Case Name: GEORGE F. HOOPER v. WELLS, FARGO & CO.
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1864
Citations: 27 Cal. 11
Docket Number: 
Parties: GEORGE F. HOOPER v. WELLS, FARGO & CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 27
Pages: 11–49

Head Matter:
GEORGE F. HOOPER v. WELLS, FARGO & CO.
Common Carriers and Forwarders.—The liabilities of common carriers and forwarders, independent of any express stipulation in the contract, are entirely different.
Liability op Common Carriers.—The common carrier who undertakes to carry goods for hire is an insurer of the property intrusted to him, and is legally responsible for acts against which he cannot provide, from whatever cause arising; the acts of Grod and the public enemy alone excepted.
Liability op Forwarders.—Forwarders are not insurers, but they are responsible for all injuries to property, while in their charge, resulting from negligence or misfeasance of themselves, their agents or employes.
Restrictions on Common Law Liability op Common Carrier.—Restrictions upon the common law liability of a common carrier, for his benefit, inserted in a receipt drawn up by himself and signed by him alone, for goods intrusted to him for transportation, are to be construed most strongly against the common carrier.
Restricting Clause in Common Carrier's Receipt.—If a common carrier, who undertakes to transport goods, for hire, from one place to another, "and deliver to address," inserts a clause in a receipt signed by him alone, and given to the person intrusting him with the goods, stating that the carrier is "not to be responsible except as forwarder," this restrictive clause does not exempt tho carrier from liability for loss of the goods, occasioned by the carelessness or negligence of tho employés on a steamboat owned and controlled by other parties than the carrier, but ordinarily used by him, in his business of carrier, as a means of conveyance. The managers and employes of the steamboat are, in legal contemplation, for the purposes of the transportation of such goods, the managers and employés of the carrier.
Construction of Common Carrier's Receipt.—A receipt signed by a common carrier for goods intrusted to him for transportation for hire, which restricts his liability, will not be construed as exempting him from liability for loss occasioned by negligence in the agencies he employs, unless the intention to thus exonerate him is expressed in the instrument in plain and unequivocal terms.
Amendment of Complaint after Verdict.—Under our Practice Act a complaint cannot be amended in this Court so as to make it correspond with the verdict. The District Court, in a proper case, before judgment, may direct the complaint to be so amended.
Appeal from the District Court, Twelfth Judicial District, City and County of San Francisco.
The complaint did not ask judgment for or allege the damages at a sufficient amount to include interest on the value of the bullion.
The verdict of the jury included interest.
The other facts are stated in the opinion, of the Court.
Delos Lake, and A. Campbell, for Appellants.
If the defendants are to be deemed common carriers, then, by the agreement under which the treasure was received in this case, their responsibilities and duties were limited to those of forwarders only.
The term “ forwarder,” or “ forwarding merchant,” has a well defined and ascertained meaning. A forwarder of merchandise, or forwarding merchant, is one whose business is to receive and send forward goods to their place of destination by the usual modes of public transportation. His character is that of a depositary for hire in storing, and that of an agent in forwarding the goods. (Edwards on Bail. 293 ; Roberts v. Turner, 12 John. 233.)
A forwarder of merchandise is discharged from liability on showing that he u^ed ordinary diligence and prudence in sending on the property by responsible persons engaged in the carrying business. (Edwards on Bail. 294; Angelí on Car. §75, p. 81; Story on Bail. §444-; 3 Kent, 591-2 ; Platt v. Hibbard, 7 Cow. 497; Brown v. Dennison, 2 Wend. 593; Ackley v. Kellogg, 8 Cow. 283; Roberts v. Turner, 12 John. 233.)
Delos Lake, and John H. Saunders, also for Appellants.
All the cases agree that a receipt, delivered and received under like circumstances, is a contract. (See Parsons v. Montcath, 18 Barb. 353 ; Dorr v. N. J. Steam Nav. Co. 1 Ker. 485; Moore v. Evans, 14 Barb. 524; Wells v. The Steam Nav. Co. 2 Comst. 204; Same case, 4 Selden, 375 ; Holford v. Adams, 2 Duer, 480.)
In each of these cases, the contract was a receipt or a “permit” signed only by the carrier; and in each case the document was held to be a valid and binding agreement. In the case of Dorr v. Neiv Jersey Steam Nav. Co. (supra) the Court say: “ The exception to the common law liability being made in the bill of lading and delivered to the agent of the plaintiff, must be deemed to have been agreed upon by the parties.”
Did the contract, by its terms, discharge the defendants from all liability for loss caused or occasioned solely by the negligence of those in charge and having the management of the tug boat? The language of the contract is: “It is further agreed, and is part of the consideration of this contract, that Wells, Fargo & Co. are not to be responsible, except as forwarders, nor for any loss, or damages arising from the dangers of railroad, ocean, or river navigation, fire, etc.” The respondent’s counsel contend that the word “ forwarders,” as “ used in the contract should be construed to mean, not technical forwarders, but such forwarders as expressmen are.”
The contract, and every clause of it, must be presumed to have some meaning. Like all other agreements, it must be construed in the light of existing facts and circumstances at the time it was made. Interpreted by such existing facts and circumstances, then what did the parties mean by their contract ? What are the facts ?
