Connor v. Wabash Railroad

NORTONI, J.

This is a suit for damages accrued to plaintiff on account of defendant’s negligence. Plaintiff recovered and defendant appeals.

Plaintiff was injured through the collision of defendant’s locomotive engine with a surrey in which she was riding while in the act of crossing defendant’s tracks. The scene of the accident is the crossing of Morris street, a public thoroughfare, within the corporate limits of the city of Mexico and at a point where defendant’s tracks are unfenced. To a complete understanding of the case, it will be necessary to mention that both the Chicago & Alton Railroad Co. and the defendant, The Wabash Railroad Co., maintain tracks on their rights of way adjoining through the city of Mexico. Both of these roads pass through that city from east to west and as we infer from the testimony, the right of way of each adjoins the other, especially about the point of collision involved here. Morris street, which is a public thoroughfare of that city, forty feet in width, runs north and south and crosses the tracks of each of these railroads. At the point where plaintiff was injured, the distance between the tracks, that is between the north rail of defendant’s track and the south rail of the Chicago & Alton tracks is ninety-nine feet. In constructing the two railroads a considerable quantity of the surface was excavated where each track now rests and an embankment was made with the surplus earth on the strip of land lying between the two roads. This embankment is about nine and one-half feet above the level of Morris street at the highest point between the two railroads and obstructs the view of one passing south on Morris street to the crossing of the Wabash tracks. Furthermore, at the time of plaintiff’s injury, which was July 2d, an extensive growth of weeds was upon this embankment and on the south side thereof on the right of way of the Wabash track to within ten feet of its north rail. Some of the witnesses say these weeds were two and one-half feet in height. There is other testimony in the record to the effect that they were as much as six feet in height and it appears they obstructed the view of the railroad to the eastward from plaintiff and her companions in the surrey.

At the time of her injury, plaintiff was a young girl between fourteen and fifteen years of age. She was in company with three others in an open snrrey, drawn by one horse which was being driven in a walk to the southward on Morris street. A boy by the name of Raymond Moore was driving the surrey. He was seated, of course, on the front seat of the vehicle and on the right hand or west side of the surrey as it progressed southward. Plaintiff was seated with him on the east side of the front seat, or toward the direction from which the locomotive approached. Two other young ladies were seated on the rear seat of the surrey. It was about midday and the party drove leisurely along on Morris street, descended to the crossing of the Chicago & Alton tracks, which are ninety-nine feet north of those of defendant, to a point about half way between the two roads when the driver stopped the surrey and he and plaintiff and the others looked and listened for the approach of a locomotive from either direction on the tracks of defendant company. It seems the high embankment of earth overgrown with weeds between the two railroads immediately east of Morris street completely obstructed the view of all of those in the surrey to the eastward and they heard no sound of the approaching locomotive. After thus stopping, looking and listening, the driver drove the horse forward in an ordinary walk until within fifteen feet of the north rail of the Wabash track when both he and plaintiff leaned forward over the dashboard and looked and listened the second time for the possible approach of trains. The testimony is that the luxuriant growth of high weeds on defendant’s right of way extended to within ten feet of the north rail of its track and while the party could see down the track from the point at which they leaned over the dashboard for quite a distance the view was obscured for any considerable extent. No stop was made by the surrey at this point, fifteen feet north of the track, as no danger appeared and the track seemed clear. The horse continued on at a walk and as it went upon the track defendant’s locomotive engine, single and alone, without cars or train attached, suddenly emerged from the eastward at a rate of speed from twelve to fifteen miles an hour and collided with the forward wheels of the carriage. The result of this collision inflicted serious and painful injuries upon plaintiff and the driver as well.

The allegations of negligence preferred in the petition are three in number. An ordinance of the city of Mexico requiring railroads to operate their trains on all unfenced portions of their tracks within the corporate limits of that city at a rate of speed not exceeding eight miles per hour is pleaded and relied upon as one of the grounds of recovery. It is averred defendant was negligent with respect to the duty thus enjoined upon it in that it operated its locomotive engine at a high and dangerous rate of speed in excess of eight miles per-hour as provided in the ordinance.

