Hall v. Missouri Pacific Railway Co.

219 Mo. 553 | Mo. | 1909

Lead Opinion

GRAVES, J. —

Plaintiff, a hoy of fourteen years at date of the accident, sues by his nest friend to recover from defendant damages in the §um of $25,000, for personal injuries alleged to have been received through the negligence of the defendant in the operation of one of its freight trains. By the petition it is charged that the plaintiff hoarded defendant’s local freight train No. 122 at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, to go go to the town of Kingsville, a few miles to the east; that he had theretofore been accustomed and was permitted hy defendant’s conductors, agents, servants and employees to board ca,rs and to he carried thereon from one station to another, and assist them in handling freights and switching cars; then with reference to this particular occasion and the alleged negligence of the defendant, the petition says:

“That on tie 22nd day of September, 1902, at tbe said town of Pleasant Hill, plaintiff boarded defendant’s local freight train called Freight Train Number 122, with the knowledge and permission of defendant, defendant’s conductor, servants, agents and employees operating the same, as plaintiff had been accustomed to do, as before stated, for the purpose of being carried to the said town of Kingsville, a station on defendant’s said line of railway, and assisting in the operation of said train as aforesaid.

“That after boarding said train as aforesaid, plaintiff was carried thereon to the said town of Stras-burg, a station on defendant’s line of railway, between the said towns of Pleasant Hill and Kingsville, where said train was stopped and engaged in switching, which became necessary in its operation; that defendant and the said conductor ordered plaintiff to assist in and ordered one of the' brakemen on said train to take plaintiff and do said switching, and that plain.tiff, thereupon, in obedience to said order and under the direction of said brakeman, boarded one of defendant’s freight cars on one of its said tracks and assisted in said switching and was in a place of peril.

‘ ‘ That while plaintiff was so engaged on said car, and was in said place of peril, defendant and defendant’s said conductor, agents, servants and 'employees operating said train, knowing that plaintiff was on said ear and in a place of peril and after they could have known it by the exercise of ordinary care; negligently and unskillfully mismanaged the said engine, cars and train and carelessly and negligently and' with great and unusual and unnecessary force and violence, ran said engine and freight cars attached thereto, against the said car on which said plaintiff was, by reason of which plaintiff was thrown from said car to the ground, his right leg broken and his whole body wounded, bruised and permanently injured, so that hie has been rendered unable to labor and has suffered and will continue to suffer during Ms life great bodily pain and mental anguish, and was compelled to and did expend and obligate himself to pay the sum of five hundred dollars for medicine and medical attendance. ’ ’

The answer was, first a general denial, wMch was followed by a special plea of contributory negligence couched in this language:

“Said defendant for further defense states that if said Errett Hall was injured as charged in petition, it was by reason of his own wanton, willful and reckless conduct in unnecessarily, wantonly, recklessly and willfully climbing upon defendant’s train and cars while the same were in motion, without any authority so to do, and while he was a trespasser in so doing. That the injury, if any, to said Hall was occasioned solely by the negligence of his own acts aforesaid, contributing directly to his own injury aforesaid, without any fault on the part of this defendant.”

Reply, a general denial. Verdict and judgment, for plaintiff in the sum of $6,000, from which, after the necessary but futile motions for new trial and in arrest of judgment had been passed upon, the defendant brings the case here by appeal.

The accident occurred September 22, 1902, at the town of Strasburg, as stated in the petition. At this town the defendant has three tracks, i. e., the main track and a north and south switch track. The main track runs to the south of the depot, the south switch track is south of the main track, and the north switch track north of the main track and also north of the depot. In order words the depot stands between the north switch track and the main track. The east end of the north switch track is further east than that of the south switch track, and both some distance east of the depot. Actual measurements are given by one witness, as follows: The south switch leaves the main track ninety three feet west of the point where the north switch track leaves it; at the widest point the south switch track is nine feet from the main track, hut the north switch track is further because it spreads out to go around the depot; the place of the accident was fifteen feet west of the east point of the south switch; from the point of the accident to the first street crossing west was sixteen rails or four hundred and eighty feet; from the east point of the south switch to the window in the depot was nine hundred feet. These measurements are of but little value save and except as they go to affect the credibility of the witnesses.