The defendants are a company engaged in the regular- business of an express company, in receiving, forwarding, carrying, and delivering, by sea or by land, treasure, goods, and packages, for hire, in care of their own messengers, in vessels, conveyances, steamers, boats, and vehicles, owned by others, and ordinarily used by the public at large as the common and public mode of transportation and conveyance. They have no interest in, or control over, these public vehicles, nor any voice in their management, nor control over the actions of those having their management. In case of negligence the most apparent, threatening disaster the most fearful, they are as powerless to prevent as any other stranger; and yet, in their character of common carriers, they are liable for all injuries to property which they have undertaken to transport, resulting from the negligence or unskilfulness of those who are employed in the navigation of steamers, boats, or vessels, or in the running of railroad cars or public stage coaches. This both parties well knew, and they also .knew that accidents frequently occur, resulting from carelessness of engineers, and others engaged in navigating steamboats on ocean and river. In the light of all these facts, the defendants say, “ We will take charge of your treasure, and will guard it on its passage, but inasmuch as we are compelled to use agencies, over which we have no control, we will only undertake to exercise proper care and prudence in the selection of the proper public vehicle, and we will not be responsible for the acts of the agents, nor accidents to the agencies, over which we not only have not, but are not permitted to have, any control.” The words selected to express this meaning are apt and proper.
The term “ forwarder ” has a well defined and ascertained meaning. A forwarder of merchandise is one whose business it is to receive and send forward goods to their place of destination by the usual modes of public transportation. And he is discharged from liability on showing that he used ordinary diligence and prudence in sending on the property by responsible persons engaged in the carrying business.
The defendants agreed “to forward and deliver to address,” and “not to be liable except as forwarders.” Their agreement to forward did not oblige them to transport this bullion in their own vehicles, or in vehicles over which they exercised control. It was no breach of contract on their part to employ the ordinary public conveyances, such as the Ada Hancock.
Supposing the Ada Hancock, then, to have been, to all appearance, a safe and proper vehicle, the defendants were in the course of fulfilling their contract “ to forward ” when the explosion took place, and the bullion wras lost through the fault of the engineer. They agreed “ to forward,” and they proceeded to do so.
If “ to forward ” in the contract is to be read •“ to carry,” and “ forwarders ” to be changed into “ carriers,” the defendants must fail, for they admit that if their contract makes them common carriers, they are liable in this action.
If the contract of the defendants, properly interpreted, does not make them liable as carriers, there was nothing in the service they rendered in respect to this bullion to fix that character upon them. They dispatched it en route to the place of its destination on board a steam tug, a public vehicle, over which they had no control, and in which they had no interest, taking the additional precaution of sending a messenger to accompany it in its transit. This is the service of a forwarder, and not of a common carrier; aiid any one doing business simply and exclusively under the denomination, of a forwarder would not have been liable under the circumstances of this case. (Roberts v. Turner, 12 Johnson, 232.)
Whatever is the true interpretation of this contract, it may be well to bear in mind that the loss of the bullion has in no respect affected its signification. What did its language fairly import at the time it was entered into, in view of the facts of this case ? The statement sets forth that the defendants in transacting their business, employed vehicles owned by others, and used by the public at large. Of course this was known to the plaintiff, and he knew therefore that this bullion must necessarily be subjected in its transit to operations and agencies over which the defendants had no control. He knew that the defendants had no more authority over the Ada Hancock or the steamer Senator than he had himself. When with these facts before him he delivers his bullion to the defendants, and they agree to “ forward to San Francisco, and deliver to address,” stipulating “ not to be liable except as forwarders,” the meaning of the contract seems too clear for dispute, unless we examine its terms under the influence of the preconceived idea that the defendants were carriers in spite of their contract, and could not be liable in any other capacity.
II. & G. McAllister, for Respondent.
Express companies are common carriers. This proposition is fully sustained by the following authorities: Haslam v. Adams Express Co., 6 Bosworth, 241, 242, 244; Place v. Union Express Company, 2 Hilton, 19, 25, 26; Russell v. Livingston, 10 Barb. Sup. Ct. R. 346, 352-355; Bead v. Spaulding, 5 Bosworth, 395, 404; Mercantile Mutual Insurance Co. v. Chase, 1 E. D. Smith, 115, 121-125; Baldwin v. American Express Co., 23 Illinois, 198 ; Stadhecker v. Combs, 9 Richardson, 193, 199, 200 ; Redfield on Railways, 240, 241; Adams & Co. v. Blankenstein, 2 Cal. 413, 418; Hayes v. Wells, Fargo & Co., 23 Cal. 185.
Whether common carriers use their own vessels or those of others in no way varies or modifies their responsibility. (Wilcox v. Parmlee, 3 Sandf. 610; Fairchild v. Slocum, 19 Wend. 332 ; Place v. Union Express Co., 2 Hilton, 26 ; Krender v. Wolcott, 1 Hilton, 223 ; Russell v. Livingston, 19 Barb. 352.)
If the receipt of the defendants be considered a contract, binding upon plaintiff, and otherwise valid and operative, still, the exceptions and restrictions therein contained must be construed strictly and fortius contra proferentem.
It is a familiar maxim of the law that verba cliartcvrum fortius accipiuntur contra proferentum.
