Gage v. Railway Companies

TuRNey, Ch. J.

These suits arise from the destruction of property belonging to plaintiffs by a fire alleged to have resulted from the emission of sparks from engines of defendants. There were verdicts and judgments for defendants, and plaintiffs appealed.

After the plaintiffs had closed, the defendants introduced proof tending to show that two bales of the cotton in the warehouse had been burnt to some extent. The plaintiffs then offered to introduce witnesses and explain the facts of such burning, the means taken to extinguish the fire, and other circumstances going to show that the fire which…