either way; that Johns while crossing the tracks was looking "Right straight across. Kind of walking with his head down;" that Johns was "Going east looking down," and without stopping or looking "stepped in between the team track and came walking north;" and that when Johns stepped on "the team track, if he had continued walking on across in the direction he was going," he would have had ample time to clear *271 the track in advance of the approaching cars which were then a couple of car lengths distant.
Hicks further testified that when Johns turned north on the team track, he, Hicks, immediately "broke into a run and started slinging my arms and hollering at him (Johns);" and that when Johns turned north he was "about a hundred feet or further maybe," from Hicks.
If the testimony of Hicks had been uncontradicted, we would arrive at the same result as on the former appeal, but Hicks' testimony was contradicted as we have noted above.
Testimony was taken after issue joined on Counts A and B which charged simple negligence, Count C charging subsequent negligence, Counts 6 and 7 charging that the corporate defendant "willfully or wantonly" caused the death of intestate, and Count 8 which charged that the death of intestate was caused by the "willful or wanton" acts of the employees of defendant "while acting within the line and scope of their authority and employment." To Counts A, B, and C, defendant pleaded in short the general issue and contributory negligence, and to Counts 6, 7, and 8 the general issue.
The trial court gave the affirmative charge with hypothesis for defendant on Counts A and B. The affirmative charge with hypothesis separately requested by defendant to each of the remaining Counts C, 6, 7, and 8, was refused.
Brief of appellant contains no statement of "Propositions of Law" as required by Revised Supreme Court Rule 9, Code 1940, Tit. 7 Appendix. Since, however, this case was submitted before the effective date of the revised rules, and does contain thorough argument citing authorities on the propositions argued by appellant, under the liberal construction applied to the former rules by this court we have considered the assignments of error which are adequately argued.
Appellant assigns as error the action of the trial court in overruling demurrer to each count of the complaint but these assignments are not argued in brief and are, therefore, waived. Supreme Court Rule 9. We do not consider the sufficiency of the complaint on demurrer, but treat each count as being legally sufficient.
Appellant argues that the court erred in refusing the general affirmative charge with hypothesis to the complaint as a whole. The rule is:
Because, as hereinafter stated, we hold that reasonable inferences which support Counts C and 8 may be drawn from the evidence, and that the affirmative charge with hypothesis which was requested separately to those counts was properly refused, we also hold that the same charge requested jointly to all four counts was refused without error.
Appellant argues that the refusal of the affirmative charge requested by defendant to Count C was reversible error. Count C charged subsequent negligence as follows:
"* * * which said negligence consisted in this: said servants, agents or employees, after becoming aware of the peril of the Plaintiff's intestate being run against, over or upon by said train, negligently failed to use all the means at their command to avoid said *272 train running over, upon or against Plaintiff's intestate and inflicting injuries from which he died, when by the use of said means said train would have been prevented from running against Plaintiff's intestate and killing him, all to the damage of the Plaintiff, hence this suit."
Appellant asserts that it was entitled to an affirmative instruction against Count C because: first, there was no proof that any employee of defendant could have prevented the injury to the intestate, Johns, after he was discovered in a position of peril by such employee; and second, that the allegation that Johns was struck by a "train" is not supported by the proof that he was struck by "cars which were at the time no part of the train."
On the former appeal, we held there was no proof of subsequent negligence on the part of defendant. There the testimony was not disputed that the flagman Hicks used all means at his command to warn the intestate after Hicks saw Johns turn and walk north between the rails in front of the approaching cars.
Viewing the evidence on the second trial in the aspect most favorable to plaintiff, we are of opinion that the jury could reasonably infer that Johns, the intestate, did not turn and walk longitudinally between the rails of the team track but attempted to walk across the track as testified by Barfield; that the flagman Hicks saw Johns enter the railroad property from West Front Street, walk straight across three tracks without pausing or looking to the right or left, but looking down; that Johns was not aware of the approach of the cars until after he had stepped on the team track immediately in front of the cars; that the flagman Hicks was fully aware of the switching operation and that Johns was rapidly approaching a place of danger and that injury to Johns might result if he, Hicks, failed to give warning; that Hicks was close enough to Johns so that Hicks could have effectively given such warning in time to prevent the injury; that although Hicks had such knowledge, he failed to perform his duty to give such warning; and that the failure of Hicks to give the warning was the proximate cause of the injury.