There are three street crossings spoken of in the evidence, two to the east of the depot and one to the west. The first to the east runs just east of the depot.

From the evidence it appears that the plaintiff, rather an unruly orphan boy, being raised by his grand parents, had for some years been in the habit of jump, ing defendant’s freight trains and in some instances riding from one station to another. He had been frequently notified by the station agent and by his grandfather of the danger of such conduct. He, himself, admits much of this conduct upon his part, and also some of the notices aforesaid.

The station agent claims to have not only warned his grandfather but the city marshal as well. He also claims to have driven plaintiff from the depot on several occasions, and on the morning of the day of the accident, says that he notified him to keep away from the depot.

On the day of the accident, shortly before noon, the plaintiff boarded one of defendant’s freight trains at .Kingsville, his home, and went west to Pleasant Hill. Upon reaching Pleasant Hill he says that he and some other boys were sitting on a flat car in the local freight going east, when the conductor came by and saw them. That the conductor undertook to fix a drawhead in one of the cars, and told the boys that if they expected to ride they had better get down and help lis the drawhead, which they did, then returned to the flat car upon which plaintiff rode to Strasburg. The train reached Strasburg at about 2:20 p. m., and as there was an east-bound passenger train due there at 2:32 p. m., the local freight ran in on the south switch track and stopped! with the caboose about opposite the depot. The plaintiff’s car was several ears ahead of the caboose. When the train stopped, plaintiff got off on the side next to the depot, and there met another boy, William Epple, who lived at Kingsville, and who with his brother had on that morning ridden on the same freight train upon which plaintiff went to Pleasant Hill. The. Epple boys got off and remained at Strasburg, the station between Kingsville and Pleasant Hill.

Upon the arrival of his train the conductor got off and gave some directions to the middle or swing brakeman about switching. One witness says that the conductor said to the brakeman: “I heard the conductor say: when he got down on the ground off the steps I was just behind him, he said to the brakeman— I think he said it to the brakeman — he said, take the boys down and do the switching.”

Another said: “Why when I passed him he says to the brakeman, he says, you take the boys and go and do the switching.”

Another put it this way: “Well I heard some man tell these boys to go down and set up the brakes. ’ ’

William Epple puts it thus: “The conductor told the brakeman to go and take the boys and go and do the switching.”

The plaintiff upon this point says:

“Q. And then what was done;.what did the conductor do ? A. Puffed down to the depot and the conductor came off of- the caboose.

“Q. What did you and the boys do? A. I climbed down .off the car.

“Q. Then did you see the conductor after yon got on the ground? A. Yes, sir.

££Q. What, if anything, did he say? A. He says, take the hoys and go down and do the switching.

££Q. Who was he speaking to?

“Mr, Bailey: I object to that; it is simply calling for the conclusion of the witness:

''The Court: State what he said.

‘ ‘ To which ruling plaintiff excepted and saved his exceptions at- the time.

“Q. Who did he say that to ? A. The brakeman.

££Q. How many brakemen was there? A. Two is all I seen.

££Q. Two where? A. Standing there.

££Q. When he said that what did the brakeman do? A. The brakeman started down the track.

££Q. Ho'w many started? A. Just one.

££Q. What, if anything, did he say? A. He says, Come on hoys.

££Q. Which way did he go? A. Down east.

££Q. Along which track? A. Right down between the south track and main track.

££Q. How many tracks were there? A. Three.

££Q. Which track did you say this train pulled in on? A. South switch track.

££Q. How many hoys went along with him down there? A. Just the two.

££Q. What two? A. Will Epple and I.”

