Bohannon's Admx. v. Southern Ry. Co.

112 Ky. 106 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1901

Opinion op the cotjbt by

JUDGE WHITE

Affirming.

This is an action for damages for the death of Richard Bohannon. The averments of the petition are that dedecedent was a passenger on appellee’s regular passenger train from Shelbyville to Hempridge stations, and that when decedent entered the train at Shelbyville he was intoxicated, and in a helpless condition, both mentally and physically, and unable to take care of himself; that of his condition the servants and employes on the train had knowledge; and that when his station (Hempridge) was reached the train was not stopped, but that the servants and agents in charge of the train wrongfully and negligently carried decedent some 500 yards past his station, and there ejected him, at 9 o’clock at night, in a cut, and there left him with no person to look after or care for him, and being thus necessarily exposed to constant danger from passing trains, and where he was within a few hours run over and killed by another of appellee’s trains. The answer denies that Bohannon was a passenger from Shelby-ville to Hempridge; denies that he was in a helpless condition, either mentally or physically; denies that' its servants ejected decedent from its train at all at any time or place. Indeed, the answer is a .specific denial of each averment of' fact in the petition, except the existence of appellee as a corporation. The second paragraph pleads that Bohannon lost his life solely on account of his own negligence. The answer was' controverted of record. A.' trial resulted in a verdict ahd judgment for defendant, and hence this appeal.

The facts proven appear to be that Bohannon lived'east of Hempridge station some distance, and got on appellee’s train at Shelbyville a few minutes after 9 o’clock p.. m., for the east. This train as the testimony shows, never stopped for passengers at Hempridge station, but that it always stopped at a coal chute some 500 yards east of Hemp-ridge, at which point it was due at 9:21 p. m.. This coal chute is in a Jong cut, about 10 to 14 feet deep; and one chute is near the western end of the cut, another nearer the eastern end of the cut. Westward from the cut there is a high fill across a ravine, so that between cut and fill for a short space the railroad is on a level with the natural surface. It is shown that on the night Bohannon was killed he had no ticket — could buy none for Hempridgei Jle paid his fare to the conductor. It is also shown that he was acquainted with the fact that this train did not stop at Hempridge station, but did stop for coal at the chute, which place was 500 yards nearer to his home, as he lived east of the chute and near the railroad. It was also shown that in going from home to the station to take the train, or in going from Hempridge to his home, decedent usually walked along the railroad ‘track through the cut where the coal chutes were located. Bohannon was shown to have been intoxicated when he got on the train at >Shel’byville, and drank more while on the train. He knew he was going home. He talked to those about Mm like the'

usual talkative drunken man. The train did not stop at Hempridge, but did stop a.t one of the coal chutes — .which one, is not certain from the proof. "When the whistle blew for the chute, Bohannon got up out* of the ■ seat, and when the train stopped got off or was put off the train. There were other passengers who got off at the chute. Bohannon was seen by two persons after the train left. He was going along the railroad eastward, towards his home. His remains were picked up along the railroad, where they had been scattered after being cut to pieces '.by a train following the passenger, some two. hours behind. By 'blood marks on the track it is shown that he was struck. at the east end of the cut in which'he left the train. The evidence shows that Bohannon was on the train about 15 minutes, that being the time necessary to run from Shelby-ville to the coal chute. It was shown that passengers in the neighborhood of Hempridge got on and off this fast train .at the coal chute, and never at the station, because this train did not stop at the station. We are of opinion that the evidence shows conclusively that Bohannon was a passenger on appellee’s train from Shelbyville to the coal chute, and that when he got on the train at Shelbyville he knew that the train did not stop at Hempridge station, but it would stop at the coal chute. As the coal chute was nearer his home than the station, it is very evident that Bohannon’s destination was the coal chute, where the train stopped and he was put off dr got off. The time of his killing was in May, and so there was no danger from injury from the weather. The court gave instructions to the jury, of which appellant complains of Nos. 1 and 4. No. 1 reads: “If the jury believe from the evidence that on or about May 21, 1898, plaintiff’s intestate, Richard Bohannon, was on one of defendant’s trains running from Shelbyville to and beyond Hempridge station, in such a state of intoxication as to render him mentally or physically incapable of caring for himself, and defendant’s servants or agents in charge of said train knew his helpless condition, and his inability to care for himself, and with such knowledge negligently ejected him from said train at a time and place 'and under .such circumstances as to necessarily or probably endanger his life by passing trains, and shortly thereafter said intestate' was killed by one of defendant’s trains, they should find for plaintiff in damages.” Instruction No. 4 is the counterpart of this No. 1, telling the jury, that, unless they believed those facts, they should find for the defendant. A verdict and judgment resulted in favor of defendant, and hence this appeal.

