Fry v. Southern Public Utilities Co.

Lead Opinion

Walker, J.,

after stating the case: If the first assignment of error is sufficiently stated under our rules, we are of the opinion that it is without any substantial merit. It -was competent' to prove the custom of small boys to jump upon the rear step of the wagon to ride and get bits of ice for several reasons, and, among them, to answer the contention of defendant that instructions had been given to the drivers not to permit riding on the wagon by small boys. If such order was given, the plaintiff surely was entitled to show that it had been constantly violated for a long time, with the knowledge of the drivers and those in charge of the wagon, from which the jury could well infer that the owner of the wagon had notice of its nonobservance, and that it was an order of the company more honored in the breach than in the observance, and, in legal contemplation, it had been abrogated, or at least waived. Biles v. R. R., 139 N. C., 528; Haynes v. R. R., 143 N. C., 154; Smith v. R. R., 147 N. C., 603; Bordeaux v. R. R., 150 N. C., 528; Railway Co. v. Mobley, 6 Ga. App., 33; P. L. Co. v. Whitzel, 118 Va., 161; Robinson v. R. R., 71 W. Va., 423; Railroad Co. v. Reager, 96 Tenn., 128. It has been held generally that if a rule is made for the safety of the servant or others, but its customary violation has continued so long that the master either knew .of it, or could by the exercise of ordinary care have found it out and acquiesced in it, he is presumed to have consented to its repeal, or to have waived obedience to it. Smith v. R. R., supra; Biles v. R. R., 143 N. C., 78. But so far as the rule, or order to the drivers, in this case is concerned, it does not appear to have been observed at all, and boys were allowed to ride on the rear step of the wagon at their pleasure, even when the manager of it, who had left on this occasion, was there. All this evidence, and more, is sufficient to show, at least, the tacit consent of the driver and manager to such a course of conduct by them, and the jury have doubtless so found. If this be so, and it can hardly be disputed, the act of this young boy was not within the prohibition of the city ordinance forbidding it only when it is without the consent of the driver, or person controlling its movements and management. As this is a question of capital importance in the decision of the case, we will refer to some of the evidence bearing upon it: For many years it had been the habit and custom for small children to get upon and ride upon the rear of defendant’s ice wagons, both for the pleasure of riding and for the purpose of getting small pieces of broken ice. In doing so they rode from door to door, and frequently for considerable distances out of the neighborhood in which they lived. So general had been this practice and so long continued that one witness, in referring to it, said: “It has always been.” This custom was known to the officers and agents of the defendant company, or by the exercise of ordinary care they should have known it, and in legal contemplation the defendant did know of this custom. But aside from this legal presumption, actual knowledge of this custom, it seems, was brought home to tbe defendant, its officers and agents. 0. L. Hill, tbe man in charge of tbis particular wagon, testified: “Little fellows, six years old up. to eleven and twelve, bad tbis babit of getting on tbe wagon.” J. A. Eagle, assistant manager of tbe defendant company, in testifying with regard to tbis custom, said be bad observed it “ever since be bad been in tbe ice business.” C. E. Moore, manager of tbe defendant company, said be knew of tbe existence of tbe custom “in a limited way.” More than that, tbe defendant’s driver knew of tbe custom, permitted it to grow up, and even encouraged it, offering tbe inducement of cool rides and bits of cracked ice. But tbe defendant contends that tbe admission of tbe evidence as to tbis custom was error, upon tbe general ground that it was an illegal custom and that it grew up in violation of an ordinance of tbe city of Charlotte, which declares “that no one shall ride or jump onto any vehicle without tbe consent of tbe driver thereof; and no person, when riding, shall allow any part of bis body to protrude beyond tbe limits óf tbe vehicle, nor shall any person bang on to any vehicle whatsoever.” If that position were sound, then any defendant could escape tbe consequences of bis wrongful act by tbe mere device of alleging and proving that bis conduct bad been unlawful. But even if tbe position of tbe defendant be a correct one, then it is equally true, as tbe record clearly shows, that tbis custom bad grown up with tbe consent of tbe drivers of tbe defendant’s wagons; and, therefore, it was not forbidden by tbe ordinance. In Ferrell v. Cotton Mills, 157 N. C., 528, and many other cases to like effect, evidence was admitted to show tbe custom or babit of small children to play upon premises where they were technical trespassers. If in those cases evidence was competent which proved a custom, in violation of tbe laws against trespass, then certainly in tbis ease evidence of a custom in violation of an ordinance of tbe city of Charlotte was competent. Having permitted tbis custom to grow up, tbis defendant cannot take shelter behind bis own wrong. “A babit of doing a thing is naturally of probative value as indicating that on a particular occasion a thing was done as usual; and, if clearly shown as a definite course of action, is constantly admitted in evidence.” 1 Greenleaf’s Ev. (16 ed.), see. 14 J.