It appears that there were several people around the depot and among them some hoys other than the plaintiff and Epple.

It also appears from other evidence than the plaintiff’s own statement that there were two brakemen present at the time of this talk and further that at the time of the talk plaintiff was from fifteen to thirty-five feet away from the conductor. This from evidence introduced by plaintiff. The defendant’s version we will state later.

The evidence then discloses that there were some cars on the north switch track (four or five in number) to the north of the depot. Of these cars the west one of the string was loaded with poles upon which to put signboard's; that there were orders to put this car in the train to he taken to the nest station. It was an ordinary coal car loaded with poles of the character aforesaid. To get this car in the train it became necessary to cut the train and leave a part standing upon the south switch track. This was done, and the engine with three or four cars was cut loose and pulled out upon the main track past the point of the north switch track, from which place the engine and cars were backed in on the north switch track and coupled to the string of cars above mentioned. After this coupling the cars were all pulled down off of the north switch track and an attempt made to kick this pole car in on the south switch track, where the caboose and remainder of the train was standing. The train seems to have been made up of from fifteen to twenty cars. The plaintiff describes his movements after the conductor’s talk at the depot thus:

“A. Went down there and he uncoupled the train and I climbed on and rode out of the switch and back in the north switch and I seen they were going to hit the cars hard and I jumped off until they started up again.

“Q. And then did you crawl on again on that same car? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. What, if anything, did he say to you at that time? A. Never said anything; pretty soon he climbed on that car and started down that ladder and then he said, Get off kid and catch the nest car.

“Q. Was that at the time you went down the north track east? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. That put you before or behind the brakeman? A. Behind.

“Q. You rode down, how far? A. I rode down to the south switch.

“Q. To where the south switch left) the main track? A. Yes, sir.

‘ ‘ Q. And what did yon do ? A. I climbed off and went over to the south side.

“ Q. Which side of the south switch did you stánd on? A. Right by the side of it.

“Q. What did the brakeman do, and what did they do with the car? A. They kicked that car loaded with the poles back and it did not clear; never did get into the clear and started back slowly and the brakeman says, kid, get up there and catch that car and set the brake, and I got up to set the brake, and after I got up and got hold of the brake I seen him signal him to come back.

“Q. Who? A. The brakeman.

“Q. What kind of signal did he give? A. He give it this way (indicating).

‘ ‘ Q. How near was he to you when he gave that signal; about how near? A. About thirty feet.

“Q. Was there anything between him and you? A. No, sir.

“Q. Could he see you? A. Yes, sir.

“Mr. Bailey: We object to that as a. conclusion of the witness.

“The Court: Just state where he was. Objection sustained.

“To which ruling plaintiff excepted and saved his exceptions at the time.

“Q. He gave the signal to come back? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Then what happened? A. They came back.

“Q. What came back? A. Cars and engine.

“ Q. And were they all together? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Then what happened? A. Hit the corner of the car I was on.

“Q. Then what happened? A. Knocked me off and two crossing poles.

“Q. When the brakeman gave this signal to come back who did he give it to?

“Mr. Bailey: I object to that as calling for the conclusion of the witness.

“The Court: He stood' where?

“Q. Where was the man on the engine when he gave the signals? A. Looking back toward ns.

“Q. How was his head and face and body? A. Turned back west.

“Q. Where was he with reference to the window, leaning out or not? A. Leaning out.

“Q. When the signal was. given? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Window of the cab, I mean? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Which way was he looking? A. Looking back at us.

“Q. Which way was his face turned? A. South.

“Q. Do you know anything about what kind of lick the cars struck? A. It was hard enough to tear the end out of the coal car.

“Q. Did it knock you senseless. A. Yes, sir.

“Q. When you came to where were you? A. Lying on the ground. ’ ’

William Epple describes their movements in this manner:

“Q. What, if anything, was said or done at the platform at that time? A. The conductor told the brakeman to go and take the boys and go and do the switching.