Appellant argues that Johns' negligence in failing to stop or look before he stepped onto the team track is such contributory negligence as will bar recovery under Count C. Johns' aforesaid negligence was such contributory negligence as would bar recovery for simple initial negligence and the trial court so instructed the jury in giving the affirmative charge as to Counts A and B which charged simple negligence.
The rule applicable here as to the contributory negligence of plaintiff which will defeat his recovery for negligence of defendant after discovery of plaintiff's peril has been stated as follows:
See, also: Birmingham Ry., Light & Power Co. v. Aetna Accident & Liability Co., 184 Ala. 601, 64 So. 44; Sprinkle v. St. Louis & S. F. R. Co., 215 Ala. 191, 110 So. 137; Northern Alabama Ry. Co. v. Elliott, 219 Ala. 423, 122 So. 402; Western Ry. of Alabama v. DeBardeleben, 226 Ala. 101, 145 So. 431 [infra]; Heffelfinger v. Lane, 239 Ala. 659, 196 So. 720; Callaway v. Griffin, 245 Ala. 598, 18 So. 2d 547.
*273 The authorities relied on by appellant to support its argument for the general charge requested as to Count C (among them: Callaway v. Eason, 248 Ala. 523, 28 So. 2d 560; Birmingham Southern R. Co. v. Kendrick, 247 Ala. 573, 25 So. 2d 419; Western Ry. of Alabama v. DeBardeleben, 226 Ala. 101, 145 So. 431; DeBardeleben v. Western Ry. of Alabama, 227 Ala. 553, 151 So. 56; and Racine Tire Co. v. Grady, 205 Ala. 423, 88 So. 337), have been carefully examined, but to differentiate all of them here would prolong this opinion to undue length and serve no useful purpose. Suffice it to say that each of them presents a distinct difference from the instant case on a substantial issue of fact and in no manner conflicts with the conclusion here reached.
In Northern Alabama Ry. Co. v. Henson, 210 Ala. 356, 98 So. 18, cited by appellant, this court held that the evidence was not sufficient to support an inference that the trainmen saw deceased in time to avoid the injury. In the case at bar, the flagman, Hicks, saw Johns come onto the series of tracks from the west and cross three of the tracks. Without dispute, Hicks saw and observed Johns for a substantial length of time before Johns stepped on the team track. The evidence here is sufficient to support an inference that Hicks had knowledge of the peril of Johns in time to prevent the injury.
In Louisville & N. R. R. Co. v. Porter, 196 Ala. 17, 71 So. 334, 335, the errors pointed out were overruling objection to a question and giving a misleading and erroneous oral charge. Moreover, in that case, as on the first trial of the instant case: "Clearly, the deceased was a trespasser upon the track," because "when he reached the middle of the house track, he turned and started walking along that track to the south." Barfield's testimony on the second trial here is to the effect that Johns was not walking along the track but was crossing it.
In other cases cited by appellant to support its right to the affirmative charge as to Count C, the evidence failed to show that the employees of the defendant had knowledge of the peril in time to prevent the injury. In the instant case, as we have indicated, the evidence will support an inference that Hicks had knowledge of the peril at a time when he could have effectively given a warning to prevent the injury. Hicks himself testified that he saw Johns cross the three westerly tracks without stopping or looking.
Appellant argues that the fact that Johns was looking down does not support an inference that he was not aware of the approaching cars, and that he was looking down because the steel rails were above the ground and the surrounding area was covered with slag. The evidence also is that Johns looked neither to right nor left. Barfield testified that Johns "was down on the track before he ever saw" the cars. Sherman testified that "it seemed like the railroad shivered or jumped underneath his feet, and made" Johns notice the cars; and that "he looked around and seen it after he got out in the middle of the track, but he didn't have time to jump and clear it then." Under the whole evidence, we think the question of Johns' awareness of his peril was for the jury.
In considering appellant's second contention that the cars which struck Johns were not a "train," we find the following definition of "train":
In other jurisdictions where the meaning of "train" has been considered in similar cases, we find the following statements:
In Denver & R. G. R. Co. v. Vitello, 21 Colo.App. 51, 121 P. 112, 118, the court held that "* * * four cars and a caboose, from which the engine had been detached at the time the cars started uncontrolled down the grade" constituted a train.
