Tise v. Town of Thomasville, 151 N.C. 281 (1909)

Nov. 11, 1909 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

151 N.C. 281

ALLIE TISE v. TOWN OF THOMASVILLE.

(Filed 11 November, 1909.)

1. Cities and Towns — Negligence—Subsequent Repairs — Evidence Contradictory.

I n an action for damages alleged to have been caused by plaintiff's borse stepping into a bole in tbe street negligently left there by defendant town, it is competent for plaintiff to show that tbe bole bad been filled after the accident to contradict tbe defendant’s evidence tending to show it bad been filled before tbe .accident : though incompetent to show negligence by tbe mere fact of subsequent repairs.

2. Cities and Towns — Negligence—Subsequent Repairs — Evidence Corroborative.

When plaintiff seeks to recover damages of a town for its alleged negligently leaving a hole in the streets which caused the injury complained of, and the defendant has introduced evidence tending to show that it had theretofore filled the hole, it is competent for plaintiff to show that the hole was afterwards filled as corroborative of her evidence of the existence of the hole at the . time and place.

3. Evidence — Restrictive—Exceptions—Appeal and Error.

When evidence is competent for some purpose, its general admission is not reversible error unless the appellant asks at the time of the admission that it be restricted.

4. Instructions — Appeal and Error — Presumption.

When nothing to the contrary appears of record on appeal, the presumption is that the lower court gave correct instructions to the .jury.

5. Negligence — Permanent Damages.

In this case the court properly permitted the jury to assess permanent damages to plaintiff, under the evidence, for injury received by reason of her horse stepping into a hole left by defendant upon its street.

Appeal by defendant from E. B. Jones, J., February Term, 1909, of DavidsoN.

Tbe facts are stated in tbe opinion of tire Court.

, Watson, Buxton & Watson and McCrary & McCrary for plaintiff.

Emery E. Baper for defendant.

Clark, C. J.

Action for damages for personal injuries to plaintiff, from ber borse stepping into a bole in tbe street. Tbe defense put on evidence tbat tbe bole bad been filled up before tbe day tbe injury was alleged to bave occurred. Tbe plaintiff, in reply, was allowed to sbow.tbat tbe bole was filled after the accident, and tbe defendant excepted.

Tbe general rule is, tbat tbe plaintiff cannot show tbat after the accident tbe defect wbicb caused tbe injury was repaired. Lowe v. Elliott, 109 N. C., 581; Myers v. Lumber Co., 129 N. C., 252.

Subsequent repairs are not an admission of previous culpable negligence, nor should tbe parties be deterred from making repairs for fear it should be so held. But here, tbe defendant having put on evidence that tbe bole in tbe roadway bad been filled up before tbe day of the injury, it was competent to show that tbe repairs were made afterwards — not tbat the repairs were evidence .tending to prove negligence, but simply to prove their date to contradict the defendant’s witnesses. Westfeldt v. Adams, 135 N. C., 601.

The evidence was also competent in corroboration of the plaintiff’s evidence of the existence of the hole at that time and place. The defendant contends that, in this view, the court should have instructed the jury that this .evidence was admitted only in corroboration. But Rule 27 (140 N. C., 662) provides that this is not error, “unless the appellant asks, at the time of admission, that it be restricted.” Hill v. Bean, 150 N. C., 437. Indeed, it does not appear that the judge did not give a proper instruction. The presumption is that he did, as there is no exception that he did not. State v. Powell, 106 N. C., 638; State v. Brabham, 108 N. C., 796; Byrd v. Hudson, 11 N. C., 211.

The only other exception is, that the court permitted the jury to consider “permanent injury” as an element in assessing the damage. The court -submitted to the jury the question whether or not there was permanent injury, and there was evidence which justified him in so charging. '

No error.