“Q. Well, then, what did you do; did the brakeman say anything to you? A. Said, Come on boys and let’s go and do the switching.

“Q. Who went with him? A. I and Errett.

- “Q. Which way did you go? A. East.

“Q. How many brakeman were there? A. One.

“Q. Where did you go then; when you went east where did you go? A. How was that?

‘ ‘ Q. Where did you go ? A. Went east to the end of the switch.

“Q. What did yon do? A. With him?.

“ Q. Do you remember what you did? A. No, sir; I don’t.

“Q. What is the next thing you remember? A. Biding down out of the switch.

“Q. On the ears ? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. What kind of cars were they? A. Box cars.

“Q. What switch was that on ? A. North.

“Q. Well, then where did the cars and engine go? A. East.

“Q. What was the purpose of going up on the north switch? A. To pull out this pole car.

“Q. What was this coal car loaded with? A. Sign -posts.

“Q. Then-what happened when they pulled down off of the north track on the main track? A. Kicked it back.

“Q. Kicked what back? A. The coal car.

“Q. Where did they kick it to? A. On the south.

“Q. How far back on the switch did it go? A. It didn’t quite clear.

“Q. What was that? A. It didn’t quite clear the track.

‘ ‘ Q. Then what happened ? A. Then he knocked the comer off of the coal car.

<CQ. Did you get up on that car? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. What caused you to get up there? A. The car started back.

“Q. Did-Errett get up on that car? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. How did he happen to get upon that car?

11 Mr. Bailey: I object to that; it is merely calling for a conclusion.

‘ ‘ The Court: He can state what he sawobjection sustained.

“To which ruling plaintiff excepted and saved his exceptions at the time.

“Q. What did you see him do? A. The brakeman told him to go up and set the brake down.

“Q. Well was the car moving when he got on it? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. • Was it going fast or slow? A. Slow.

“Q. Where was the engine and ca.rs just before it was struck? A. East of the switch.

“Q. Could yon see anybody in the engine? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Which side where they on? A. Eight side.

“Q. What would that be, north or south? A. South side.

“Q. Describe the position of the man in the engine? A. He had his head and waist out looking back towards us.

“Q. What direction would that be? A. West.

“Q. Could you see his face? A. Yes, sir.

“ Q. Which way was it turned? A. Toward us.

“Q. Where was the brakeman? A. • He was down there by us.

“ Q. How far was he from you? A. About twenty or twenty-five feet.

“Q. What direction from you? A. East.

“Q. I will ask you to tell what happened when the car was struck that you and Errett were on? A. It threw us both off.

“Q. Did it throw anything else off the car? A. A pole.

“Q. What was Errett doing when the car struck? A. Putting on the brake.

“Q. Sir? A. Putting on the brake.

“Q. Putting on the brake? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. What end was he on? A. East.

“Q. Where were you? A. South.

* ‘ Q. Did you notice what the train did after they struck this car? the engine and other cars east of it? A. What they did with it?

“Q. Yes, sir? A. I don’t know.

“Q. Well, state to the jury how they came back, fast or slow? A. Fast.

“Q. How was the jar; describe it to the jury? A. It was awful; came hack about thirty miles an hour.

“Mr. Bailey: We move to strike that out; he has not shown himself qualified to j adge the rate of speed.

“The Court: Yes, sir; he would have to show-himself. Qualified.

“To which ruling plaintiff excepted and saved his exceptions at the time.

“Q. You may state to the jury whether or not the engine and the cars all came back together? A. Yes, sir.

‘ ‘ Q. About how many cars were there with the engine at that time? A. Five.

“Q. What kind of cars were they? A. Boxcars.

“Q. Did you notice after that, what became of the engine and box cars? A. No, sir.”