We are of opinion that proof that the intestate was run over by three connected cars unattached to an engine, moving under momentum recently imparted to them, will support an allegation that the intestate was run over by a "train."
This case is similar in principle to Snider v. Alabama Great Southern R. Co., 210 Ala. 119, 97 So. 209. In that case, "* * deceased was crossing the track, not at a regular crossing, the train was approaching slowly, and it was held that the jury could find that the engineer was due to give a blast of the whistle in an effort to avert the danger." Robertson v. Southern Ry. Co., 224 Ala. 640, 141 So. 559, 560.
In the Snider case [210 Ala. 119, 97 So. 210], the controlling consideration on rehearing was a failure of the evidence to show without contradiction, that deceased was looking "towards the train." The court found "that there was sufficient dispute on this point as to make it a question for the jury as to whether or not the intestate was guilty of subsequent negligence, that is, continuing her way across after becoming aware of the approach of the train." In the instant case, it was open to the jury to find that the intestate, Johns, was not aware of the approaching cars, and that the flagman, Hicks, was guilty of subsequent negligence in failing to give a warning to Johns before he stepped on the team track. The affirmative charge to Count C was properly refused.
Assignment of error 34 is to the effect that the trial court erred in overruling defendant's motion for a new trial. In brief, appellant states:
In this connection appellant argues that because the plaintiff produced testimony on the first trial showing that the intestate, Johns, was walking longitudinally between the rails when he was struck, the plaintiff cannot on the second trial prove that the intestate was not walking between the rails but was crossing the track.
To support this argument appellant cites the following proposition of law:
Brown v. French, supra, was an action of forcible entry and detainer. On the first trial of that case the defendant made affidavit that he entered peaceably, "* * * and not under claim of any agreement" with plaintiff. On appeal from the first trial, this court held that plaintiff was entitled to the general charge, and the cause was reversed and remanded.
On the second trial of Brown v. French, supra, over the objection of plaintiff, defendant gave evidence to show that the plaintiff had agreed to his entry. On the second appeal, this court held that, "the defendant should not have been allowed to introduce testimony in contradiction of the affidavit upon which he had brought his case into the circuit court * * *."
In the instant case, it does not appear that objection was made by defendant to introduction of the contradictory testimony offered by the plaintiff. We are not clear to the conclusion that the estoppel is properly presented for our review under the authority of Brown v. French, supra. However, in Brown v. French, supra, the estoppel arose because the defendant offered testimony to contradict his own sworn affidavit. In the instant case, the estoppel claimed would be an estoppel to introduce testimony of a witness on the second trial to contradict the testimony of a different witness given on the first trial. In the instant case, plaintiff did not testify or make an affidavit. This is not a situation where a party contradicts his own sworn testimony given on a previous trial.
No case on this particular point has been cited to us from this jurisdiction. In C.J.S. we find the following:
In dealing with this question, other courts have written as follows:
In another case, the court said:
While under the authority of Brown v. French, supra, it would appear that on a second trial, a party is not to be permitted against timely objection, to contradict his own sworn testimony on a material matter given at the first trial, we hold that the rule in this jurisdiction is that a party is not estopped to offer, at a second trial, testimony contradicting the testimony of his own witness given at the first trial. The motion for new trial was overruled without error with respect to the estoppel here urged by appellant.
Assignments of error 21 and 22 are that the court erred in refusing to give the affirmative charge requested as to Count 8.
In pertinent part, Count 8 charges:
"* * * Plaintiff further avers that on said occasion and at the time and place aforesaid, said duly authorized agents, servants, or employees of defendant, while acting within the line and scope of their authority, so willfully or wantonly conducted the operation of the said locomotive and the said cars as to willfully or wantonly cause a number of freight cars to run over, upon, or against the person of plaintiff's intestate at said time and place, thereby willfully or wantonly killing said intestate * * *."
This court has said:
We have indicated that the jury could find that Hicks failed to discharge a duty resting on him to give a warning. If the jury should so find, can we say, as a matter of law, there was a total want of evidence of conscious indifference to consequences which may be termed wantonness, on the part of Hicks? Our conclusion is that we cannot, and that the affirmative charge requested to Count 8 was refused without error.