They who choose the words, frame the language, draft the instrument, and execute it, ought rather to be held to a strict interpretation of the paper than he who merely accepts it.
This rule of construction is especially applicable to deeds, poll, or other instruments of unilateral execution. When there is an indenture, the reason of the rule becomes less obvious; but even in such case, words' of exception or reservation are. regarded as the language of the party in whose favor the exception or reservation is made. If a deed may inure to several different purposes, he to whom it is made may elect in which way to take it. So, it has been held-, that if an instrument may be either a bill, or a promissory note, the holder may elect which to consider it.
Munn v. Baker, 2 Starkie’s N. P. C. 255 (3 Eng. Common Law, 339,) Syllabus: “ A carrier who gives two notices, limiting his responsibility, is bound by that which is least beneficial to himself.” (Barncy v. Prentiss, 4 Har. & Johns. 317; Beckman v. Shouse, 5 Rawle, 179; Eagle v. White, 6 Whart. 505.)
The word “ forwarders,” as used in the receipt, should be construed to mean not technical forwarders, but such forwarders as expressmen are.
The counsel of defendants lay great stress upon that clause of the receipt which reads “ that Wells, Fargo & Co. are not to be held responsible except as forwarders;” in fact, it is their sole reliance. They admitted, on the oral argument, that they could make no claim for exemption under those additional words, to wit: 6‘ nor any loss or damage arising from the dangers of railroad, ocean, or river navigation, fire, etc.”
The position of the defendants, as we understand it, is, that by using in the receipt the language, llWells, Fargo & Co. are not to be responsible, except as fonvarders,” they became forthwith relieved from all the responsibilities of a common carrier, the entire nature of their vocation became changed, and their whole duty was reduced to shipping the packages and treasure intrusted to them by the ordinary channels of conveyance. That then their obligation ended, and their service was completed. No matter what the subsequent fate of the goods; no matter how gross the negligence, how criminal the fraud by which they were lost in process of transportation, there was no liability on the part of the express company.
The gross injustice of any such construction is obvious. Its mere statement shocks the legal as well as the moral sense.
Express companies are not employed for any such pretended purpose. They are paid, not in order to commit to others for transportation the thing bailed to themselves, but that they may carry and deliver it. They receive a higher freight than ordinary bailees, because they profess to exercise a closer custody of, a more special supervision over the goods intrusted to them than does the ordinary carrier.
The packages bailed to them are generally of small bulk, but of great value; they remain during the entire transportation in the personal charge of the express messenger, and their delivery is made, not at the wharf or warehouse, as in the case of ordinary goods, but specially by the express employé at the office or residence of the consignee.
So far from merely forwarding the goods, merely delivering or shipping them by the usual channels of conveyance, their custody begins before that of the ordinary carrier, (for express packages are taken in charge, not at the stage or steamer, but at the express office,) is conducted throughout the journey more specially and carefully, and continues after the duties of the ordinary carrier have ceased.
In the present case, was the contract merely to forward the treasure ? The receipt reads, “Received of Geo. F. Hooper, dust and bullion package, value ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars, address, Geo. F. Hooper, which %ve agree to forward to San Francisco, and deliver to address.”
The word “ forward ” is used in the sense of transport, and the whole contract in its language, in its effect, in its compensation, in all its elements, is utterly dissimilar to that of a technical forwarder. To particularize :
1. The defendants were to receive the whole of the consideration of carriage and delivery, to wit: eighty dollars and sixty-five cents.
2. Freight was charged by the defendants for the whole route.
3. The treasure was never delivered to the officers or employés of the steam tug.
4. The package remained in the exclusive custody of the express messenger, the servant of the defendants, and was so at the time of the loss.
5. The package was in the treasury box of the defendants during the transportation and at the time of the loss, and this treasure box was in the special charge of the express messenger.
6. No freight was paid the steam tug for the carriage of the treasure; no contract was made with the steam tug for its transportation; no notice of its existence on board was given to the officers or employés of the steam tug; its presence brought neither recompense nor responsibility to the steam tug.
7. Suppose, instead of travelling by the steam tug, the messenger had hired a row boat to put him on board the Senator, and the treasure had been lost from the row boat, would the owner of the boat have been the carrier, and-the defendants mere forwarders ?
8. The party who carries is, in the eye of the law, the party who has the profits of carrying. Of necessity, all others acting in the transportation must be agents of him who has the benefit. Shall a party have all the profits of an enterprise, and then evade all its responsibilities ?
9. Who did undertake to carry this treasure ? Some one did. Was it the defendants, who distinctly contracted to forward and deliver it, or was it the steam tug, whose officers and employés had no control over it, and did not even know of its existence on board? (Stadhecker v. Combs, 9 Richardson, 199, 200; Reed v. Spaulding, 5 Bosworth, 396; Mercantile Ins. Co. v. Chase, 1 E. D. Smith, 121; Blossom v. Griffin, 3 Kernan, 571; Sweet v. Barney, 24 Barb. 533.)
As to technical forwarders, their vocation, compensation, and liabilities, vide Angelí on Carriers, Sec. 75.
