Tart v. R. R., 202 N.C. 52, 55, 161 S.E. 720, 721; see also Hughes v. Thayer, 229 N.C. 773, 51 S.E.2d 488; Annot., 107 A.L.R. 4, 40, 94. If it fails to exercise such care and the failure is one of the proximate causes of the injuries in suit, the child cannot recover. Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13; Tart v. R. R., supra; Foard v. Power Co., 170 N.C. 48, 86 S.E. 804, and cases therein cited. The trial judge fully explained these and all other applicable principles of law to the jury.
In S. v. Smith, 213 N.C. 299, 195 S.E. 819, the Court said in reference to S. v. Yeargan, 117 N.C. 706, 23 S.E. 153: "In this case Faircloth, C.J., states the rule which prevails in this jurisdiction as follows: `An infant under seven years of age cannot be indicted and punished for any offense, because of the irrebuttable presumption that he is doli incapax. . . . Between 7 and 14 years of age an infant is presumed to be innocent and incapable of committing crime, but that presumption in certain cases may be rebutted. . . .'" In Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13, this Court held that it was error for the trial court to hold as a matter of law that a boy 7 years of age at the time of his injury could not be guilty of contributory negligence. Such holding is consistent with what was said in Caudle v. R. R., supra.
682, 34 A. 1094, 33 L.R.A. 122, 55 Am. St. Rep. 620; Brady v. Con. Traction Co., 63 N.J.L. 25, 42 A. 1054 (later appeal 64 N.J.L. 373, 45 A. 805); Smith v. North Jersey Street R. Co., 73 N.J.L. 295, 67 A. 753; David v. West Jersey S.R. Co., 84 N.J.L. 685, 87 A. 440; Solomon v. Public Service R. Co., 87 N.J.L. 284, 92 A. 942, Ann. Cas. 1917C 356; Rinaldi v. Levgar Structural Co., 97 N.J.L. 162, 117 At. 42; Sharkey v. Herman Bros., 3 N.J. Mis. R. 126, 127 A. 525 (affirmed on opinion below in 102 N.J.L. 224, 130 A. 920); Nichols v. Grunstein, 105 N.J.L. 363, 144 A. 593; Dobrznski v. Liveright, 118 N.J.L. 589, 194 A. 160; Mancio v. Urbaniak, 120 N.J.L. 424, 200 A. 483; Rizio v. Public Serv. Elec. Gas Co., 128 N.J.L. 60, 23 A.2d 585; Archuleta v. Jacobs, 43 N.M. 425, 94 P.2d 706; Gloshinsky v. Bergen Milk Transp. Co., 279 N.Y. 54, 17 N.E.2d 766; Trudell v. New York Rapid Transit Corp., 281 N.Y. 82, 22 N.E.2d 244; Weidenfeld v. Surface Transp. Corp., 269 App. Div. 341, 55 N.Y.S.2d 780; Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13; Hollingsworth v. Burns, 210 N.C. 40, 185 S.E. 476; Boykin v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 211 N.E. 113, 189 S.E. 177; Absher v. Miller, 220 N.C. 197, 16 S.E.2d 829; Strawbridge v. Bradford, 128 Pa. 200, 18 A. 346, 15 Am. St. Rep. 670; Kelly v. Pittsburg B. Trac. Co., 204 Pa. 623, 54 A. 482; Cameron v. Miller, 43 S. Dak. 429, 180 N.W. 71; Wells v. McNutt, 136 Tenn. 274, 189 S.W. 365; Terrell Wells Health Resort v. Severeid, 95 S.W.2d 526; Gesas v. Oregon Short Line R. Co., 33 Utah 156, 93 P. 274, 13 L.R.A. (N.S.) 1074; Kawaguchi v. Bennett, 189 P.2d 109; Carlton v. Martin, 160 Va. 149, 168 S.E. 648; Goff v. Clarksburg Dairy Co., 86 W. Va. 237, 103 S.E. 38; Carmer v. Chicago St. P.M. O.R. Co., 95 Wis. 513, 70 N.W. 560. 2.
There was evidence tending to support the defendants' allegation of negligence on the part of the plaintiff, and the father of the plaintiff testified that at the time of the injury the plaintiff was eight years old lacking a few days, and that he was a bright boy. We are constrained to hold that the court below was in error in the ruling complained of, and that the issue of contributory negligence should have been submitted, with appropriate instruction, under the rule laid down in Boykin v. R. R., 211 N.C. 113, 189 S.E. 177; Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13; Brown v. R. R., 195 N.C. 699, 143 S.E. 536; Foard v. Power Co., 170 N.C. 48, 86 S.E. 804. The defendants' motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly denied, but for the error pointed out there must be a
" Likewise, in approval of the position are the decisions in Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13; Alexander v. Statesville, 165 N.C. 527, 81 S.E. 763; Fry v. Utilities Co., 183 N.C. 281, 111 S.E. 354; Brown v. R. R., 195 N.C. 699, 143 S.E. 536; Hoggard v. R. R., 194 N.C. 256, 139 S.E. 372; Murray v. R. R., 93 N.C. 92. Reversed.
The rule as to the contributory negligence of a child has been repeatedly laid down by this Court. In the recent case of Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 359, Schenck, J., speaking for the Court, thus states the law: "He is not chargeable with the same degree of care as an experienced adult, but is only required to exercise such prudence as one of his age may be expected to possess; and this is usually, if not always, when the child is not wholly irresponsible, a question of fact for the jury." Rolin v. Tobacco Co., 141 N.C. 300; Alexander v. Statesville, 165 N.C. 527; Fry v. Utilities Co., 183 N.C. 281; Ghorley v. R. R., 189 N.C. 634; Hoggard v. R. R., 194 N.C. 256; and Tart v. R. R., 202 N.C. 52.
No error. Cited: McAtee v. Mfg. Co., 166 N.C. 456 (2g); Christman v. Hilliard, 167 N.C. 6 (2p); Buchanan v. Lumber Co., 168 N.C. 45 (2g, 3g); Raines v. R. R., 169 N.C. 192 (7g); Lamb v. Perry, 169 N.C. 442 (2p); Collins v. Casualty Co., 172 N.C. 546 (1g); Odom v. Lumber Co., 173 N.C. 136 (3g); Mullinax v. Hord, 174 N.C. 615 (7g); Fry v. Utilities Co., 183 N.C. 290 (7g); Fray v. Utilities Co., 183 N.C. 297 (7j); Gilland v. Stone Co., 189 N.C. 789 (7g); Corp. Com. v. Trust Co., 193 N.C. 700 (1g); Hoggard v. R. R., 194 N.C. 260 (7g); Brown v. R. R., 195 N.C. 701 (7j); Swinson v. Realty Co., 200 N.C. 278 (5c); Tart v. R. R., 202 N.C. 55 (7g); Haney v. Lincolnton, 207 N.C. 286 (5g); Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 359 (7g); Hollingsworth v. Burns, 210 N.C. 42 (7g); Boykin v. R. R., 211 N.C. 115 (7g); Leach v. Varley, 211 N.C. 210 (7g); Ferguson v. Asheville, 213 N.C. 573 (5g); Houston v. Monroe, 213 N.C. 791 (5g); Manheim v. Taxi Corp., 214 N.C. 691 (7g); Barnes v. Wilson, 217 N.C. 199 (6j); Gettys v. Marion, 218 N.C. 269 (5g); Wall v. Asheville, 219 N.C. 169 (5g); Carter v. Realty Co., 223 N.C. 192 (3g).