In this connection it will be well to mention that this witness had given two written statements to the defendant’s claim agent, in which he says that he did not hear the conductors’s talk at the depot, and did not hear the brakeman tell Hall to set the brakes on the pole' car.

Another witness, Haynes, says:

“Q. Then what did they do? A. Well, then they run the cars down to get the post car off of the sidetrack and run it up on the main track and when they run it up on the main track it looked like they wanted to make a flying switch but they didn’t get it quite far enough up and then the car commenced moving down east, the car the hoy was on, and the brakeman was on the south side of the main track that they was pulling on and he says to the kid, he says, Kid, he says, set that brake and then they gave it another punch to shove it back and they hit so hard they knocked a piece off the car and the boy went off and the posts went with him.”

There is considerable evidence for plaintiff tending to show that the engine and all the cars ahead of the pole ear were attached when they struck the pole car, and that they struck it with great force. Both cars were considerably damaged by the collision.

For the defendant, the evidence tended to show that the plaintiff and the other boys alighted from the car east of the second crossing east of the depot; that they then were next seen riding on a car on the north switch. The conductor says that he did not see nor converse with any boys at Pleasant Hill; that they repaired no car there; that if a car had been out of repair at Pleasant Hill there was a car repairer there by name of Lane, and the car would’have been turned in on the repair track for repairs. In this he is corroborated by all the train crew.

The conductor says that he had no knowledge of plaintiff being on his train, and that he gave him no orders about switching at Strasburg. He says that he did tell the swing brakeman, who had gotten the switching list and order from the agent, to take the boys and do the switching, but says that in the use.of the word “boys” he used it in railroad parlance, which meant the brakemen and crew; that he used it in that sense and had no reference to plaintiff or any other outsider ; that he had no knowledge of the fact that plaintiff was in any way assisting in the switching of cars; that, at the time of the accident he and the rear brakeman were unloading the local freight.

It also appears that there was the full complement of men with this train, i. e., conductor, three brakemen, a fireman and engineer.

It is shown that neither the conductor nor any member of the train crew has any authority to employ outsiders to do any of the train work for the company.

Both the engineer and fireman say that they did not know the plaintiff was on the train. They say that the pole car was kicked in on the south track, and that they cut loose from the train the- other cars which stood ahead' of the pole car whilst on the north track and aimed to kick them in on the north track. The engineer said that they kept the cars supplied with air-brakes nest to the engine to assist in stopping the train, hut did not remember just how many they had with them when they backed on the north switch track for the pole car. The engineer describes the collision thus:

“Q. Then went north? A. Yes, sir; on the house track switch.

“Q. Then what did you do? A. Backed in on the north side and there was several cars in there, I don’t know how many, and we coupled them and brought them down on the main line.

“Q. What car or cars were you after? A. A coal car loaded with crossing signs that was back of some cars that were on the sidetrack.

‘‘Q.' Do you know how many there were in front of this pole ear? A. No, sir; not exactly; probably six or seven.

“Q. What did you do with them? A. We come out there and kicked the coal car back on the south siding or started it back on the south switch'to our train, the brakeman cut it off and signaled me to go ahead; I went ahead probably three or four car lengths, anyhow over east of the east end of the north switch; then he gave me the signal to back up, to kick cars, to kick them back on the north track; the cars that were in there" ahead of this coal car, that is, between us and the coal car, and I gave them a little kick and he gave me the signal to stop and I applied the air and the head end of the train stopped; the cars that were going back on the north side run back. I guess they were ten or fifteen feet part when I saw the dust fly off of the coal ear.

£<Q. That far from the locomotive? A. The two parts of the train were probably ten or fifteen feet apart when I seen the dust fly off the coal car, and about that time I saw a boy fall off the ear, and I says to the fireman, they have knocked a boy off the car, and we stopped. In the first place I saw that he didn’t get up; seen he must be hurt, he laid there after he fell off, then I gets off the engine and walks back and seen the boy’s leg was broken; I was the first man to him.”

