July 21, 1915. The opinion of the Court was delivered by The appeal involves a single question of law, and it is whether the Circuit Judge expressed in the presence of the jury an opinion upon the material facts of the case, when the defendant moved for the direction of a verdict. (Constitution 1895, art. V, sec. 26.)
The Judge then said: "If the conductor had reasonable grounds to apprehend that he (meaning Clark Harris, the deceased) was going to get off the train, it would have been different. I think it is one of those cases where I had better let the jury pass on it. I have got some doubt about it, so I am going to leave it to the jury. It may be, however, that I have not caught some of the testimony in the case. Therefore, the motion is refused. Go to the jury."
It would serve no good purpose to review the cases which have already been decided under the provision of the Constitution which prohibits a Judge to "charge juries in respect to matters of fact." They speak for themselves.
In the instant case, if the Judge had simply denied the motion, and said nothing more, there could have followed but one inference, to wit, the Judge thought there was testimony tending to prove the plaintiff's case, and from which the jury might reasonably conclude a verdict for the plaintiff. Yet the Judge could surely have said that much, and in such a case the plaintiff manifestly could not complain. *Page 362
The expression of doubt about the weight of plaintiff's proof, and the inference to be drawn from it, was no more than would have been the inference if the Judge had simply said the motion is refused. And it is not possible to tell by the reported expression upon which side the Judge inclined, if he inclined at all.
We are of the opinion that the expression was not unlawful; and the judgment is affirmed.