Clearly, the business of defendants is not that of technical forwarders. Upon general principles, by numerous adjudications, by the judgment of this very Court, they are common carriers. Neither did they temporarily assume, or contract for a different character in this particular transaction. They received the bullion of plaintiff, and agreed to transport and deliver same, in the ordinary course of their business, and under their usual printed form of receipt. They agreed in the first part of that paper to assume all the duties of a common carrier as to the gold dust, “ to fonvard and deliver” it; and here, the word forward is manifestly used in the sense of carry, or transport.
Upon the veiy threshold of their contract, therefore, they disclaim all character as technical forwarders ; and yet, we are told, that in the latter part of the same contract, they declare themselves such. Why should the second use of the word forward (that is, fonvarders) have a different meaning from that which it must bear when first used ? If the verb forward is used to signify to carry and transport as an express company, why should not the noun, forwarder, in the same paper, be taken in the same sense ; that is, not to he responsible except as express carriers and transporters ?
Shall the word fonvard when first used, be taken according to its natural meaning, and then immediately thereafter a technical signification to be ascribed to the word fonvarders ?
Shall this be the construction, in view of the rule that words are to be taken in their plain and popular sense ? (4 East. 135 ; 3 Kern. 574.)

Opinion:
By the Court, Sawyer, J.
This is an action to recover the sum of ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars, the value of a package of gold bullion delivered to defendants, at Los Angeles, to be transported to San Francisco, and which was lost in consequence of the explosion of the boiler of the steam tug, "Ada Hancock," while being transported in charge of defendants' mes senger from the shore, at San Pedro, to the anchorage of the steamer, " Senator."
The plaintiff, to maintain the action on his part, proved that " the defendants were, and are a company engaged in the public express business ; that is to say, in receiving, forwarding, carrying and delivering, by sea or by land, for any one who employs them, treasure, goods and packages for hire from place to place within and without this State, in care of their own messengers, in vessels, and conveyances, and steamers, and boats, and vehicles, owned by others, and ordinarily used by the public at large, as the common and public mode of transportation and conveyance.
" That said defendants had an agency and an agent at Los Angeles for the purposes of their said public express business 5 their principal office and agency for the State of California' being at San Francisco. '
" That the usual modes of public conveyance and transportation between Los Angeles and San Francisco were, at the time hereinafter mentioned, and for a long time prior thereto, by a line of stage coaches the whole way, and also by stage coach from Los Angeles to San Pedro, and from San Pedro to San Francisco by a steamer called the ' Senatorthat an agent of the defendant always travelled on said steamer, ' Senator,5 between San Francisco and San Pedro, who, on arriving at San Pedro, proceeded to Los Angeles by stage coach, and there received from the Los Angeles agent all express matter that had been left there to be forwarded, carried and delivered, returned with such express matter to San Pedro in time for the steamer, 1 Senator's' return voyage, placed and shipped the express matter on board of such steamer, and returned on the steamer with the express matter in his charge to San Francisco, where it was in the first instance delivered at the general agency, and then delivered by such agency to the consignees or owners.
" That it was usual and customary for the steamer, ' Senator,' and all other coast steamers, on arriving at or approaching San Pedro, to anchor some three miles from shore, there not being sufficient depth of water to enable such vessels to approach the shore. That the usual means and mode of transporting goods and passengers between the shore and steamer .was by steam tug and lighters.
" That one of such usual and ordinary means was by a steam tug boat of about forty-two (42) tons burden, called, the 'Ada Hancockthat is, it was usual and customary for the defendants' messenger to go from the shore to the steamer with the express treasure in charge on said tug boat, the heavier express freight being usually transported on lighters. That the express company was charged by the steamer the usual price for the passage of the express messenger and freight for all express goods, except treasure, which was carried in an iron box called the treasure-box, and was kept in the special charge of the messenger while on board the steamer, and no charge made by the steamer for its transportation.
" That as to any and all treasure transported by defendants upon said steam tug, 'Ada Hancock,' or upon said steamer, ' Senator,' no bill of lading was ever given, and no written contract of affreightment was ever made therefor, neither was any note or memorandum in writing of the true character or value thereof ever given by the defendants, or by their agents or servants, to the master, or officers, or agent, or owner of said steam tug, or said steamer, ' Senator.' That no freight was ever paid by or charged against defendants or their agents for treasure laden by them on board said steam tug to or from said steamer, ' Senator.' That the defendants used the usual means of public transportation in conducting their business, which was notorious, and known to the plaintiff at the time hereinafter stated.
" That on the 21st day of April, 1863, the plaintiff delivered at the City of Los Angeles, California, to the agent of the defendants at Los Angeles, a package of gold bullion of the value of ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars, ($10,755) to be transported to San Francisco in consideration of the sum of eighty dollars and sixty-five cents, then and there agreed to be paid to defendants by plaintiff, and on such deliv ery received and accepted from said agent a paper, partly printed and partly written, of which the following is a copy, the portion thereof italicised being written, and the portion thereof not italicised being printed, namely :
'"WELLS, FARGO & CO.'S EXPRESS.
" 'Wells, Fargo & Co.,
" 'Express,
" 'Los Angeles.
" ' Value, $10,755. April 21, 1863.
" ' Received of George F. Hooper, dust and bullion. Package, value ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars.
" 'Address, Geo. F. Hooper, which we agree to forward to San Francisco, and deliver to address.