The fireman says he did not see the boy at all. The engineer further testified that in switching the engineer acted under signals given by the brakemen; that it was the duty of the brakemen when they kicked in a car to see that it was in the clear, before giving a signal to back up; that in this instance he got the signal to back up and did so, but got a signal to stop and did at once apply the air and brakes and stopped.

Other evidence showed that it was the duty of the swing brakeman, who was a man by the name of Boggs in this instance, to get from the station agent the switching list, and then look after the switching of the cars.

The conductor, fireman, engineer and rear brakeman testified in person at the trial. As to the other two, statements of their evidence were read by counsel. Their statements are:

“It is agreed by and between counsel for both plaintiff and defendant that the following statement may be read to the jury as the evidence of H. M. Boggs, which said statement was read to the jury and was in words and figures as follows, to-wit:

“That he put the plaintiff, Errett Hall, off the train a short time before the accident complained of and told him to keep away from said train; that said plaintiff, without • the knowledge and consent and against the protest of said Boggs, got upon defendant’s box car at the time of his injury, and was there without any authority or invitation or direction from any of the train, crew; that neither the conductor nor any of the other train crew either directly or indirectly authorized, directed or requested said Hall to get upon said defendant’s train of cars or to perform any other duty or service connected with said train.

“It is further agreed by and between counsel for both plaintiff and defendant that the following statement may be read to the jury as the evidence of Louise Buske; which said statement was read to the jury, and wa.s in words and figures as follows, to-wit:

“That he was at the east end of the switch at the time of the accident; that neither he nor any of the other brakemen or train crew authorized or directed said plaintiff to get upon the car where he was injured or to perform any other service connected with said train.”

One matter of dispute was whether the car which struck the pole was attached to the engine or the string of cars next to the engine, or whether it and others had been cut loose from the train, and was separated therefrom at the time of the collision. For the defendant this testimony tends to show that the pole car was first cut loose from the train and then the others belonging on the north switch track. For the plaintiff, contra.

A number of photographs of the track and depot situation were in evidence.

The court refused a peremptory instruction for defendant, both at the dose of the plaintiff’s case, and at the close of the whole case.

For the plaintiff, the court instructed thus:

“1. 'The court instructs the jury that if you should find and believe from the evidence that Errett Hall was on one of the defendant’s freight cars on its tracks in Strasburg and engaged in setting the brake on said car and while, so engaged he became and was in a place of danger and that defendant’s agents, servants and employees in charge of and operating and managing an engine and cars attached thereto, saw the said Errett Hall and his said peril and danger and became aware thereof in time, by the exercise of ordinary care, to have avoided injuring him, and that the defendant’s said agents, servants and employees in charge of said engine and cars attached thereto failed to exercise snch ordinary care, and negligently ran said engine and cars against the car upon which the said Errett Hall was, with great and unusual force and violence, and by reason thereof the said Errett Hall was thrown from said car to the ground and injured, then you should find for the plaintiff, although you may believe from the evidence that plaintiff, Errett Hall, was guilty of negligence in going upon said car and attempting to set said brake and was a trespasser, unless the jury should further find from the evidence that after he became aware of his own peril, or b^the exercise of ordinary care might have become aware of his peril, he could have, by the exercise of ordinary care, avoided the injury.

“3. By ordinary care is meant such care as an ordinarily careful and prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances.

“Negligence is the failure to exercise ordinary care.

“If you find that Errett Hall was a boy of immature age, and had not the capacity of an adult, and that he exercised such care as ought reasonably to have been expected of one of his age and capacity, then he is not guilty of contributory negligence.”

“4. If the jury find for the plaintiff, in estimating his damages, they will take into consideration not only his age, the physical injury inflicted, and the bodily pain and mental anguish endured, but also any and all damages, if any, which it appears from the evidence will reasonably result to him from his injury in the future, not to exceed in all the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars.”