If the jury should find that Hicks was apprised of the peril of Johns in time to save him by the prompt use of any means at his command, and thereupon Hicks, through mere inattention or inadvertence, omitted to do what he might have effectually done to save deceased, then defendant was liable under Count C. If the jury should find that Hicks willfully or with conscious indifference to the probable consequences of the situation thus known to him omitted to do what he might have effectually done to save Johns, then defendant was liable under Count 8. We are of opinion that this issue of fact was properly submitted to the jury under Counts C and 8.
In Louisville & N. R. R. Co. v. Porter, 196 Ala. 17, 20, 71 So. 334, 335, Sayre, J., writing for the court, said:
Assignments of Error 13, 14, 17, 18 and 34.
Appellant assigns as error, the refusal of the affirmative charge as to Counts 6 and 7 and the giving of a portion of the oral charge to which appellant duly excepted. This insistence is based on the failure of the evidence to prove corporate participation in the act or omission which injured plaintiff's intestate.
Absence of this evidence was specifically called to the attention of the trial judge before the jury retired. The record discloses that before the case was submitted to the jury, counsel for appellant said to the court:
Count 6, in pertinent part, states as follows:
There is no evidence proving corporate participation. Appellee contends that proof of wanton or willful misconduct by the servants of defendant is sufficient to support the allegation of willful or wanton misconduct by the corporate defendant, under the provisions of Act 670, approved October 9, 1947, General Acts 1947, page 513, Code of Alabama 1940, Title 7, Pocket Parts, Section 138(1).
The validity of this act has heretofore been twice considered by this court, but no final adjudication thereon delivered. In Birmingham Transit Company, a Corporation, v. Tommie Mae Persons, 266 Ala. 406, 96 So. 2d 673, and Birmingham Transit Company, a Corporation, v. Joe T. Persons, 266 Ala. 406, 96 So. 2d 673, Act 670 was held invalid on original deliverance. Pending decision on application for rehearing in those cases, however, the parties reached an agreement and the original opinion was withdrawn. That original opinion referred also to the case of Sibley v. Odum, 257 Ala. 292, 58 So. 2d 896, wherein Act No. 670 was considered. In the Birmingham Transit Company cases, supra, on original deliverance, we stated in pertinent part as follows:
*281 of limitations as to different defendants jointly sued.
In the instant case, since there was no proof of corporate participation in the damnifying act, the defendant corporation was entitled to the general affirmative charge with hypothesis requested to Count 6.
In City Delivery Co. v. Henry, 139 Ala. 161, 166, 34 So. 389, 390, the second and fourth counts averred that "the defendant, through its agent or servant * * * wantonly, willfully, or intentionally caused an ice wagon to run against plaintiff * *."
In the instant case, Count 7 averred that "* * * defendant, acting by and through its agents, servants or employees, willfully or wantonly allowed said detached freight cars to roll along said tracks * * * against the person of plaintiff's intestate * * * and that the willful or wanton acts of defendant, acting by and through its agents, servants or employees thereby willfully or wantonly killed plaintiff's intestate on said occasion." On the *282 authority of City Delivery Co. v. Henry, supra, Count 7 charged trespass and to sustain this count proof of corporate participation was necessary.
Appellee argues that even if Act 670, supra, be invalid, refusal of the affirmative charge to Counts 6 and 7 was error without injury because the verdict may be referred to Counts C and 8. This contention has been decided adversely to appellee in Jordan v. Henderson, 258 Ala. 419, 421, 63 So. 2d 379, 381, where it was said:
The same considerations above set out as to Count 6 apply to Count 7 and refusal of the affirmative charge with hypothesis to Count 7 was error to reverse.
Counts 6, 7 and 8 contain an allegation to the effect that the intestate, Johns, was crossing the tracks of defendant "at a point, to-wit: 250 feet South" of Rural Street Crossing and "at a point and time when the public were wont to cross" etc.
Evidence was admitted, over the objection of defendant, to show that the public were wont to cross the tracks at points between the two crossings other than the point where Johns was injured. Appellant assigns as error the admission of such evidence over timely objection.
The evidence in this regard did show that people were accustomed to cross the tracks over the entire area between the crossings, including the point where Johns was struck. Appellant contends that proof of the crossing custom should have been limited to the precise point of the injury as alleged in the complaint.