Another allegation of negligence proceeds on our statute which requires railroad companies to either sound the whistle or ring the bell on their locomotives when approaching any crossing. It is averred that defendant, unmindful of the duty thus enjoined, negligently operated its locomotive engine without either sounding the whistle or ringing the bell and neglected to keep the same ringing or sounding until it had passed the crossing.

The other assignment of negligence proceeds for a breach of duty imposed at common law as for a failure to stop. This assignment of negligence, however, was withdrawn from the consideration of the jury entirely and for that reason it will not be further mentioned.

The ordinance pleaded was introduced in evidence and from it it appears to denounce as a misdemeanor the act of any locomotive engineer or other servants or agents of a railroad company in operating a locomotive through any unfenced portion of the city at a rate of speed in excess of eight miles per hour. It is in evidence from several witnesses that the locomotive in question was being operated at a speed of from twelve to fifteen miles per hour at the time the injury, was inflicted. Indeed, defendant’s engineer himself, a witness for it, conceded this fact to he true. 'Several witnesses for plaintiff testified that neither the whistle nor the bell on the locomotive were sounded at any time as it approached the crossing. Other witnesses for defendant gave testimony contrary to this and said that though the whistle was not sounded the bell was constantly ringing until the crossing was reached. However, there is an abundance of testimony on this assignment to support a finding of the jury either way on the question.