For the defendant the court gave the following instructions :

“1. The court instructs the jury, that under pleadings and evidence in this cause, the plaintiff, Er-rett Hall, at the time and place of accident, was not a passenger upon defendant’s train or cars and was not an employee of said defendant; on the contrary, at the time and place of accident aforesaid, said plaintiff, Er-rett Hall, had no legal right to he upon said car and was a trespasser thereon, and the jury in disposing of the case, should try it accordingly.

“2. Even if the jury believe from evidence, that the conductor told this brakeman to take the hoys and do the switching; and the brakeman to whom the remarks were addressed went with plaintiff and directed him to get upon the car from which he was thrown, yet this conferred no authority upon plaintiff to get upon said ear, and in getting upon the same to set the brake, if he did attempt to do so, he was a trespasser without any authority to be there, and it is your duty to dispose of the case accordingly.

“3. If the jury believe from the evidence that defendant’s engineer kicked the cars back on the north switch, which struck the one on which plaintiff climbed and undertook to set the brake; and that plaintiff thereafter got upon said car, from which he was thrown, then was thrown, then he is not entitled to recover in this cause, regardless of all other facts.

“4. Even if the jury should find and believe from the evidence that plaintiff, Errett Hall, was upon defendant’s pole car, attempting to set a brake, with the knowledge and consent, or on the invitation of one of defendant’s servants, yet he assumed the risk in being thus located and is not entitled to recover, unless he got upon said car while the locomotive was still attached to to the cars which came in on the north track, and that the engineer in charge thereof actually saw him upon said car and had good reason to believe at the time that the cars upon said north track conld not pass said pole car, "without striking same.

■ “5. Before the plaintiff can recover herein, the jury must find and believe from the greater weight of all tie evidence, not only that the engineer in charge of the train actually saw plaintiff on the car of poles, when he backed or kicked the cars onto the north track which struck the one upon which plaintiff was stationed, but that said engineer at the time knew said car upon which plaintiff was stationed was so close to the north track that it wa.s bound to be struck by the cars so backed or kicked onto said north track. Unless the jury so find, your verdict must.be for defendant, regardless of all other facts in the case.

“6. Unless the jury believe from the greater weight of the evidence that defendant’s engineer, when he kicked or pushed the cars onto the north track, actually knew that the pole car was so close to said north track a.s that the ears so kicked or pushed onto said north track would strike the same, then the plaintiff is not entitled to recover herein, even if. said engineer did actually see the plaintiff, Errett Hall, stationed on said pole car.

“7. Before the jury can find for plaintiff, you must find and believe from the greater weight of the evidence:

“1st. That defendant’s locomotive was attached to the cars sent in on the north switch, immediately before the collision.

“2nd. That the pole car from which plaintiff fell, was known by the engineer, at the time he was pushing back the cars onto the north track, while still attached, to be so close to said cars on the north track that they were bound to strike same.

“3d. That the engineer.in charge of said train, while his locomotive was still attached to the said north ears, actually knew plaintiff Errett Hall was upon said pole ear, and that the latter was too close to the north track at said time for said cars on the north track to pass, without colliding with said pole car.

“Unless the jury find from the evidence all three of the propositions aforesaid, in favor of said plaintiff, your verdict mnst he for defendant regardless of all other facts in case.

“8. The court instructs the jury, that defendant has read in evidence a statement as to what the testimony of brakemen Boggs and Buske would he if they were present in person and had testified in this cause. In arriving at your verdict, you will consider the statbment of said witnesses as though they had been personally present and had testified in court to the facts set out in said statement.

“9. While the plaintiff, Errett Hall, is a competent witness to testify in his own behalf, yet the jury, in determining what weight, if any, they will give to his testimony, have a right to consider his interest in the result of this litigation, and what he has testified to against his interest is to be taken as true, and what he has testified to in his own favor is to be given only such weight as the jury, under all circumstances in the case, deem it entitled to.

