Hall v. Connecticut River Steamboat Co.

13 Conn. 319 | Conn. | 1839

Waite, J.

It was conceded, that the witness whose deposition was offered, was interested in the event of the suit, and his testimony inadmissible, unless his interest had been removed by a discharge. The burden of proving that removal prior to the taking of the deposition, devolved upon the defendants. This was not done by the production of a discharge bearing the same date with the deposition. It was equally uncertain whether the discharge was executed before the deposition, or afterwards. The defendants, therefore, failed to prove that which it was incumbent on them to do, before they had a right to have the deposition read.

The principle that governs in the present case, has been repeatedly recognized by this court. Thus, where a witness introduced by the plaintiff, in an action of slander, to prove the speaking of the words, was unable to say whether the words were spoken before or after the commencement of the suit, his testimony was held to be inadmissible. Scovell v. Kingsley, 7 Con. Rep. 284. So where a witness called by the plaintiff to prove a conversation with the defendant, being en-quired of, upon cross-examination, whether the defendant did not make certain other declarations, replied that he did, either in that conversation, or in some other subsequent one, and in which he could not tell; the latter declarations were holden inadmissible. Robinson & al. v. Ferry & al., 11 Con. Rep. 460.

But it is said, that the discharge was appended to the deposition, by the magistrate, and that circumstance furnishes presumptive evidence that the discharge preceded the deposition. But no such presumption fairly arises. It was no part of the magistrate’s duty to annex the discharge. His reason for doing it does not appear. He may have done so, because he was requested to do it, by the party employing him. For aught that appears, the release may never have gone into the possession of the witness. It was in the possession of the defendants at the trial, and produced by them in court; and there was no sufficient evidence that they had ever parted with it, except to the magistrate, for the purpose of having it enclosed in the deposition. The deposition of a witness originally interested in the event of the suit, taken ex parte, is entitled to no extraordinary presumptions in its favour.

Again, it is said, that the witness testified in his deposition, that he had been discharged before giving his testimony. In the first place, it is a sufficient answer to this claim, that this fact does not appear from the motion. If it did, it would not avail the defendants. If the interest of the witness appears from his testimony alone, it may be further shewn by him that his interest has been removed. But where his interest is admitted, or is proved by other witnesses, his testimony is inadmissible for any purpose, either as evidence in chief, or to shew his own competency.

2. With respect to the testimony relative to what took place while the plaintiff lay upon the wharf, it may be fairly inferred from the motion, that it was a part of the transaction, at the time the injury was received. The plaintiff was thrown overboard from the steamboat; was taken out of the water and placed upon the wharf; and while lying there, with his leg broken, applied to the captain for men to assist him in getting into a carriage. It was competent for the plaintiff to prove the whole transaction. The refusal of the master to render any assistance was given while he was acting in the employment of the defendants, and within the scope of his authority.

But if this were not so, we think the admission of the evidence justifiable upon another ground. It was admissible to shew the damage which the plaintiff had sustained. Suppose the boat had arrived at New-York in the night, which is not unusual, and the plaintiff, after having been thrown overboard» in the manner he was, had been taken from the water, cold, wet, and wounded, and in consequence of the captain’s refusal to render him any assistance, had been left in that situation upon the wharf, for hours, before he could procure any other assistance ; might not all that be shewn for the purpose of proving the damages. In a recent case before the court of King’s Bench in England, brought against the proprietor of a stage coach for negligence, it appeared, that the plaintiff, while travelling on the coach, had been thrown off, and had her leg broken. The injury was received in the county of Oxford, where she remained, a considerable time ; but before she fully recovered, she removed to her home in the county of Warwick, and there required further medical attendance.— The venue was laid in the latter county; and one question was, whether those facts supported the plaintiff’s undertaking to give material evidence of some matter in issue arising in that county, so as to prevent a change to the other county. Lord Tenterden said, the inconvenience suffered and expense incurred in Warwickshire, were a damage to the plaintiff, the consequence of a wrongful act of the defendant; and there was, therefore, a matter in issue arising in the county of Warwick, within the meaning of the undertaking. Curtis & ux. v. Drinkwater, 2 Barn. & Adol. 164.

