Colvin v. . Lumber Company , 198 N.C. 776 ( 1930 )

This is an action to recover damages for the wrongful death of plaintiff's intestate.

From judgment dismissing the action at the close of the evidence for the plaintiff, plaintiff appealed to the Supreme Court. On 8 November, 1927, Robert Blair, an employee of the defendant lumber company, shot and killed Tom Colvin, plaintiff's intestate, while the said Tom Colvin was on the premises of the said lumber company. There was evidence tending to show that the homicide was unlawful, wrongful and felonious, as alleged in the complaint.

Defendants contend that there was no evidence tending to show that the homicide was committed by the said Robert Blair while acting within the scope of his authority as an employee of the defendant company, or under the orders of the defendant, Jim Moore, his foreman, and that therefore there was no error in the judgment. We are of the opinion, however, that there was evidence sufficient to sustain the allegations of the complaint to the effect that Robert Blair, when he shot and killed plaintiff's intestate was acting within the scope of his authority as an employee of defendant lumber company, and under the orders of his foreman, the defendant, Jim Moore. The judgment is, therefore, reversed.

It is admitted in the answers filed by the defendants, that at the time he shot and killed plaintiff's intestate, Robert Blair was engaged in the performance of his duties as an employee of the defendant lumber company. There was evidence tending to show that among these duties was that of preventing persons who were objectionable to said defendant from coming upon or remaining on defendant's premises; that the said Robert Blair had ordered Tom Colvin, who had come to defendant's camp to get medicine from the physician employed by defendant, to leave the premises, and that he shot and killed him because he did not leave promptly. There was evidence elicited from plaintiff's witnesses on cross-examination, tending to show that Tom Colvin was armed with a shot gun, and was accompanied by his brother, when he went upon defendant's premises; there was no evidence, however, tending to show that he had assaulted Robert Blair, or had been disorderly prior to the shooting.

"Where it is doubtful whether a servant in injuring a third person was acting within the scope of his authority, it has been said that the doubt will be resolved against the master because he set the servant in motion, at least to the extent of requiring the question to be submitted to the jury for determination." 39 C. J., 1284. See Gallop v. Clark, 188 N.C. 186,124 S.E. 145.

There was error in the judgment dismissing the action. For this error the judgment is

Reversed.