Western & Atlantic Railroad v. Burke

Lumpkin, Justice.

Tliis was an action against tbe railroad company by Burke, an employee, for damages resulting from personal injuries, in which, he obtained a verdict for $715.00, “less one hundred and sixty-five dollars already paid.” At the trial, the defendant introduced a writing signed by Burke, whereby he acknowledged the receipt of $165.00 in full settlement for the injuries inflicted upon him by the defendant. 'He sought to avoid the effect of this instrument by showing that he could neither read nor write, and that, in ignorance of the real contents of the paper, he signed it,…