"'In no event to be liable beyond our route as herein receipted. It is further agreed, and is part of the consideration of this contract, that Wells, Fargo & Co. are not to be responsible except as forwarders, nor for any loss or damage arising from the dangers of railroad, ocean or river navigation, fire, etc., unless specially insured by them, and so specified on this receipt. For the proprietors,
"'P. BANNING, Agent.
"'Charges Col., $80 65. Per Sanford.'
" Said package of gold bullion of the value of ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars has never been delivered by defendants to plaintiff, or to his address."
Defendants' agent, at Los Angeles, delivered said bullion to one Ritchie, the messenger, or traveling agent of defendants between Los Angeles and San Francisco, who took charge of the same and transported it to San Pedro by public stage coach. For the purpose of placing said bullion and other treasure on board the steamer, " Senator," which then lay at anchor, as usual, off the shore, for transportation to San Francisco, said Ritchie placed it on board the steam tug, "Ada Hancock," himself accompanying the bullion and having it in charge. Soon after, said steam tug having on board said bul lion, said Ritchie and several other passengers for San Francisco, started from the wharf for the purpose of placing said passengers, bullion, etc., on board said steamer, " Senator." Before reaching the anchorage of the " Senator," the boiler of said steam tug exploded, wdiereby the said Ritchie and several other passengers were killed, and said bullion lost. There was evidence tending to prove, that the explosion was caused by the carelessness of the engineer, and other officers of the said steam tug. Defendants had no interest in said steam tug, and no control over her management or navigation. The agents of defendants at Los Angeles had no authority to insure said bullion. The plaintiff had no option as to insuring, or not insuring the same with defendants at Los Angeles. Insurance could only be effected thereon with said defendants at their office in San Francisco.
The Court gave the jury the following instructions :
"First—That if defendant be an express company, j>ublicly engaged in transporting freight from one place to another, for hire, they are common carriers, and subject to all the responsibilities of common carriers, except so far as they have modified them by agreement.
" Second—That the mere fact that an express company use their own vessels and steamers, or the vessels or steamers of others, in no way affects their liabilities as common carriers.
"Third—That if Wells, Fargo & Co. shipped the treasure in question on board the steamer, ' Ada Hancock,' and there was an explosion of said steamer, by which the treasure was lost, and that explosion was occasioned by the negligence of the parties in charge of the 'Ada Hancock,' then, Wells, Fargo & Co. are liable for the value of said treasure.
" Fourth—An express company which is in the habit of carrying, for hire, packages containing coin, dust and other articles of value, from one place to another, is a common carrier.
" Fifth—Express companies which carry packages over routes where they employ other vehicles or means of conveyance than their own, are common carriers.
" Sixth—They may, however, by contract, limit their liability as common carriers, and if you find by the evidence that the defendants in this case did so limit their liability to the plaintiff, then the Court charges you that such limit of responsibility must govern -f but that does not relieve defendants from ordinary care in the discharge of their duties.
" Seventh—The special agreement received in evidence cannot exempt defendants from accountability for losses occasioned by a defect in the vehicle or mode of conveyance used to effect the transportation.
" Eighth—If you find, from the evidence, that defendants undertook to forward the gold dust in question from Los Angeles, and deliver the same to plaintiff, at San Francisco, under a special agreement limiting the liability, defendants must be deemed to have undertaken the same degree of responsibility as that which attached to a private person, and were, therefore, bound to use ordinary care in the custody of the gold dust, and its delivery, and to provide proper means of conveyance for its transportation.
& # # * # # * # #
" Tenth—Should you find that the defendants shaped the treasure on board the steamer Ada Hancock, and there was an explosion of said steamer by which the treasure was lost, and that the explosion was occasioned by the negligence of the persons in charge of her, then defendants are liable for the value of the said treasure, by reason that they are responsible for injuries caused by the negligence of the agencies they employ in fulfilling the obligations of their undertaking."
The Court also refused the following instruction asked on the part of defendants, to which refusal defendants excepted :
" That if the defendants, by their agents, selected the steam tug Ada Hancock for transportation of the treasure from the wharf to the Senator, and the jury find that at the time of such selection and of placing the treasure on board, the said tug was sufficient for the purpose of such contemplated transportation, then that the defendants are not responsible if the treasure was lost by any subsequent carelessness of the officers of the boat."
It is admitted by appellants' counsel that defendants, as to the transportation of said bullion, were acting in the capacity of common carriers; and such was undoubtedly their legal relation to said bullion at the time of its loss. It is further admitted—and this proposition also admits of little doubt— that defendants, under the law applicable to common carriers, are liable for its loss, unless such liability is restricted by the express stipulations of the contract between the parties for the conveyance of said bullion.
It is insisted, however, on the part of defendants, that the contract contains express stipulations which exonerate them from all liability for the loss under the circumstances disclosed by the record; while on the part of plaintiff', this proposition is controverted. If mistaken on this point, it is further claimed by the plaintiff, that any stipulation in a contract which purports to exonerate a common carrier from loss resulting from the carelessness, negligence or misfeasance of the carrier, or of his servants or agents, is contrary to the policy of the law and void. It is not pretended—and it could not with any show of reason be pretended—that the loss in question is within the meaning of the last clause of the receipt set out in the record relating to the dangers of navigation, etc. The clause relied on by defendants to relieve themselves from responsibility is as follows: " It is further agreed, and it is a part of the consideration of this contract, that Wells, Fargo & Co. are not to be responsible except as forwarders."
