Richmond & A. R. Co. v. Patterson Tobacco Co., 169 U.S. 311 (1898)

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Richmond & Alleghany Railroad Company

v. Patterson Tobacco Company
No. 172

Submitted January 4, 1898
Decided February 21, 1898
169 U.S. 311

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT OF

APPEALS OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA

Syllabus

Section 1295 of the Virginia Code of 1887, enacting that

when a common carrier accepts for transportation anything, directed to a point of destination beyond the terminus of his own line or route, he shall be deemed thereby to assume an obligation for its safe carriage to such point of destination unless at the time of such acceptance such carrier be released or exempted from such liability by contract in writing signed by the owner or his agent, and, although there be such contract in writing, if such thing be lost or injured, such common carrier shall himself be liable therefor, unless, within a reasonable time after demand made, he shall give satisfactory proof to the consignor that the loss or injury did not occur while the thing was in his charge

does not attempt to substantially regulate or control contracts as to interstate shipments, but simply establishes a rule of evidence ordaining the character of proof by which a carrier may show that although it received goods for transportation beyond its own line, nevertheless, by agreement, its liability was limited to its own line, and it does not conflict with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States touching interstate commerce.

The case is stated in the opinion.