Leaving tbis subject, we come to tbe next material question in tbe case. Having concluded there was evidence that young Ery did not violate tbe ordinance, or that there was evidence that be did not, and tbe jury so found, was be guilty of contributory negligence? We take tbis matter up now before considering tbe issue as to defendant’s negligence, as it is more nearly related to, and connected with, tbe one just before discussed. Tbe jury found that be was not guilty of any negligence himself which contributed to bis injury and death, but tbe defendant contends that tbis answer of tbe jury was induced by an error of tbe judge in bis charge to them, wbicb they say is that “as young Fry was under twelve years of age, be could not be guilty of negligence.” He was one month and seven days under twelve. Tbis, we think, was error. Tbe error consisted in charging tbe jury that tbe boy being under twelve years of age was incapable of committing tbe alleged negligent act wbicb it is claimed contributed to bis injury. Tbe responsibility of an infant for contributory negligence is not necessarily a question of law and some expressions in our reports apparently to tbe contrary are misleading and contrary to tbe accepted and approved principle wbicb governs in such cases. Tbe question was so fully discussed, with a copious citation of tbe well considered cases in Alexander v. Statesville, 165 N. C., 527, that much further comment would seem to be useless. It was there held, as stated in tbe seventh headnote, that while a child of tender years is not held to tbe same degree of care as one of mature years in avoiding an injury arising from tbe negligent act of another, it is ordinarily a question of fact for tbe jury to determine, in bis action to recover damages therefor, whether, under tbe circumstances, and considering bis age and capacity, be should have avoided tbe injury complained of by tbe exercise of ordinary care; and in that case it appearing that tbe plaintiff was a bright boy of about 7 years of age, it was held that tbe court properly left tbe issue of contributory negligence to tbe jury. ¥e cannot approve all that was said, with respect to tbis question, in Baker v. R. R., 150 N. C., 562, and Foard v. Power Co., 170 N. C., 48, though expressions will be found therein which seem to agree with tbe view herein stated. In Alexander v. Statesville, supra, we followed tbe rule as adopted by tbe Supreme Court of tbe United States in Railroad Co. v. Gladmon, 15 Wallace (U. S.), 401 (21 L. Ed., 114), and Railroad Co. v. Stout, 17 Wallace (U. S.), 657 (21 L. Ed., 745). Gladmon’s case has been followed by this Court in Manly v. R. R., 74 N. C., 655; Murray v. R. R., 93 N. C., 92; Bottoms v. R. R., 114 N. C., 699. In Bottoms’ case tbe Court refers to Gladmon’s case and Robinson v. Cone, 22 Vt., 213, as stating tbe correct rule, and takes tbis passage from tbe Bobinson case: “All,” says Judge Bedfield, in delivering tbe opinion, “that is required of an infant plaintiff in such a case (where a child was injured in a highway) being that be exercise care and prudence equal to bis capacity.” Tbe passage which we have taken from Gladmon’s case was quoted by Chief Justice Smith, with full approval, in Murray v. R. R., supra, as containing a correct statement of tbe rule applicable in such eases. Numerous other cases are cited in Alexander v. Statesville, supra, at p. 536 of 165 N. C. It was held in Westerfield v. Levis, 43 La. Ann., 63 (cited in tbe Alexander case), that the rule wbicb exempts a child of tender years from responsibility, while it may