Boehm v. Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway Co.

91 Wis. 592 | Wis. | 1895

Cassoday, 0. J.

1. There is evidence tending to prove that at the time mentioned the plaintiff was at Sanborn, a station on the defendant’s railway; that he was desirous of going to his home at' Ashland, about twenty miles distant, where his wife was then sick; that to go there by railway it was necessary for him to go on the defendant’s road to Marengo, a station on that road, about five miles east of Sanborn, where that railway made connection with the Wisconsin Central; that he told the station agent at Sanborn that his wife was sick, and he wanted to go to Marengo on the first train, whether freight or passenger; that the agent sold him a first-class ticket to Marengo; that about that time the freight train on its way to Marengo came into the station; that the plaintiff then asked the station agent if that was the train he should go on, and that the agent answered that it was; that there was a caboose on that train, with seats on the side; that the conductor came out of it, and the station agent told him that the plaintiff wanted to go to Marengo on that train, and he told the plaintiff it was all right; that the train started, and, after going about a mile and a half, the conductor came to the plaintiff for his fare; that the plaintiff handed to him the ticket so purchased, but that he refused to take it, and demanded the fare in money; that the plaintiff refused to pay in money, and insisted on the conductor taking the ticket; that the conductor then put him off the train, and in getting off he fell down the bank and was injured; that he was compelled to walk to Marengo; that he missed the Central train, and was compelled to walk to Ashland; that the freight trains on the defendant’s railway usually carried passengers at that time, and the defendant sold tickets for its regular freight trains; that the plaintiff subsequently ascertained that the ticket was dated Monday, April 17th, instead of Saturday, April 15th. The evidence is undisputed that the plaintiff bought the ticket, got upon the train, and that the conductor refused to accept the ticket, and put the plaintiff off the train because he would not pay in cash as indicated; but as to the other facts stated there is a conflict in the evidence. We must hold that there is evidence sufficient to support the verdict. Lucas v. M. & St. P. R. Co. 33 Wis. 41. There was no error in charging the jury to the effect that, if the facts mentioned were true; then the defendant was liable in damages to the plaintiff.

2. "We do'not think there was any error in charging the jury to the effect that it was ordinarily the duty of passengers to make due inquiry of the proper railway authorities as. to whether a given train stops at the station rvhere they desire to go, and that trainmen should use diligence in warning passengers not to board or remain upon a wrong train.

3. We clo not think it was error for The court to charge the jury that “ when a railroad company ordinarily carries passengers upon its freight trains, if a passenger in good faith boards such' a train, and is not informed to the contrary before the train leaves, he becomes a passenger, and is entitled to ride to the first station, if there is nothing in the situation or condition of the train by which he might infer that it did not carry passengers.” There is certainly evidence tending to prove that the defendant was in the habit of selling tickets for regular freight trains.

4. We do not think the jury were misled by the portion of the charge which reads: “ Under our law, a conductor cannot put a passenger off his train except .at the usual stopping places, or near a dwelling house.” True, as contended, the statute authorized the conductor to eject a passenger refusing to pay his fare “ at any usual stopping place; or near any dwelling house.” E. S. sec. 1818; Phettiplace v. N. P. R. Co. 84 Wis. 412. But this statute, by necessary implication, prohibits the forcible ejection of such passenger at other places. Patry v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 11 Wis. 218.

5. Exception is taken because in charging the jury on the subject of damages the court told them, in effect, that they might, among the other things therein mentioned, “ take into consideration the plaintiff’s personal inconvenience, loss of time,” etc. In support of such exception counsel rely upon what was said by our late Brother Orton in Jenson v. C., St. P., M. & C. R. Co. 86 Wis. 589, 597.- But, as it "was held in that case that the plaintiff had no cause of action whatever, it is very obvious that the question of damages was not involved, and, of course, could not have been decided. In a cáse like this, “ inconvenience ” is certainly a permissible element of damage. Brown v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 54 Wis. 342; McNamara v. Clintonville, 62 Wis. 212; Hobbs v. L. & S. W. R. Co. L. R. 10 Q. B. 111, as modified by McMahon v. Meld, 1 Q. B. Div. 591.

As to the place where one refusing to pay fare may be ejected from a train, see note to Burch v. B. & P. B. Co. (3 D. O. App. Cas. 346) in 26 L. R. A. 129. — Rep.

There seems to be no other question in the case of sufficient importance to call for consideration.

By the Court..— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.