McKinney v. Boston & Maine Railroad

The plaintiffs in this action had a verdict in the sum of $300 for negligence in the transportation of a horse from Newburyport to Boston. The horse was shipped at Newburyport by a servant of a third person (one Herlihy by name) who shipped the horse to the plaintiffs in their behalf. Herlihy testified that he could not read nor “sign his name.” The defendant produced a contract or bill of lading signed “John Herheley, Shipper, By His mark, Shipper’s Agent F. W. Russell Witness.” The words “Shipper,” "By,” "Shipper’s Agent,” and “Witness” were printed words in a blank used by the defendant in…