The liabilities of common carriers and forwarders, independent of any express stipulation in the contract, are entirely different. " The common carrier who undertakes to carry goods for hire, is bound to deliver them at all events, unless injured or destroyed by the act of Glod, or the king's enemies." (Edwards on Bail., 295.) "A common carrier is regarded by the law as an insurer of the property intrusted to him; or in other words, he is legally responsible for acts against which he could not provide, from whatever cause arising, the acts of God and the public enemy only excepted." (Angel on Carriers, Sec. 67.) There are many accidents against which common carriers cannot protect themselves by the exercise of the utmost care and skill on the part of themselves and their employes, for the result of which they are nevertheless responsible. (Ed. on Bail., 454, et seq., and Angel on Carriers, Chap. 11, and cases cited.) But the liability of " forwarders," is like that of warehousemen and common agents, and is governed by the general rule applicable to other bailees for hire not subject to extraordinary liabilities. They are responsible for ordinary care, skill and diligence—that is, such care and diligence as prudent men in similar circumstances usually exercise in the management of their own business. (Story on Bail., Sec. 444.) They are not, it is true, insurers like common carriers, but they are responsible for all injuries to property while in their charge resulting from negligence, or misfeasance of themselves, their agents or employés. In view of these principles governing the liabilities of " carriers " and " forwarders," what is the effect of the disputed clause in the contract under consideration upon the rights of the parties, plaintiff and defendants ? What is the extent of the restriction upon the common law liabilities of the defendants ? The language must be taken most strongly against the defendants. (Edwards on Bailments, 492.) The instrument is executed by them alone. It was drawn up with care, in language selected by themselves, the blank form having been printed in advance ready to be presented to all persons offering property for transportation by their express. The restrictions were for their benefit. The owners of packages sent by express rarely examine with care, or indeed have an opportunity to critically consider, the terms of the receipt presented to them; and general terms, under such circumstances, are apt to mislead. These are some of the reasons for the rule given in the books. In construing a covenant in a charter party, Mr. Justice Curtis said: " The rule of construction as to exceptions is, that they aré to be taken most strongly against the party for whose benefit they are introduced. These words of exception being introduced by the covenanter for his own benefit, if they are capable of bearing a more or less extended meaning, the rule requires that meaning to be allowed to them which is least beneficial to the covenanter." (Aiery v. Merrill, 2 Curtis, 11.) And Mr. Chief Justice Gibson, in Atkoood v. Reliance Transportation Company, 9 Watts, 88, in relation to a restriction in a contract by a carrier, said: " Though it is perhaps too late to say that a carrier may not accept liis charge in special terms, it is not too late to say that the policy which dictated the rule of the common law requires that exceptions to it be strictly interpreted, and that it is his duty to bring his case strictly within them." And such is tfie well settled rule of construction in such cases.
The contract of defendants is not merely to forward the bullion, but to " forward to San Francisco and deliver to address." They are not merely to start it upon the way by some suitable conveyance, but are to see that it reaches its destination, and are to " deliver to address." They were undoubtedly common carriers, and not forwarders in the technical sense of the term. But there was an evident intention on the part of defendants to restrict their liability, and, although they were acting in the capacity of carriers, they stipulated that they were " not to be responsible except as forwarders." As we construe this clause, it does not. mean that defendants would start the package upon the way by some suitable conveyance, and that thereupon their responsibility should cease, for that would be directly in conflict with the covenant to " deliver to address." It simply means, that defendants would not assume the extraordinary responsibilities of a common carrier, and become an insurer-of the goods, except as against loss resulting from the act of God or public enemies. There is no express covenant or exception against loss by negligence on the part of defendants, or of those employed by them in the transportation of their express matter. The exception fixes the limit of responsibility by referring to another class of bailees, whose responsibilities are different from those of carriers; and the meaning, as we construe the restrictive clause, is, that they will be governed in respect to their liabilities by the same principles as those applicable to forwarders. It is manifest that it was not intended by this clause that all responsibility should cease as soon as the package was started upon its passage from the office of defendants at Los Angeles; for the receipt also contains the clause, " In no event to be liable beyond our route as herein receipted." The route as therein receipted extended to San Francisco. The printed form of the instrument used in this case was evidently framed with a view to general use, where the point of destination was beyond, as well as within the routes established and used by defendants. Evidently it was contemplated, that defendants might be liable for a loss occurring on their " route." If it was intended to release themselves from all responsibility while the package should be in transit, this clause would doubtless have been made to read, "In no event to be liable for any loss arising after leaving our office at Los Angeles," or some other language of equivalent import. The defendants were carriers, and the bullion was lost while in their possession in the character of carriers. It was not received to be stored, or to be started upon its passage merely, by the first convenient opportunity j but to be carried and delivered " to address," and for no other purpose. There was no point at which defendants were in fact mere forwarders, in the technical sense of the term, or in which they were warehousemen. The goods were never in their possession in such character, but in the character of carriers only. They could not be liable in a character which they never occupied; and their contract, that while they are carriers, they shall only be liable " as forwarders," in connection with the other language of the instrument, can only mean that the liability shall be governed by the principle of law applicable to forwarders; that is, that they shall only be liable for losses arising from a want of ordinary care on the part of themselves, and in the agencies made use of by them in the exercise of their ordinary business of carriers.