not operate justly in every possible case, on the whole promotes the ends of justice, and the Court followed the authorities which held that a child of the age of appellant is prima facie exempt from responsibility, but also held that testimony is admissible to show the contrary, citing many authorities. We said in the Alexander cáse that upon the question of plaintiff’s contributory negligence, the judge properly confined his charge to the second issue, which separately and independently involved an inquiry into that matter, as to the plaintiff’s age and his incapacity arising out of his tender years, and it may be said that the question of contributory negligence on his part is not to be determined alone by the fact of his youth, except in extreme cases; but other considerations enter into the question, as, for instance, his degree of capacity or intelligence. Some boys are brighter, smarter, more precocious, and more capable than others who are much older, and better able to take care of themselves. The youth of the person must be considered, of course, but, with the qualifications already made, it is not the only test, and the presumption of incapacity to protect himself is not always a conclusive one. In Rolin v. Tobacco Co., 141 N. C., 300, this Court said: “It is hardly necessary to add that contributory negligence, on the part of the minor, is to be measured by his age and his ability to discern and appreciate the circumstances of danger. 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 years may be expected to possess. As the standard of care thus varies with the age, capacity, and experience of the child, it is usually, if not always, when the child is not wholly irresponsible, a question of fact for the jury whether a child exercised the ordinary care and prudence of a child similarly situated; and if such care was exercised, a recovery can be had for an injury negligently inflicted, no matter how far the care used by the child falls short of the standard which the law exacts for determining what is ordinary care in a person of full age and capacity,” citing Am. C. and F. Co. v. Armentrodt, 214 Ill., 509; Plumly v. Birge, 124 Mass., 57; 7 A. & E., 409. Labatt on Master and Servant (Ed. 1904), sec. 348, says that the essential and controlling conception by which a minor’s right of action is determined with reference to the existence or absence of contributory fault is that his capacity is the measure of his responsibility. If he has not the ability to foresee and avoid the danger to which he may be exposed, negligence will not be imputed to him if he unwittingly exposes himself to that danger. For the exercise of such measure of capacity and discretion as he possesses, he is responsible. And quoting from Gladmon’s case, supra, this Court further says: “The rule of law in regard to the negligence of an adult and the rule in regard to that of an infant of tender years is quite different. By tbe adult there must be given that care and attention for bis own protection tbat is ordinarily exercised by persons of intelligence and discretion. If be fails to give it, bis injury is tbe result of bis own folly, and cannot be visited upon another. Of an infant of tender years less discretion is required, and tbe degree depends upon bis age and knowledge. Of a child of 3 years of age less caution would be required than one of 7; and of a child of 7, less than one of 12 or 15. Tbe caution required is according to tbe maturity and capacity of tbe child, and this is to be determined in each case by tbe circumstances of tbat case.”

