Court Opinion

ID: 7135223
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 15:23:09.227865+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:14:35.980242
License: Public Domain

Opinion of the couet by
JUDGE O’REAR
— Reversing,
Appellee was a traveling salesman or drummer for certain wholesale dealers in dental instruments. He. bought a ticket and took passage on one of appellant’s trains, and had his trunk checked for transmission by that train to his point of destination. The trunk was'heavier than was allowed as free baggage to one passenger, and appellee was required and did pay 60 cents extra as overweight charges. Jbe trunk contained about $1,700 worth of dental goods — • steel instruments, presumably. These goods were used not only as samples by which other goods of a like quality were-sold for future shipment, but they were sold from the stock in custody of appellee, and then delivered by him to the customers, if they so desired. The goods belonged to appellee’s employers, the wholesalers. While the trunk was in appellant’s possession, it got wet and the instruments were damaged by rust, it is claimed, to the extent of about *976$500. There was evidence for appellee that when the trunk was being loaded on the train, the person handling it (whether a porter, roustabout, or-baggage master, or whether connected with the railroad, he did not know) remarked as to its extraordinary weight, and that appellee replied that it contained dental instruments. For appellant, its baggage master' at the station at which the trunk was checked and shipped testified that he was in sole charge of the checking of baggage at that station, and that he was not apprised of tlié nature of the contents of the trunk; but that it was customary with that road to ship drummers’ sample trunks as baggage. The cause of the damage, and the. extent of it, do not seem to be controverted by the proof. On this state of case, the court gave the jury the following instructions: “No. 1. The court instructs the jury that if they believe from the evidence the defendant, while the plaintiff’s trtinksvwere in its custody, left them exposed to rain, and that said trunks or contents became wet, and thereby damaged, they should find for the plaintiffs the actual damages which said trunks or merchandise therein sustained by reason of such injury, not exceeding the sum set out therefor in the petition. No. 2. If the jury believe from the evidence the- plaintiff’s trunk, while in the custody and care of the defendant, was bursted or torn in handling, through the negligence or carelessness of the defendant^ agents or servants, and that it was thereby damaged, they will find- for the plaintiffs such damages as they sustained for this injury to their trunks; not exceeding the sum claimed therefor in the petition.” Appellant asked for this instruction,-which was refused: “The court instructs the jury that if they- believe from the evidence that the trunks shipped by. plaintiff contained merchandise which he was carrying for sale, and said merchandise was checked' as *977baggage on tbe passenger cars by defendant, and at the tune of said shipment plaintiff failed to make known to the agent of defendant who checked said baggage, or other agent authorized to ship and have said baggage checked and shipped on its passenger trains, the law is for the defendant, and the jury should so find.” From a verdict and judgment in favor of appellee for $531.50 damages, this appeal is prosecuted.
The first instruction given to the jury assumes as a matter of law that the common carrier is accountable, under its liability as carrier, for all damage to the contents of trunks shipped as baggage, without reference to the nature or ownership of such contents, and regardless of the carrier’s knowledge or notice or agreement as to such contents. The second instruction is not questioned on this appeal. The only legislation in this State on the subject of baggage is that found in section 783, Kentucky Statutes, as follows: “Every company shall furnish sufficient accommodation for the transportation of all such passengers and property as shall, within a reasonable time previous thereto, offer, or be offered, for transportation, at places established by the corporation for receiving and discharging passengers and freight, and shall, when requested, check every parcel of baggage taken for transportation, if there is a handle, loop, or fixture, so that the same can be attached, and shall give to the person delivering such baggage a check for the same.” We are thus left to determine what is meant by the term “baggage” by reference to the common law. A very considerable number of adjudications have been rendered on this subject, as might naturally be expected. From them it may be stated that the word “baggage,” as used in the connection under discussion, refers only to what the passenger takes’ with him for his own personal use and convenience, and *978which he has committed to the care of the carrier. Generally, the articles allowed as baggage to accompany the passenger, and which the carrier is bound to transmit as an insurer, are the personal ápparel of the passenger, but they may include a number of other articles, which may not unreasonably be designed for his pleasure, business, or convenience upon the journey which he is prosecuting. “In a. general sense, it may be said to- include such articles as it is usual for persons traveling to take with them fo>r their pleasure, convenience, and comfort, according to the habits and wants of the. class to which they belong.” Oakes v. N. P. R. R. Co., 20 Or., 392, 26 Pac., 230, 12 L. R. A., 318, 23 Am. St. Rep., 126. Story on Bailments, section 499, thus states it: “By ‘baggage’ we are to understand such articles of necessity or personal convenience as are usually carried by passengers for their personal use; and not merchandise or other valuables, although carried in the trunks of passengers, which are not designed for any such use, but for other purposes, such as sale or the like.” Bomar v. Maxwell, 9 Humph., 624, 51 Am. Dec., 682; Macrow v. Great Western Ry. Co., L. R., 6 Q. B., 612. Rorer on Railroads, 988, states it this way: “It is difficult to enumerate the articles that may be included, in each particular case, in the, term ‘baggage.’ This depends much on the condition, habits, and circumstances of life of the passenger. Ordinarily,- it includes a trunk or trunks, with the necessary wearing apparel for both comfort and dress suitable to the condition in life of the person ; . . . but not money in larger amount than for necessary expenses, nor articles of merchandise, or of virtu. . . .” As, ordinarily, only the wearing apparel and similar kindred articles are included in the personal baggage of the traveler, the carrier knows the probable extent of his liability in the event of the loss or damage of the *979baggage, and may reasonably be presumed to have regulated his charges and provided means for its safe-keeping proportioned to that liability. If, on the other hand, the passenger might include in his parcel valuable jewels, not properly classed as baggage, or plate, or merchandise, bonds, or money, of many thousands of dollars in value, and the carrier made liable for its loss without knowledge or notice of its extraordinary value, he is compelled to assume a responsibility for which he has not been paid in fact, and without an opportunity to provide that extraordinary care and attention which, by common prudence, would be due to such a valuable charge. Baggage, to a certain reasonable limit, and belonging to a passenger, is carried free, as an incident of the passenger’s contract for passage. The common-law definition of baggage forms a part of the carrier’s undertaking as though expressly stated and assented to at the time of the passage. The parties may, of course, vary this contract by agreement. If the carrier elects to receive and transport that' as baggage which in fact is freight, and which it would have the right to refuse to take as baggage on its passenger trains, it ought to be liable therefor upon the same terms as if it were baggage. But this is not because of its common-law liability therefor, but because it has agreed by special contract for a consideration to be so bound. The elements of such a contract are sufficiently satisfied by an acceptance of the package or trunk by the carrier for transportation as baggage, with knowledge of its-contents. Hutchinson on Carriers, sec. 685 (1st Ed.); Texas, etc., R. R. Co. v. Capps, 2 Willson, Civ. Cas. Ct. App., sec. 33; Jacobs v. Tutt (C. C.) 33 Fed., 412; Central Trust Co. of New York v. Wabash, St. L. & P. Ry. Co. (C. C.) 39 Fed., 417; Humphreys v. Perry, 148 U. S., 627, 13 Sup. *980Ct., 711, 37 L. Ed., 587. Tlie fact that the passenger paid for the 'extra weight of the trunk does not v.ary the rule; for, if the trunk or trunks contained enough of those articles clearly entitled to be classed as personal baggage of the passenger as to be over the weight allowed, and reasonably allowable, to each passenger for free carriage, he would have to pay a just compensation for its being carried. This fact alone is not notice that the package contains anything besides the usual articles entitled to be taken as personal baggage, the nature and probable value of which are generally well known. The carrier might refuse to carry on its passenger train articles not properly baggage. It could not be required to cany freight on passenger trains. Delivering to the carrier a trunk or closed package, ostensibly ordinary baggage, without a statement as to its contents, is equivalent to a representation by the passenger that it belongs to him, and contains- only such articles as are properly classed as personal baggage. Haines v. Chicago, etc., Ry., 29 Minn., 160, 12 N. W., 447, 43 Am. Rep., 199; Michigan Central R. R. Co. v. Carrow, 73 Ill., 348, 24 Am. Rep., 248. If it contains other articles, and the carrier is not informed of the fact, it is a deception upon the carrier as to such articles, and as to such they are not covered by the carrier’s contract. Story on Bailments (9th Ed.) sec. 565. In the event of loss of or damage to such articles while in the carrier’s possession, without notice of their character when received and checked as baggage, or without a special agreement with reference thereto, it is not liable, except as in a case of a bailee without hire. But notice in terms of the contents of the trunks is not required. It is sufficient if, from all the circumstances of the case, the jury may reasonably infer that the carrier’s agent charged with the duty of receiving and checking baggage over its lines knew of the extraordin*981ary contents of the package w'hen lie received it and checked it as baggage for the passenger; that is, knew that they contained merchandise or other articles than the traveler’s wearing apparel. Sloman v. Great Western Ry. Co., 67 N. Y., 208; Brown v. Camden, etc., Ry. Co., 83 Pa., 316.
While it is true1 that a carrier can not be made liable for the .goods of another than the passenger or a member of Ms family traveling with him, which may be included in the passenger’s baggage, yet the facts in this case tend to show that, although the goods belonged to the wholesale merchants, by an agreement between them and appellee, he had such an interest in them, by reason of his being responsible to them for their loss or damage and required to replace them in such event, that they may fairly be treated as his for the purposes of this action. The damage fell upon him. They were being, carried for him. He was the passenger. We therefore conclude that the court erred in assuming appellant’s liability for the damage to the dental instruments shipped as baggage.
The judgment is reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial under proceedings consistent herewith.