In this case, the necessity of calling for assistance arose from the wrongful conduct of the defendants. The delay and inconvenience upon the wharf was as material as the inconvenience and expense incurred in Warwickshire, in the case cited.

Whether in consequence of the wound which the plaintiff had received, through the carelessness of the defendants, they were not bound to do something more than merely place him uPon a whai’f, and there abandon him, without the power of himself; — whether, under such circumstances, the law does not require them to go farther, and do what is reasonable and necessary to place him in a situation where he 'might be taken care of; we do not think it necessary to determine. One thing, however, is certain ; if the law does not require it, humanity does ; and before we could sanction as law, a doctrine so contrary to the dictates of humanity, we should require satisfactory reasons in support of it.

But the ground of the defendant’s objection to the testimony is not stated in the motion. The rule, in such case, is, that if it was admissible for any purpose, a new trial will not be granted. And, as we are satisfied, that the evidence was admissible as apart of the res gesta, and also for the purpose of shewing the damages, we deem it unnecessary to go farther.

3. It is also said, that the charge was incorrect, as it imposed upon the defendants a greater degree of care than the law required. It is a settled rule, that common carriers of *oods for hire, are liable for all losses, except such as arise from the act of God, the enemies of the State, or the default of the party sending them. Williams & al. v. Grant & al. 1 Con. Rep. 487. This rule, though one of great rigour, is founded upon public convenience and policy. It has, however, not been applied,tin itsJullesL-exteni^ to carriers of persons, because they have not the same absolute controul over passengers, that they have over goods entrusted to their care. Boyce v. Anderson, 2 Peters 150. Aston v. Heaven & al. 2 Esp. 533. Yet both policy and the authority of adjudged cases require great care and skilful management in the transportation of passengers by common carriers. It is right that it should be so ; that those upon whose skill and careful management not unfrequently depend the lives and safety of others, should feel themselves responsible for any want of care or faithfulness. The instruction given to the jury(that. the 'defendants were bound to employfthe highest degree of care that a reasonable man would use, in our opinion, is fully supported upon principle and by authority. Thus, in a case where the iron axletree of a coach of the defendant, a common carrier, broke, and in consequence, the plaintiff was thrown from the coach, and his limbs fractured, the defendant was subjected, although the maker of the coach, which was an old one, testified that the vehicle was made of the best ... . materials. Alderson, J. said, “ that a coach proprietor was liable for all defects in his vehicle, which can be seen at the time of the construction, as well as for such as may exist afterwards, and be discovered on investigation; and if he were not responsible, he might buy ill-constructed or unsafe vehicles, and his passengers be without remedy.” Sharp v. Grey, 9 Bing. 457. So Eyre, C. J., speaking of the liability of the proprietor of a stage coach, remarked, that the driver was answerable for the smallest negligence. Aston v. Heaven & al. 2 Esp. 533.

But this subject has recently undergone an examination before the supreme court of the United States. Stokes v. Saltonstall, 13 Peters 181. There, the wife of the defendant in error was greatly injured, by the upsetting of a stage-coach in which she was riding, the driver being intoxicated at the time. The circuit court instructed the jury, that if the disaster was occasioned by the least negligence or want of skill or prudence on the part of the driver, the owner of the coach was liable. The supreme court, upon a writ of error brought by Stokes, the owner of the coach, say that the circuit court “ laid down the law correctly —that although a carrier of passengers does not warrant their safety at all events, yet his underta- / king and liability as to them go to this extent; that he, or his { agent, if he acts by one, shall possess competent skill; and that| ; far as human care and foresight can go, he will transport' them safely.” V

Our advice therefore is, that no new trial be granted.

In this opinion the other Judges concurred, except Williams, Ch. J., who gave no opinion, being related to some of the stockholders in the Connecticut River Steamboat Company.

New trial not to be granted.