Objection is made to the use of the word “ejected” in the instructions, counsel arguing that this means forcibly, and against the desire of Bohannon. It seems to us that the word “ejected,” as used, means that Bohannon was forcibly put off the train, rather than helped off according to his desire, or that he voluntarily .left the train. To eject a person means to compel him against his desire to leave the car. So that the jury was told thát, if Bohannon was compelled to leave the car, and placed or left in a necessarily or probably dangerous place, a recovery could be had, but, unless he was compelled to leave, appellee would not be liable. In other words, the jury was told that, if Bohannon voluntarily left the car, or was, according to his desire, assisted from the car, at the time and place, appellee was not liable for his death. We are of opinion that these instructions fairly state the law. If decedent left the train of his own will, appellee would not be responsible for the peril he- voluntarily placed himself in. If he was put off against his will, or put off when he had no will, because of his mental condition, appellee is to be Held responsible for the peril in which he is placed. The jury were to determine from the evidence whether Bohannon desired to get off at the chute, and also whether at* that time his mental condition was such as to know what he wanted. These facts the jury determined favorable to ap-' pellee, and it seems to us this finding finds support in the evidence.

Appellant also complains of instruction No. 5 given by the court; which told the jury to find for defendant if they '.believed that Bohannon knew the train did not stop at Hampridge, but did stop at the chute, and that he left the train at the latter-point of his own free will, whether assisted or unassisted. This is on the idea that when Bohannon got on the t-rain he knew he would get off at the chute, and when He reached that point he was at his destination, and got off the train of his own will. If he knew that he could not get off at Hempridge, but must get off at the chute, that was his destination — the chute was his station — and to that place it must b.e held the contract of carriage extended and ended. Under this state of case, the only question to be considered was the mental and physical condition of Bohannon. If he left the train of his own free will, it was his ¡privilege and right, and he assumed the risk of injury from passing trains. If Bohannon was mentally incapable of having a will, and was put off the train at this time and place, and it was dangerous, appellee assumed the risk of injury; and the jury was told in. instructions Nos. 1 and 4 to find for the appellant if de: cedent was ejected. Instruction No. 5 only eliminates the time and place where Bohannon was put off or got off, if the jury concludes a. certain state, o'f facts to be true. The question of whether decedent was ejected was submitted to the jury by instructions Nos. 1 and 4. We conclude that the instructions given fairly state the law of the case.

Counsel for appellant have referred us to a number of eases to sustain their position — those of this court as well as courts of other States. All these we have carefully considered, and find that in no case was the question considered on decided that a carrier was liable where a passenger had gotten off or been put off at his destination. The cases cited (Railroad Co. v. Weber, 33 Kan., 543, 6 Pac., 877, 52 Am Rep., 543; Conolly v. Railroad Co. [La.] 5 South., 259, 6 South., 526, 3 L. R. A., 133, 17 Am. St. Rep., 389; Gill v. Railroad Co., 37 Hun, 107; Railroad Co. v. Ellis’ Adm’r, 97 Ky., 330 (17 R., 259), 30 S. W., 979; Brown’s Adm’r v. Railroad Co. [103 Ky., 211; 19 R., 1873], 44 S. W., 648; and the recent case of Fagg’s Adm’r v. Railroad Co. [111 Ivy., 30; 23 R., 383], (63 S. W., 580), where all the authorities are reviewed) where a recovery was permitted where a passenger had been ejected from the train and placed or left in a dangerous .place, and injury or death resulted as a necessary or probable consequence. -It could scarcely be contended in the case at bar, if the trains had stopped at Hempridge station, and that was where Bohannon intended and expected to get off, and that at that station he left the train voluntarily, whether assisted or unassisted, that appellee would be liable for his' death because he was afterwards killed. We can see no difference from that supposed case than the facts here, if the coal chute was Bohannon’s- destination. That question was properly submitted to the jury. If the coal chute was selected by Bohannon as the point of his destination, where his contract of carriage should. terminate, it must' be held that he assumed the dangers of the locality if he left the car voluntarily at that point.

Every question of fact upon which appellant could recover was submitted to the jury, and their finding can not be disturbed. Judgment affirmed.