The word " as," is defined in the last edition of Webster's Dictionary as follows : " Like ; similar to ; of the same kind, or in the same manner ; in the manner in which." And this is obviously the ordinary import of the word standing in relations similar to that in the instrument under consideration. Defendant's liability was to be " similar to" that of forwarders—" of the same kind." They were to be liable " in the same manner"—"in the manner in which"—forwarders are liable. In what manner are forwarders responsible ? Of what kind is their liability ? They are not insurers, like carriers, but they are liable for losses of goods while in their custody resulting from negligence of themselves and those whom they employ in their business of forwarders. And if a forwarder, or warehouseman, .instead of using his own warehouse, and employing his own subordinates, should, for a stipulated sum paid to the owner, use in his business the warehouse of another person, who employs and controls the subordinates, there can be no doubt that he would be liable for a loss of the goods intrusted to Ms care occurring while in his possession, and resulting from the negligence of such subordinates, although not under his control. If the liability of these defendants under their contract is to be " similar to" that of forwarders—if it is of " the same kind"—if they are to be responsible " in the same manner," then they are liable for any loss resulting from the negligence of themselves, or negligence in the agencies employed by them, while the bullion was in their custody and control; and that custody, without doubt, continued up to the moment of the loss, and would have continued but for the loss up to the time when it would have reached its destination, and been delivered " to address." The fact that defendants made use of various public conveyances, their messenger with the treasure travelling a part of the way by stage, a part by steam tug and lighters, and a part by ocean steamer, makes no difference as to their liability. For defendants' purposes the managers of those various conveyances were their agents and employes. Defendants had the means of holding the proprietors of those various vehicles used in their business of expressmen responsible to them, had they chosen to do so. If they did not take the proper means to secure themselves, it was their own fault. The defendants, although employing public conveyances, were still carriers having the actual custody and management of the treasure during the transit, as well as while it remained at the office of defendants at the extremities of their route. Ritchie, the messenger of the defendants, was in the actual custody of the treasure during the transit. Suppose, by the carelessness of Ritchie in transferring the treasure from the steam tug to the " Senator," it had been dropped into the ocean and lost, can it be pretended that the defendants would have been exempt from liability under the restrictive clause of their contract under consideration ? Would it be claimed, in such case that the liability of defendants ceased as soon as the treasure left their office at Los Angeles? We do not think any such construction would be claimed for the stipulation. If the defendants would not be protected by the exception against loss from the negligence of one of their servants, why should it protect them against the negligence of another, who as to the same matter is in law their servant or agent. Both are, in contemplation of law, the agents or employés of defendants, and the acts of both are the acts of defendants, and the language of the restrictive clause under consideration no more excludes the liability resulting from the negligence of one than from that of the other.
The defendants were common carriers, but under the contract they were carriers with limited responsibilities. There is an ample margin for the operation of the clause restricting the defendants' liability in the numerous accidents and losses not arising out of negligence, or malfeasance, and not even comprehended in the exception, " damages arising from the dangers of railroad, ocean or river navigation, fire," etc., against which the carrier is an insurer, and from which forwarders are exempt.
Much stronger language has been held not to exempt bailees from losses arising from negligence. To justify the conclusion that such exemption is contemplated, the language should be unequivocal, and susceptible of no other reasonable interpretation. In Wells at al. v. Steam Navigation Company, 8 N. Y. (4 Sold.) 375, the contract for towing a vessel from Hew York to Albany contained the clause " at the risk of the master and owners thereof." Although persons engaged in towing vessels have, in Hew York, been held not to be common carriers, the defendants in that case were still held to be liable for damages resulting from the carelessness of those engaged in towing the vessel, notwithstanding this restriction in their contract. Mr. Justice Mason said: "I cannot think the expression contained in it, 1 at the risk of the master and owners thereof,' was understood by the parties as a protection against all kinds of negligence. It would be an extraordinary contract, which should in express terms give such a latitude in performing a kind of service of so important a character as the one under consideration; and to permit a contract to have so unreasonable an effect as it would imply, the intention of the parties should be clearly and unequivocally expressed, so as to leave no room for doubt or misconstruction. (6 John. 180 ; 7 Hill, 547.) In this contract nothing is said about negligence." (Page 379.) In the same case, Mr. Justice Gardiner, referring to Alexander v. Greene, 7 Hill, 544, said (page 382): "We held then if a party vested with a temporary «control of another's property for a special purpose of this sort would shield himself from responsibility, on account of the gross negligence of himself and servants, he must show his immunity on the face of his agreement; and that a stipulation so extraordinary, so contrary to the general custom and the understanding of men of business, would not be implied from a general expression, to which effect might otherwise be given" —and that he saw no reason now for changing this rule. So, also, in Schieffelin v. Harvey, where goods shipped to England were " returned to the shippers at their own risk," and were purloined from the ship, the owner of the ship was held liable. The Court say: " It is undoubtedly true that the general operation of law may be controlled by the agreement of the parties. But such agreement ought to be clear and capable of but one construction, unequivocally and necessarily evincing that such was the intention of both the parties." (6 John. 180.) A similar rule is stated in Buckman v. Shouse, 5 Rawle, 189. As further instances of the application of the rule to restrictive clauses in the contracts of carriers, see Sager v. P. S. & P. E. R. R. Co., 31 Maine, 238, 239 ; De Rothschild v. Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., 7 Exchequer E. 734.