It is earnestly argued the court should have directed a verdict for defendant on the theory that though it was negligent in the premises plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in going upon the track immediately in front of a passing locomotive. Of course, this argument must be considered with reference to the particular circumstances of the case. Plaintiff, her companions and defendant had an equal right to pass over the crossing of the public highway and railroad. Plaintiff and those with her had the right as well to assume that defendant would operate its locomotive engine in accordance with the ordinance and statute pleaded. [Deitring v. St. Louis Transit Co., 109 Mo. App. 524, 85 S. W. 140.] Such was the duty laid upon defendant by positive statutory law. In this view, those in the surrey had the right to assume that defendant’s locomotive engine would not approach the track at a rate of speed exceeding eight miles per hour and that, as it approached, the statute requiring signals by ringing of the bell or sounding of the whistle would be observed. Both of these duties were violated by defendant. It appears plaintiff and the driver of the carriage exercised the care of an ordinarily prudent person by stopping the surrey at a point about fifty feet north of the Wabash track and listening for an approaching train. No sound indicating such fact was heard. But in this connection, it is argued that had plaintiff listened she must have heard the sound. It must be remembered, however, in connection with this argument that the locomotive which collided with the surrey was single and alone on the tracks without cars attached. The railroad appears to be a level track and it is obvious no considerable noises would be emitted by a single locomotive approaching in those circumstances, for it would likely glide along without, heavy puffing or pulling. That the view of the parties was entirely obscured at this point is beyond question, for besides the high embankment of nine and one-half feet thrown up immediately north of the Wabash track and south of the Chicago & Alton track, adjacent to Morris street on the east, at the point where the surrey stopped, there was a growth of weeds to such height as to obscure all view to the eastward. From this point, where the surrey stopped, Morris street declines gradually to the Wabash tracks. The evidence indicates that the earth is cut away down to the crossing of the railroad. As the surrey approached the tracks on this incline, the view continued to be obscured by the growth of weeds, which some of the testimony shows were six feet high to within ten feet of the rail. Of course, when we consider the embankment encumbered by this growth of weeds, it is clear enough that those in the surrey, even though their means of vision was elevated five feet above the earth, could not see the engine. Immediately prior to going upon the track, within about fifteen feet of the north rail, plaintiff and the driver of the surrey both leaned forward over the dashboard and looked a second time to the eastward to ascertain an approaching train if any there were. There can be no doubt of the proposition that railroad tracks in and of themselves suggest danger and every one having reached the years of reasonable discretion is presumed to know this fact. The law, therefore, enjoins the duty upon one approaching a crossing to exercise ordinary care by looking and listening for approaching trains. [Holland v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 210 Mo. 338, 109 S. W. 19; Dey v. United Rys. Co. of St. Louis, 140 Mo. App. 461, 120 S. W. 134.] It may be conceded, too, that while the law makes allowances for the rashness of youth, it nevertheless requires the exercise of due care by an intelligent person of plaintiff’s age who knows and understands the danger attending such an act as going upon a railroad. [Herdt v. Koenig, 137 Mo. App. 589, 119 S. W. 56.] It is also true that if one approaches the crossing of a railroad and the view is obscured, ordinary care must be exercised in approaching the track after passing the obstruction to the end of acquiring such information as to the approach of trains as an ordinarily prudent person should have before going on the crossing. [Dey v. United Rys. Co. of St. Louis, 140 Mo. App, 461, 120 S. W. 134; Rissler v. St. Louis Transit Co., 113 Mo. App. 120, 87 S. W. 578; Harlan v. St. Louis, K. C. & No. R. Co., 64 Mo. 480; Schmidt v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 191 Mo. 215, 90 S. W. 136, 3 L. R. A. (N. S.) 196; Laun v. St. L. & S. F. R. Co., 216 Mo. 563, 116 S. W. 553; Holland v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 210 Mo. 338, 109 S. W. 19.] But it appears here the plaintiff acted the part of ordinary prudence even as though she were sui juris, for after having failed to discern danger from the top of the embankment where the surrey was stopped, both she and the driver leaned forward and looked and listened a second time within fifteen feet of the rail. At this point the view was also obscured to some extent but nevertheless it appears their range of vision on the track eastward was sufficient for the purposes of the case, for they neither heard nor saw the locomotive, and they had a right to treat with the situation as though defendant was exercising due care on its part. In other words, the requirement of ordinary care on the part of plaintiff does not enjoin the duty upon her of anticipating the negligence of defendant in operating its engine unlawfully. After the obstruction was passed and the second view of the track made, if the locomotive was not to be seen within a reasonable distance of the crossing so as to threaten danger while running at the rate of eight miles per hour, plaintiff cannot be said to be negligent for failing to anticipate the result from one approaching at the rate of four to seven miles in excess of the ordinance speed. [Mitchell v. C. & A. R. Co., 132 Mo. App. 143, 112 S. W. 291; Doss v. M. K. & T. R. Co., 135 Mo. App. 643, 116 S. W. 458.] It seems that an ordinarily prudent person could have done no more and we have no doubt that had defendant’s locomotive been either running at eight miles an hour or sounding the bell or whistle, as it should have done, the injury would not have occurred, for the evidence is that when the parties looked and listened the second time they had a clear view of so much of the track as was sufffi cient to reveal no imminent danger had defendant not been remiss in its duty. It must be remembered, too, in this connection, there were four persons in this surrey and that the instinct of self-preservation which resides in every individual consciousness is a considerable element in the case on this particular question; for it appears to be almost, if not quite, certain that at least some one of these parties would have discerned some danger, if it were reasonably possible to do so, and all say they did not. It is entirely clear that as to plaintiff the question of contributory negligence was for the jury. [Stotler v. C. & A. R. Co., 200 Mo. 107, 98 S. W. 509; Elliott v. C. & A. R. Co., 105 Mo. App. 523, 80 S. W. 270.]

But it is argued though plaintiff herself acted with reasonable care in the premises, the driver did not and that his omission of duty for the safety of plaintiff and others should be imputed to her. The question as to the negligence of young Moore, the driver, was not particularly developed on the trial but it appears that he, too, looked, and listened for danger a second time after the obstruction was passed and no danger appeared though a reasonably sufficient portion of the track was viewed. However, as to the question of the driver’s negligence, it is entirely clear that if his conduct were negligent at all, it was not sufficiently so to affect the rights of the present plaintiff. The driver was not her servant nor was he in any manner under her control and in those circumstances, even if he were negligent, his conduct could not be imputed to plaintiff unless it appears that she was remiss in her duty through trusting to him and omitted to take reasonable care for her own safety. [Fechley v. Springfield Traction Co., 119 Mo. App. 358, 96 S. W. 421; Stotler v. C. & A. R. Co., 200 Mo. 107, 144, 98 S. W. 509; Sluder v. St. Louis Transit Co., 189 Mo. 107, 88 S. W. 648.] The evidence tends to prove that plaintiff’s conduct was at least that of an ordinarily prudent person for her own safety in the circumstances of the case and it was for the jury to say whether a recovery should be denied as for contributory negligence.