But if it be admitted tbat tbe boy was guilty of contributory negligence, tbe question whether it was tbe proximate cause of bis death remains to be determined by tbe jury, under proper instructions from tbe court. “Where defendant, by exercising due care, can avoid tbe consequences of plaintiff’s negligence, or be can discover plaintiff’s peril in time to avoid injuring him, be is liable on bis failure so to do.” Cullifer v. R. R., 168 N. C., 309. “Tbe doctrine of tbe last clear chance applies where tbe defendant, after be discovers plaintiff’s peril, or in tbe exercise of ordinary care should have discovered it, negligently fails to avoid tbe accident.” N. S. R. Co. v. White’s Admr., 84 S. E., 646. Tbe jury have found, with evidence to warrant tbe finding, tbat tbe driver knew tbe boy was on tbe rear step of tbe wagon, and bad given him permission to ride there, and that, notwithstanding this knowledge, he drove onto tbe track, in front of tbe fast approaching street car, and bis wagon was struck by tbe same, and this caused tbe intestate’s injury and death. Tbe driver of tbe defendant testified tbat some one drove an automobile between him and tbe curb of tbe sidewalk, which frightened bis horses and caused them to turn and drag bis wagon onto tbe track, but there was evidence to tbe contrary, and especially by a witness, who was riding in bis automobile and a little behind tbe ice wagon, and who stated tbat be was in full, view, and 'that no such thing occurred, and the jury, under tbe evidence and tbe instructions of tbe court, not only found tbat tbe driver’s testimony was not true, but tbat, on tbe contrary, be drove both “negligently” and “recklessly” upon tbe track. This appears from tbe instruction of tbe court on tbe third issue, as set forth in our statement of tbe case and tbe verdict. He also drove on tbe track “willfully and wantonly,” as appears from tbe instruction of tbe court upon tbe fourth issue. There was evidence tbat tbe wagon was driven upon tbe track in violation of a city ordinance, which provided tbat tbe driver, in order to cross over to tbe other side of tbe street, should make bis turn at tbe intersection of Tryon and Ninth streets, or if be intended to go as far north as Tenth Street, then at tbe intersection of Tryon with Tenth Street, and that, by the ordinance, he should have turned in on the north side of Ninth Street, or of Tenth Street, depending upon where he expected to make the crossing. The plaintiff contends, therefore, that he was acting, not only negligently, recklessly, willfully, and wantonly, but criminally, as he was violating the ordinance. We must construe the verdict always in the light of the evidence and the charge of the court, and especially as resolving all inferences in favor of the successful party. Aldrich v. Railway Co., 79 S. E., 316. We have held repeatedly that the verdict must be interpreted “and allowed significance” by reference to the pleadings, testimony, and the charge of the court. Owens v. Ins. Co., 173 N. C., 373; Taylor v. Stewart, 175 N. C., 199; Bank v. Wysong, 177 N. C., 284. If we follow these decisions and interpret this verdict by proper reference to the pleadings, evidence, and charge, there can be no doubt as to what was the conclusion of the jury, which is that the driver of the wagon, regardless of any contributory negligence of the boy, acted not only negligently when he had the chance to save him, but willfully, recklessly, and wantonly, and against such conduct as this finding implies, the contributory negligence of the boy is no protection or bar to the plaintiff’s recovery. If the party injured is himself ever so negligent, the one who caused that injury is liable to him for the ensuing damages, if he was aware of the dangerous situation and caused the damage willfully, wantonly, or even recklessly, that is, if he did so without regard to the consequences of his act and being indifferent to the rights of others. It is said in a standard treatise: “The doctrine that contributory negligence will defeat recovery has no application where the injury is the result o.f the willful, wanton, and reckless conduct of defendant. ... In order that one may be held guilty of willful or wanton conduct, it must be shown that he was conscious of the surroundings, and was aware, from his knowledge of existing conditions, that injury would probably result from his conduct, under the circumstances, and, with reckless indifference to consequences, he consciously and intentionally did some wrongful act or omitted some known duty which produced the injurious result.” 29 Cyc., 509-510. And in Brendle v. Spencer, 125 N. C., 474, this Court held: “It is settled that contributory negligence, even if admitted, is no defense to willful or wanton injury. The finding of such injury by the jury eliminates all question of negligence on both sides. The defendant company is responsible for the willful and wanton injury occasioned by. its employee while on duty in its service.”

