Plaintiff sued defendant for breaking and damaging a certain leather-splitting machine. Judgment was given for plaintiff on a trial without a jury, and defendant appeals.
It appears from the testimony, or, to be more accurate, there was testimony going to show, that the machine was delivered to defendant for shipment in sound condition and well and securely packed, and that it arrived at its destination with the legs broken. There was a special contract exempting defendant from liability in certain instances named, and we will assume that such exemption included machinery such as this was. "We will also assume as true, a matter about which there was contention between the parties, that the letters indorsed on the freight contract were “O. R.,” and that such letters meant at the “owner’s risk,” and were so known to plaintiff. Defendant offered evidence going to show that the car in which the machine was placed was properly and carefully handled; that it received no rough handling, and that no accident happened to it. The case then is left to stand with the orms on plaintiff throughout and with the testimony above stated; and the only question is, does it make such a case as should be submitted to the triers of the facts? ¥e answer this in the affirmative. When the plaintiff delivered the machine to defendant in good condition, well and securely packed, and it was delivered by defendant at St. Louis, with the legs broken, it was circumstantial evidence from which a reasonable inference of negli