As before stated, the petition set forth three specific acts of negligence, one relating to the violation of the speed ordinance, one relating to the violation of the statute of the state with respect to requiring locomotive engineers to sound the whistle or ring the bell and the third with respect to a violation of defendant’s common law duty as for a failure to stop. The latter assignment was withdrawn at the trial but before this was done defendant moved the court to require plaintiff to elect on which assignment of negligence she would stand, for they were all included in one count of the petition. It would have been better, no doubt, had the several assignments been separately counted on. They were nevertheless all included in one count when defendant moved an election on the part of plaintiff. This motion was overruled and it is argued here the court erred in so doing. It will be unnecessary to inquire as to whether or not the court erred in overruling the motion to elect; for it appears that after the motion was overruled defendant filed its answer and proceeded with the trial throughout. At the utmost, the Criticism leveled against the petition is that it improperly commingled several causes of action in one cotint, which were proper enough if in separate counts of the same petition. It is the established law that such defects in a plaintiff’s petition may be waived by the defendant if it chooses to do so. It is thoroughly settled in our jurisprudence that though" a party move to elect, as in this case, if he thereafter answers the petition, the fact will be regarded and treated as a waiver of the matter of election raised in the motion. [Aley v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 211 Mo. 460, 481, 111 S. W. 102.]

An argument is directed against the instructions for plaintiff. There are numerous instructions in the case and it is useless to encumber the opinion by setting them out. We have examined them with care and they seem to be unexceptional, indeed. The principal argument directed against those for plaintiff is to the effect that by her first instruction, the jury were given to understand that it was the duty of defendant to both ring the bell and sound the whistle wfiile the locomotive was approaching the crossing, whereas, either one of these signals is sufficient under the law. The instruction is certainly free from this criticism, for it first clearly defines the duty of defendant touching this matter. It informs the jury that it is made the duty of the railroad company either to sound the whistle or ring the bell. In a subsequent portion thereof, the jury was informed that if it believed defendant failed to ring the bell and also failed to sound the whistle, as theretofore mentioned, the finding should be for plaintiff under other circumstances referred to. This was proper, for by doing either, defendant would have discharged its duty and it was incumbent on the jury to find it had omitted both. When read all together, it is clear enough that the jury were given to understand no recovery could be allowed on.this score unless defendant omitted to both ring the bell and sound the whistle and that it should be acquitted if it did either. Then, too, this instruction must be considered together with one further explanatory of the matter given for plaintiff as its No. 4, which is as follows:

“The court further instructs the jury that the defendant railroad company and its agents are not required to sound the whistle while running inside of cities, and that it is not required to sound the whistle and ring the bell also; but if it does either it discharges the duty imposed upon it by the statute, and if in this case you find that the defendant either rang the bell or sounded the whistle, as explained and defined in plaintiff’s No. 1 instruction, you cannot find for plaintiff on her said instruction.”

In this instruction there is a clear direction to the effect that defendant discharged its duty by either ringing the bell or sounding the whistle and, indeed, instruction No. 1 complained of is pointedly explained therein by reference to it. The argument directed against plaintiff’s instruction should be overruled. Those given for defendant presented every phase of the law to the jury from its position upon facts hypothesized from different viewpoints and those refused were properly rejected because some of them were unsound in doctrine and others were sufficiently covered by those given.