We do not mean to say that the driver’s act in crossing at the wrong place, contrary to the ordinance, if he did so, would of itself constitute willfulness, but it may be considered as .one of the facts or circumstances in evidence tending to show that his act was willful, as being entirely regardless of tbe law and tbe safety of others. We have held that where a statute or an ordinance is violated it is such a distinct legal wrong that if it be the proximate cause of the injury to another, it will then constitute an actionable wrong or tort, but the jury must find the facts essential to .the application of this principle. Stone v. Texas Co., 180 N. C., 546, where the matter is fully discussed.

We finally conclude that there was some evidence from which the jury could find that the driver of the wagon was guilty of culpable negligence, or a distinct legal wrong, as hereinbefore defined by us, and the defendant itself may, therefore, be liable to the plaintiff upon the principle of respondeat superior, the driver being its servant and his illegal acts being imputable to the defendant. If knowing that the boy was on the wagon, and he was there by the driver’s consent, or permission, the defendant would have to answer for his negligence if he exposed the boy to impending danger in crossing the track too near to the approaching street car, and especially so if the act of crossing the track under the circumstances was forbidden by the ordinance, and was the proximate cause of the injury to the boy which caused his death.

This Court will not undertake to decide the case upon the evidence, but will leave its weight and sufficiency to the jury. It may be that the defendant’s construction of the evidence is the correct one, and that the plaintiff’s is not. The Court must not be understood as intimating any opinion at all upon the weight of the evidence, or any of it, but as leaving its sufficiency to establish the contention of the plaintiff, or that of the defendant, entirely to the jury, with proper directions from the court.

The error of the judge as to the contributory negligence of the boy is of sufficient importance to have been prejudicial to the defendant, and because of it a new .trial must be had in order that the case may be submitted again to the jury under proper instructions.

New trial.

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Concurrence Opinion

CLARK, C. J.,

concurring in a new trial: In this case the plaintiff’s intestate, a boy 11 years, 10 months, and 23 days old, jumped up behind an ice wagon passing through the streets of Charlotte and was killed in a collision between the ice wagon and the ear of the Charlotte Street Railway Company. There was an ordinance of the city of Charlotte which made his conduct a misdemeanor, and there was a standing order by the Standard Ice and Fuel Company, the owners of the wagon, against such conduct, and the boy had no permission from the company, or permission of the driver, to ride on the wagon on that or any occasion. At the trial of the case there were two patent errors which require a new trial:

1. Tbe judge charged the jury that the plaintiff’s intestate “could not be guilty of contributory negligence because under 12 years of age.”

2. The case should have been nonsuited on the further ground that the defendant owed no duty to the boy, who was illegally riding on the rear of the wagon in violation of the city ordinance and standing orders of the defendant company, except that it should not injure him wantonly or willfully, which is not even suggested.

As to the first proposition: The boy jumped upon the defendant’s wagon, with full legal notice that he was forbidden to do so by an ordinance of the city, and the owners had constantly forbidden any one to do so. Furthermore, the court in this case charged the jury: “If you shall find by the greater weight of the evidence in the case that the plaintiff’s intestate, at the time he was killed, was under 12 years of age, then there was a presumption of law that the boy was incapable of so understanding and appreciating danger from the alleged negligent acts or conditions produced by others as to make him guilty of contributory negligence.” A presumption of law is irrebuttable, and therefore this charge was, in effect, that if the boy was under 12 years of age he could not be guilty of contributory negligence. The decisions of the courts,' without exception, are all to the contrary of this. Whether a boy of that age could be guilty of contributory negligence or not depends upon the findings of fact by the jury under proper instructions as to the capacity of the boy and the duty which the defendant owed to the boy under those circumstances. See Jacobs v. Koehler (N. Y., L. R. A., 1917, F. 7, and annotations thereto, pp. 10 to 164, on “Contributory Negligence of Children” — very exhaustive).

