Case Name: W. T. MOTT v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1913-11-05
Citations: 164 N.C. 367
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. T. MOTT v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 164
Pages: 367–372

Head Matter:
W. T. MOTT v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.
(Filed 5 November, 1913.)
Carriers of Passengers — Wrongful Ejection — Negligence.
In this action against a railroad company for wrongfully ejecting the plaintiff from the train, there was- conflicting evidence, and in behalf of the plaintiff that while'asleep on the train he was carried by his destination to which he had purchased a ticket, and at his insistence, the conductor carried him to the next station, where, changing his destination for his home beyond, he procured a ticket to that place from the railroad agent, again boarded the train and the conductor took up his ticket. Thereafter the conductor insisted that he would retain the ticket as a part payment for his.fare from his original destination to the place he had bought his second ticket, and demanded a cash fare from the latter place to his then destination. Upon his refusal to pay the cash fare, he was put off the train át a place where there was no station or people living: Held,,' (1) A motion as of nonsuit upon the evidence was properly refused; (2) Under a correct instruction, upon the evidence, the verdict in this case established as a fact that the plaintiff was wrongfully ejected from the train, after the conductor had accepted and retained his
■ ticket, at a place forbidden by statute, and actionable negligence has been found. ' •
CLARK, C. J., concurring.
Appeal by defendant from Ferguson, J., at April Term, 1913, of Columbus.
This is an action to recover damages for tbe wrongful ejection of tbe plaintiff from tbe defendant’s train.
According to tbe plaintiff’s evidence, he bought a ticket from tbe defendant’s agent at ‘Wilmington, N. 0., on 20 April, 1905, for bis passage from Wilmington to Farmers, N. C., on defendant’s road; that be boarded tbe train at Wilmington on that date, and before be reached Farmers be went to sleep and did not get off tbe train there, because be was asleep; that be bad on that day been discharged from tbe hospitalj and took tbe train to go to bis father’s, who lived at Farmers. After tbe .train passed Farmers tbe conductor came to him about tbe time tbe train reached Hallsboro station and said: “Your ticket read Farmers. Why didn’t yon get off there?” That be told the conductor be was asleep and did not know wben be reached Farmers; conductor told plaintiff that be would have to pay bis fare or get off the train; the plaintiff told the conductor: “He guessed be would have to carry him until be met the next train and bring him back to Farmers.” When the train reached Wbiteville, plaintiff got off and bought a ticket from Wbite-ville to Cerro Gordo; got back on train to go to Cerro Gordo, where be lived. After the plaintiff boarded the train, the conductor came through to take up tickets. Plaintiff gave conductor bis ticket bought at Wbiteville; conductor punched it and put it in bis pocket. Conductor came back and said: “Now, if you don’t pay your fare from Farmers to Wbiteville, I will put you off the train.” The plaintiff refused to pay fare from-Farmers to Wbiteville; conductor then said be would keep ticket for a part of fare from Farmers to Wbiteville; conductor bad train stopped and put plaintiff off train about 3% "miles from Wbiteville, where there were no bouses and no people living, and no depot or station. Plaintiff asked conductor to let him go in the baggage car and get bis bicycle in order that be might not be forced to walk to the next station, which the conductor refused to do. Plaintiff bad to walk from where be was put off the train to Chadbourn, a distance of 3% miles. The plaintiff came to Wbiteville the next day and went to the railroad agent and asked him if be bad record.of the ticket be bought the day before. It is 14 miles from Wbiteville to Cerro Gordo. Plaintiff was not drunk, but bad taken a drink. Plaintiff was the only witness offered in bis own behalf. At the close of the plaintiff’s evidence the defendant moved under section 539 of the Revisal of 1905 for judgment as in case of nonsuit. Motion overruled. Defendant excepted.
His Honor charged the jury, among other things: “If the jury fin'd from the greater weight of the evidence that the plaintiff, after purchasing this ticket at Wbiteville, got back on the same train at Wbiteville and gave the conductor this ticket for bis passage on from Wbiteville to Cerro Gordo, and the conductor took the ticket, and then demanded of the plaintiff bis fare from Farmers to Whiteville, and the .conductor stopped the train and put plaintiff off because he refused to pay his fare from Farmers to Whiteville, then the defendant wrong-' fully ejected the plaintiff from his train, and you should answer the first issue ‘Yes.’ ” Defendant excepted.
There was a verdict and judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
Jackson Greer and Lewis & Lyon for plaintiff.
George B. Elliott, A. G. Ghalmers, Davis & Davis, and Schul-ken, Toon & Schulken for defendant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
There is ample evidence to sustain the plaintiff's cause of action, and we find no error in the trial.
The verdict establishes the fact that the plaintiff was ejected from the train at a place forbidden by statute, and after the conductor had accepted and retained his ticket, and upon either ground the judgment should be affirmed.
No error.