Court Opinion

ID: 9854646
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:11:00.931859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:12.054897
License: Public Domain

Felton, C. J.,
dissenting. The gist of the action is that dangerous characters, hoboes, and prowlers frequented the area where the deceased employee worked (as alleged in paragraph 20 (a)), and that the defendants had knowledge thereof and failed to take precautionary measures. I do not think that the evidence supported the conclusion that the premises were frequented by such persons as those alleged so as to require the defendants to guard against the consequences thereof.
G. B. Patrick, Chief of Police, testified that Clarence Bennett burglarized McDowell Grocery Company ten or more years ago; that he was seen on the defendants’ premises on numerous occa*682sions in 1938; that he had no evidence that Bennett was a lawless character; and that the burglary was committed after Bennett left town and moved to the country. There was no evidence that Bennett was a lawless character in 1938 and no competent evidence that the defendants knew of the later crime charged against him or had any reason to remember his actions in 1938 and connect them with his later lawlessness. The sheriff testified with reference to charges made against Kellis Statham and Willie George Tensley arising out of their robbing a freight car near the depot. Even if the evidence had placed this isolated crime on the depot premises where Mr. Baker worked, the evidence of one burglary would not support the charge that the premises were frequented by such dangerous characters. The three forgers and a hobo taken off trains and the finding of whisky on a negro woman in the depot are not relevant to the issue involved. There is no other evidence in the case upon which a jury could base a finding that the premises were so frequented by dangerous characters, hoboes, and prowlers as to require the defendants to anticipate criminal acts by such persons and guard against them by taking appropriate precautions.