It is impossible to reconcile the charge in this case with the ruling by which the plaintiff, a younger.boy, was nonsuited in Butner v. Brown, 182 N. C., 692 (last term), because he was held conclusively guilty of contributory negligence. In this case a boy a year older was held by the trial judge incapable of contributory negligence. In both cases a jury trial of this issue was denied, but for absolutely opposite reasons. By no process of reasoning can the two decisions be reconciled. There are probably in this State more than 50,000 milk wagons, grocery, and other store wagons, express wagons, and other vehicles employed in the discharge of similar duties. All their owners can do to prevent such accidents as this is to prohibit boys engaging in the sport from riding behind their wagons, as was done on this occasion. This prohibition was supplemented, in this instance, by the public ordinance of the city of Charlotte, of which the public are presumed to have notice. The company assumed no duty towards the boy, for it was not a common carrier. It did not injure him by any intentional act on the part of any of its employees.

If, under these circumstances, the owners of these thousands of vehicles, engaged in the necessary traffic of our streets, are to be made insurers of the safety of all boys who are injured while riding on the rear of their wagons — for it is insurance if there is a legal presumption that a boy of that age cannot be guilty of contributory negligence — then this decision will have added immensely to the liability of all persons or companies engaged in that or any similar business.

It is not too strong to say that there can be found no statute nor any decision which will justify the charge which the court gave, that a boy of that age, “as a presumption of law,” could not be guilty of contributory negligence. Aside from, the fact that the contrary was held in the Butner case, at the last term, and in numerous other cases, in Baker v. R. R., 150 N. C., 562, this subject was fully discussed and it was determined by a unanimous Court as to the inquiry. “At what age must the responsibility of an infant for contributory negligence commence?” that upon all the authorities, “An infant’s responsibility, so far as he is personally concerned, is held to be such care and prudence as is usual among children of the same age, and if his' own act directly brings the injury upon himself, while the negligence of the defendant is only such as exposes the infant to the possibility of injury, the latter cannot recover.” The Supreme Court of the United States has subsequently held the same to be sound law.

In Wilson v. R. R., 66 Kansas, 118, the Court held that where a boy 12 years of age was swinging or jumping from one freight car to another and fell and was injured, he was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. ' •

In Jollimore v. Connecticut Co., 86 Conn., 314, it was held that a bright boy 11 years of age, who was playing in the streets and was killed by a street car, was guilty of negligence as a matter of law.

In Moran v. Smith, 114 Me., 55, it was held that a child 8 years old, who attempted to run across the street in the face of an approaching automobile, and who was struck and injured, was guilty of contributory negligence.

In Baker v. R. R., 150 N. C., 565, above cited, this Court, in discussing the question of contributory negligence, and whether it was a question for the court or the jury, says: “The responsibilities of infants are clearly defined by text-writers and courts. At common law, fourteen was the age of discretion in males and twelve in females. At fourteen an infant could choose a guardian and contract a valid marriage. After seven, an infant may commit a felony, although there is a presumption in his favor which may, however, be rebutted. But after fourteen an infant is held to the same responsibility for crime as an adult.” And then this opinion adds almost in the same words of the later case of Foard v. Power Co., 170 N. C., 48, as follows: “We find in tbe books many cases where children of various ages, from seven years upward, have been denied a recovery because of their own negligence.”

In Alexander v. Statesville, 165 N. C., 528, it was held by Mr. Justice Walker that the question whether a child is guilty of contributory negligence is a question for the jury upon the evidence as to his age and capacity, and in that instance held that there, where the plaintiff was a boy seven years old, the court .properly left the question of contributory negligence to the jury. To the same effect, Raines v. R. R., 169 N. C., 189. But in the present case the judge relieved the jury of deciding that question by telling them that as a matter of law “a child under 12 years of age could not be guilty of contributory negligence.” He lacked a month and 7 days of being 12 years old.

Secondly. Irrespective of the erroneous charge in regard to the boy under 12 being incapable of contributory negligence, this case presents the question of the responsibility of the owner of a wagon, or other ordinary vehicle in common use upon the streets, for lawful purposes to a trespasser, or bare licensee upon such vehicle.