We do not agree. In Southern Ry. Co. v. Shipp, 169 Ala. 327, 334, 335, 53 So. 150, 153, it was said:
"* * * The court properly allowed' proof of the fact that people frequently and constantly crossed the track of the railroad at a point where plaintiff and his child were crossing at the time of the injury. While such a custom of the public to use such path as a crossing of defendant's track might not give the public or plaintiff any absolute right to cross the track, or might not prevent them from being trespassers when so using the trackthough as to this we do not decideyet such evidence was competent and relevant to show the degree of care required to be exercised by the defendant's agents in moving their trains across such point of its track so used by the public as this was shown to have been used, and as tending to charge them with notice of such use by the public."
In Watts v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 256 Ala. 352, 357, 54 So. 2d 601, 605, it was said:
If it was the custom at Evergreen to cross the tracks over the entire area between the two public crossings, and the spot where Johns was struck lay within that area, then he was struck at a point where the custom was to cross. The fact that the custom to cross included other points between the public crossing did not change the character of the place where he crossed nor lessen the degree of care required of defendant.
*283 Louisville & N. R. R. Co. v. Porter, 196 Ala. 17, 71 So. 334, relied on by appellant is not in conflict with this holding. In that case, "Deceased was not crossing the track according to the custom * * *," and it was held that objection to plaintiff's question about the footpath should have been sustained. In the case at bar, there was evidence that Johns was crossing according to custom when he was struck. Admission of evidence to show the custom was not error.
Assignment of error 10 is that the court erred in overruling appellant's objection to a hypothetical question propounded by plaintiff to the witness, Bethea, because the question was not supported by the evidence. Appropriate here is what was said by the late Chief Justice Anderson as follows:
Refused charges 5 and 11 requested by appellant categorically state to the jury that the deceased, Johns, under the evidence, was a trespasser when he was struck. For this reason, if for no other, these charges were refused without error.
Under the aspect of the evidence favorable to plaintiff, Johns was crossing the team track at the time he was injured, albeit he did not stop, look, or listen before going on the track; and, under that aspect, Johns was not a trespasser. We have said:
See also the following: Stringer v. Alabama Mineral Railroad Co., 99 Ala. 397, 13 So. 75; Alabama Great Southern Railroad Co. v. Linn, 103 Ala. 134, 15 So. 508; Birmingham Railway & Electric Co. v. City Stable Co., 119 Ala. 615, 24 So. 558; Highland Avenue & Belt Railroad Co. v. Robbins, 124 Ala. 113, 27 So. 422; Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. v. Hansford, 125 Ala. 349, 28 So. 45; Lloyd v. Central of Georgia Ry. Co., 200 Ala. 694, 77 So. 237; Louisville & N. Railroad Co. v. Johnson, 201 Ala. 611, 79 So. 43; Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Sullivan, 244 Ala. 485, 13 So. 2d 877.
Refused Charge 6 recites as follows:
Appellant relies on Kendrick v. Birmingham Southern R. Co., 254 Ala. 313, 48 So. 2d 320, to support his argument that refusal *284 of Charge 6 was error, and asserts that Charges 12 and 14 given in the Kendrick case, supra, "* * * set out the same rule of law which we were attempting to set out by the requested charges being discussed in this case." We do not agree.
Moreover, in the Kendrick case, supra, the opinion contains this statement:
In the instant case, even if Johns were a trespasser, as appellant contends, the appellant owed Johns a duty not to injure him willfully or wantonly.
Charge 6 omits to state that defendant owed a duty not to injure deceased by willful or wanton misconduct. For this reason, if for no other, Charge 6 was refused without error.
Refused Charge 14, if not subject to the same objection as refused Charges 5 and 11, was adequately covered by given Charges 8, 10, 12 and 13 requested by defendant, and Charge 14 was refused without error.
We have considered all assignments of error argued by appellant. For refusal of the affirmative charge with hypothesis to Counts 6 and 7 requested in writing by appellant, and for giving those portions of the oral charge excepted to by appellant, the cause must be reversed and remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
LIVINGSTON, C. J., and LAWSON, SIMPSON, GOODWYN and MERRILL, JJ., concur.