Dearman v. Partridge

Mrs. Mary P. Partridge sued Ancil Dearman and Jack Brown, in the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, to recover actual damages in the sum of $1,000 and the statutory penalty in the sum of $5,910 on account of the alleged wrongful cutting of timber on 40 acres of land owned by her.

Dearman, in his answer, stated in effect that he thought the property in question belonged to the Mississippi State Highway Commission and was under the supervision of contractors, obligated to clear the right-of-way between marked yellow lines; that he did not wilfully and recklessly cut or carry away any trees; and…