The settled principles applicable are:

1. The plaintiff’s intestate at the time of his injury, upon this evidence, was a trespasser on the defendant’s wagon, and, as such, exposed himself to any risk incident to his position. The defendant did not willfully or wantonly injure him, nor was he purposely injured by the acts of its employees. As to negligence in the collision between the defendant’s wagon and the street car, that was a matter between those companies, and in no wise affected the duty of the defendant to the intestate.

2. Even if the intestate had been on the wagon with the implied consent of the defendant company, he was there solely for his own pleasure and purposes, and was at most a bare licensee. He was not injured by any defect in the construction or use of the ice wagon, and there was no breach of duty towards him by the defendant company. No phase of the evidence presents any aspect of willful or wanton conduct to the plaintiff’s intestate.

Thirdly. In this case, whether the defendant or the street car company was negligent in causing the collision is a matter which does not affect the liability of the defendant towards the boy.

He was forbidden to ride on the wagon by the authorities of the company and by an ordinance of the city, and did so at his own peril. No employee of the defendant company injured him, and there is an entire absence of allegation or evidence that he was willfully or wantonly injured by the defendant or any of its employees.

Tbe plaintiff’s intestate was “intelligent for bis age”; was prepared to enter tbe fifth grade in school, showing he had advanced in the city schools year by year. The evidence is that there was no obstruction between the wagon and the oncoming car. The intestate knew necessarily the danger of a collision between the street car and the wagon. It cannot be said that a 12-year-old boy of normal intelligence did not realize the danger he assumed in jumping upon the wagon. There was no difficulty about his getting off the wagon as easily as he got oh, and the only reasonable explanation of his remaining on is that he was negligent of the danger he was assuming.

Neither is this case like Pierce v. R. R., 124 N. C., 83, where the boy jumped on the rear of a shifting engine and was knocked off by the fireman throwing a piece of coal at him. The deceased in this case was not injured by any act of any employee of the defendant company. Nor is it the case where the boy was attracted by a novelty as in the “attractive nuisance” cases, nor yet is it an instance where the boy was permitted to ride on the wagon by the custom or consent of the management of the defendant company. On the contrary, it is in evidence that the defendant had given the strictest orders that boys should not be so permitted to ride on their wagons, and the city of Charlotte had passed an ordinance forbidding them to do so and making it a misdemeanor. The defendant had done everything in its power to prevent the deceased committing this trespass, and to prevent boys from exposing themselves to the danger of so doing.

In Thompson on Negligence, secs. 946 and 949, discussing the question as to who are' trespassers or bare licensees, says: “One entering the premises of another with his consent, but without his invitation, and not in the discharge of any public or private duty, is a bare licensee within the rules governing this branch of the law of negligence.”

The fact that the plaintiff’s intestate was a boy 12 years of age is not an exception to this rule. Judge Thompson says in the same work (see. 1025) : “The generally accepted rule does not impose upon the owner or occupier of premises the duty to exercise a greater degree of care in anticipation of their invasion by trespassing children. No distinction is made between trespassers as to their age. Both children and adults take the premises as they find them.”

In Peterson v. R. R., 143 N. C., 265, where the plaintiff went upon a railroad train at a stop for the purpose of buying fruit from the fruit vendor on the train, and was hurt by the negligent movement of the train, Connor, J., declared the relation and obligation of the parties to be as follows: “When the plaintiff went into the train at the station for the sole purpose of purchasing fruit, without invitation or inducement, but simply by tbe silent acquiescence of defendant’s agent, be was a mere permissive licensee, and took tbe risk incident to tbe moving of tbe train, and, in tbe absence of any wanton injury, tbe motion for nonsuit should bave been allowed.”