An argument is directed against the conduct of plaintiff’s counsel in exhibiting a bundle of weeds in the presence of the jury before they had been identified by the witness and further in thereafter permitting these weeds to be introduced in evidence because it is said they were insufficiently identified by the witness. It appears the county surveyor made some measurements and observations about the track some two or three days after the injury, at the instance of plaintiff’s counsel, and while there he picked up a number of the tall weeds which had been cut down the day following the accident on the side of defendant’s right of way, the same weeds which tended to obstruct the view of those in the surrey. While this witness was under cross-examination by defendant’s counsel, and before the bundle of weeds referred to had been identified, it appears some one laid the bundle of weeds, apparently wrapped up, upon the counsel table in the presence of the jury. Defendant’s counsel who was then cross-examining the witness as to his observation of the weeds, which had been cut down at the point of injury, inquired what the bundle on the table contained. Plaintiff’s counsel picked up the bundle with the remark, “Here they are. Here are the weeds referred to.” And defendant’s counsel immediately objected to the remark with the request that they be withdrawn from the courtroom. The court sustained the objection and plaintiff’s counsel inquired what he was to do with the weeds as he desired to have them identified and introduced in evidence. The court remarked in substance that they were not competent at the time and until they had been identified the bundle should be withdrawn from the presence of the jury. The direction of the court was immediately complied with. It is now argued that plaintiff’s counsel was guilty of misconduct in respect of this matter. We are not impressed in the least with this argument, for from what appears in the record nothing unbecoming the most orderly conduct of a lawsuit occurred. Counsel certainly have the right to bring their exhibits into the courtroom in order to have them available to introduce at the trial. It may be well enough to exclude them until the witness is put upon the stand to make the necessary identification, but in this case that was afterwards done and no harm can result from the mere fact that they were seen by the jury before they were identified. The court sustained all of the objections made by defendant’s counsel touching this incident and required the weeds to be removed from the courtroom as it requested. If, perchance, the facial expressions-or other demeanor of counsel for plaintiff was objectionable, a reprimand by the court might have been requested and if denied, the matter would be open for review here on exception, but nothing of this kind appears. If there were anything other than the most dignified conduct on the part of counsel for plaintiff, it does not appear in the record. Furthermore, it is to be presumed nothing objectionable occurred, for the court was not even requested to interpose a reprimand at the time.

But it is argued this bundle of weeds was after-wards permitted to be exhibited to the jury when they were not sufficiently identified by the witness. This argument is wholly without merit. It was in evidence that a day or two after plaintiff received her injury defendant caused the weeds to be mown and they were lying on the ground when the county surveyor made his observation and measurements at the instance of her counsel. He picked up a number of these weeds then lying upon the ground where they had been cut down, tied a string around the same and attached a card thereto. On this card he wrote his name. When the weeds were exhibited to him at the trial, he recited the facts as to gathering them up, etc., said they appeared to be the same weeds; that he recognized his handwriting on the card attached thereto and believed they were the same he had assembled with the string. Defendant argues that this is not a sufficient identification of the weeds to permit them to be shown in evidence as to their length and character for the reason it did not appear the witness had retained custody of them prior to the trial. We are not impressed with this argument. It was a sufficient identification prima facie for the jury at least. Jealous as is our law of the rights of the citizen, it permits an opinion of the witness to be given when founded on his personal knowledge as to the identification of persons and things, even in criminal cases when life or liberty is involved. [State v. Hopkirk, 84 Mo. 278; State v. Babb, 76 Mo. 501.]

The jury awarded plaintiff twelve hundred and fifty dollars damages, and it is argued this verdict is excessive. It appears, though no hones were broken, plaintiff suffered a severe wound, a gash to the bone on the side of her head; that she was rendered unconscious and confined to her bed for at least two weeks under the doctor’s care. The physician testified she suffered a slight concussion of the brain and a severe nervous shock. Though she was not permanently injured, her injuries were severe and painful and it would require at least a year for her nervous condition to be reinstated to what it was before the injury. Plaintiff suffered great pain and was not able to attend school for many months thereafter. We believe the award of damages is moderate, and are not inclined to disturb it. After having carefully reviewed the entire record, no reversible error is discovered. Indeed, the case seems to have been well and carefully tried. The judgment should be affirmed. It is so ordered.

All concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Connor v. Wabash Railroad

Court Name: Missouri Court of Appeals

Date Published: Jun 14, 1910

Citation: 149 Mo. App. 675

Court Abbreviation: Mo. Ct. App.