So, also, in the case of the New Jersey Steam Navigation Company v. Merchants' Bank, in the Supreme Court of the United States, 6 How. 344. The contract provided that: "The following conditions are stipulated and agreed to as part of this contract, to wit: The said crate, with its contents, is to be at all times exclusively at the risk of the said William F. Harnden; and the New Jersey Steam Navigation Company will not, in any event, be responsible either to him or his employers, for the loss of any goods, wares, merchandise, money, notes, bills, evidences of debt, or property of any or every description, to be conveyed or transported by him in said crate or otherwise, in any manner, in the boats of the said company. Further, that the said Harnden is to attach to his advertisements, to be inserted in the public prints, as a common carrier, exclusively responsible for his acts and doings, the following notice, which he is also to attach to his receipts or bills of lading, to be given in all cases for goods, wares and merchandise, and other property committed to his charge, to be transported in said crate or otherwise:
" ' Take Notice—William F. Harnden is alone responsible for the loss or injury of any articles or property committed to his care; nor is any risk assumed by, nor can any be attached to the proprietors of the steamboats in which his crate may be and is transported, in respect to it or its contents, at any time.' "
Mr. Justice Nelson, in construing this contract says, (p. 3S3): " The language is general and broad, and might very well comprehend every description of risk incident to the shipment. But we think it would be going further than the intent of the parties/upon any fair and reasonable construction of the agree mcnt, were we to regard it as stipulating for wilful misconduct, gross negligence, or want of ordinary care, either in the seaworthiness of the vessel, her proper equipments and furniture, or in her management by the master and hands. If it is competent at all for the carrier to stipulate for the gross negligence of himself, and his servants, or agents, in the transportation of the goods, it should be required to be done, at least, in terms that would leave no doubt as to the meaning of the parties."
To apply these principles to the case in hand, we think it cannot be said that the contract in question in clear and unequivocal terms necessarily evinces an intention on the part of both parties, or of either party, that defendants shall be exonerated from any loss resulting from negligence in the agencies employed by them in the transportation of treasure committed to their care. If such had been the intention, it certainly could, and doubtless would have been expressed in language about which there could be no misapprehension by either party. Nothing is said about negligence. The language used is not such as necessarily expresses, or as men would ordinarily employ to express the idea now claimed for it, and if so used, it would be likely to mislead a party to whom it is tendered ready executed upon the receipt of his property for transportation. That plaintiff could not have understood the contract in the sense claimed for it by the defendants, seems in the highest degree probable, for it can scarcely be credited, that a man of ordinary capacity and intelligence would commit so valuablefa package to others to be transported a long-distance, without supposing that somebody would be responsible to him for at least good faith, and ordinary care during the transit. But if the construction claimed for the stipulation in question is to prevail, the defendants were neither responsible themselves for ordinary care, after the treasure left their office at Los Angeles, nor bound to take the measures prescribed by the statute to make the owners of the vessels used by them as a means of transportation responsible.
The language of the stipulation under consideration, at least, admits of the construction which we have given if; and to hold that the exception includes losses arising from negligence would, in our judgment, be to adopt a strained construction in favor of defendants, and to depart from its obvious import, while as we have seen the rule to be, the construction must be most strictly against the defendants.
Holding, as we do, that the exception in the contract, for the reasons stated, does not exempt the defendants from losses resulting from the negligence of those in charge of the steam tug, it becomes unnecessary to determine the more difficult question, in the present state of the authorities, as to the power of common carriers by special contract to exonerate themselves from liabilities arising from the negligence of those employed by them in their business of carriers.
The instructions of the Court, considered in connection with the instrument in evidence, are substantially in accordance with the views here expressed. We therefore find no error in them, or in refusing the instruction asked by defendants.
The damages alleged in the complaint are ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars, and judgment is asked for that amount only. The verdict and judgment are for eleven thousand seven hundred and fo^Épélonars and eighty-seven cents. ' This exceeds the amq^ntwithin the issues. There is no provision ii$tjur.^BracticñxAcUauthorizing this Court to allow an amendSq'Bit to;|he cdh^laint making it correspond with the verdiól|'f The Court y'&ló|v, before judgment, might have permitted"* ^aniendnr^fc^o^s to make the complaint correspond with the^'^emic^bw^Siis was not done. Upon consent of the respondentíb¿¿fdgment may be • so modified as to reduce the recovery to the amount claimed in the complaint.
Ordered, that respondent have fifteen days within which to file his consent in writing, that the judgment be modified so as to reduce the amount to the sum of ten thousand seven hundred and fifty-five dollars, and upon filing such consent in writing, the judgment will be modified in pursuance thereof. In default of filing such written consent, it is ordered that judgment be entered reversing the judgment of the District Court and granting a new trial.
It is further ordered, that appellants recover their costs of appeal.