In tbis instance it is clear tbat tbe intestate was simply a trespasser, but if be were a licensee, Judge Connor, in Peterson v. R. R., 143 N. C., 265, tbus lays down tbe well established rule: “A licensee who enters upon premises by permission only, without any enticement, allurement, or inducement being held out to him by tbe owner or ocoupant, cannot recover damages for injuries caused by obstruction or pitfalls. He goes at bis own risk and enjoys tbe license subject to its concomitant perils.”

Tbis case is much stronger for tbe defendant. If it were a fact tbat tbe intestate bad seen other boys riding on tbe steps of tbe ice wagon, it was not an implied permission to him to so ride. Certainly it was not an invitation or inducement. Tbe boy was not on tbe step by any invitation or offer to give him ice or to take a ride. Tbe riding on tbe wagon was positively against the rules of tbe defendant company and tbe driver testified, without contradiction: “My instructions, without exception, were to keep all persons off tbe wagon.” Indeed, every driver who went upon tbe stand testified tbat be did tbe best be could to keep boys off. In Briscoe v. Power Co., 148 N. C., 407, where tbe intestate was a boy 13 years of age and fell into a well of hot water not properly covered over, tbe Court held him to be a trespasser, or, at most, a bare licensee, and uses tbis expression, “If tbe exception is to be extended to tbis case, then tbe rule, indeed, as to trespassers must be abrogated as to children, and every owner of property must, at bis peril, make bis premises child-proof.”

There is absolutely no evidence in tbis case to justify tbe submission of tbe issue of wanton or willful negligence or reckless negligence, and tbe court erred in refusing tbe request to charge tbe jury tbat there was no evidence of willful or wanton negligence on tbe part of tbe defendant.

There is no evidence in tbis case tbat tbe intestate bad ever before ridden on tbe wagon, and tbe evidence is tbat all drivers tried to keep tbe children off tbe wagons, and tbat the instructions from the company to do tbis were emphatic and repeated. Besides, as already stated, tbe ordinance of tbe city of Charlotte made it a misdemeanor for any one to “ride or jump onto any vehicle without tbe consent of tbe driver thereof,” or for any person to “bang on to any vehicle whatsoever.” Viewing tbe evidence in its strongest light in favor of tbe plaintiff, tbe motion for nonsuit should bave been allowed. There was no evidence of breach of duty towards tbe plaintiff’s intestate npr was there any such negligence as would entitle tbe plaintiff tu judgment.

In Butner v. Brown, 182 N. C., 692, at last term, this Court sustained a nonsuit where a boy 11 years of age was injured by the operation of an unguarded cogwheel in the defendant’s mill, though the uncontra-dicted evidence was that the boy, and others of like age, had been permitted, without objection, for years to enter the mill 'at will, and that there was no notice or warning given that they should not do so, and the boy lost his arm because the defendant had not guarded the dangerous machinery, which, by the consent of the defendant’s operator and its own custom, he and other boys had been permitted, without objection, to approach by visiting the mill at all times. Yet there a nonsuit was sustained, but in this case there was no defect in the machinery or car, and the intestate was not hurt thereby.

This case is one of wide and far-reaching importance. The court erred in allowing admission of testimony about a custom which had been declared (if it existed) by the city ordinance to be unlawful, and in refusing to give the defendant’s prayers for instructions, and in the charge as given, and especially in refusing to allow the defendant’s motion for nonsuit upon the ground that upon the evidence the intestate, because under 12 years of age, “could not be guilty of contributory negligence.”

On a careful perusal of the record, it is a reasonable inference that the question really tried by the jury was solely whether the defendant ice company or the street car company was proximately liable for the collision, leaving out the real issue whether the ice company, in either event, was liable to the plaintiff’s intestate, who was a trespasser, and, besides, was guilty, upon the plaintiff’s own showing, of contributory negligence in violating the town ordinance and the prohibition of the defendant company.

Case Details

Case Name: Fry v. Southern Public Utilities Co.

Court Name: Supreme Court of North Carolina

Date Published: Apr 5, 1922

Citation: 111 S.E. 354

Court Abbreviation: N.C.