“10. The jury are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and of the weight to be given their testimony. In arriving at your verdict it is your duty to take into consideration all the facts and circumstances detailed in evidence; the interest, if any, which the witnesses testifying have in the result of litigation; their means of information as well as their conduct upon the stand; and if yon believe from the evidence that any witness has knowingly or wilfully sworn falsely to any material fact in the case, then you are at liberty to disregard the whole or any part of the testimony of such witness.

“11. The court instructs the jury, that in arriving at a verdict in this case, they must exclude from their consideration the evidence of the witness, Alcorn, drawn out in cross examination, in which, he swore it was the duty of defendant’s brakeman to see that the car mentioned in evidence as the ‘pole car’ or ‘coal car’ was in the clear before giving a signal to the engineer or person in charge of defendant’s engine.”

And for the defendant, the court refused to give the following:

“A. If the jury believe from the evidence that an ordinarily prudent person possessing the intelligence and experience in regard to the operation of trains which plaintiff possessed at the time of accident, could have learned before getting upon the pole car that it was too close to the north track for cars kicked in thereon to pass by said pole car without colliding with same, then he is not -entitled to recover herein, regardless of all other facts.

“B. If the jury believe from the evidence in this case that at the time plaintiff attempted to get upon the pole car, it was so close to the north track as to prevent cars being moved west on said north track, without colliding with the pole car, and that said fact was open and apparent to one of plaintiff’s age and intelligence, then said act upon his part constituted such negligence as to preclude him from recovering in this case, and under such circumstances your finding must be for defendant, irrespective of any other facts in the case. ’ ’

We have made this statement perhaps fuller than necessary, but defendant insists upon its demurrer, and thus the necessity for a full statement.

I. Counsel with much zeal discuss the question of liability in this case. For defendant it is urged that no case has been made for the jury. With equal force counsel for plaintiff urges contra. To read the brief of counsel for plaintiff one would think that it would be useless expenditure of time to investigate the question of liability, so apparent is there liability to their mind. On the other hand reading from counsel’s brief and argument for the defendant you would he impressed with the idea that even a cursory examination of the record discloses no case made for the plaintiff, and a further examination would he at a great waste of labor. But wiping away the zealous presentations hy the respective able counsel and going to the cold record before us, we are brought to a realization that the question is an exceedingly close one, not to be brushed aside either one way or the other without outlining the facts in detail. We have given a full statement, that the relative acts of the parties might fully appear, but much of it may be cast aside before we reach the crucial point. Thus it is a disputed question whether defendant’s conductor knew of plaintiff’s being on the train from Pleasant Hill to Strasburg, but taking plaintiff’s version of it (as we must in determining the question whether a demurrer to the testimony should have been sustained), yet we think all this has but little bearing on the ultimate issue in the case. At most this testimony simply shows that plaintiff was permitted to ride on the train in consideration of his having assisted in repairing a car at Pleasant Hill. As to how far he was to ride, or where on the train he was to ride, does not appear, except by inference, and this inference is that he was to ride on the flat car where plaintiff said the conductor found himself and. some other boys. Singularly to say these other boys drop out of sight entirely in this ease, after the incident in Pleasant Hill was over. The relation of plaintiff to defendant on the trip from Pleasant Hill to Strasburg is immaterial, because no injury resulted to plaintiff by reason of that relationship or by reason of being at the place the conductor permitted him to ride. We must go to the occurrences at Strasburg to determine the status which plaintiff bore toward the defendant. ' There plaintiff left the position occupied by him from Pleasant Hill to Strasburg, and a new alignment is made. Plaintiff there gets off the train some three or four oars ahead of the caboose and goes north toward the main track and west towards the depot, where he met young Epple, who with himself and a brother of Epple’s had beat their way from Kingsville to Strasburg that morning. What became of his fellow passengers, three Holden boys, from Pleasant Hill down, does not appear. Plaintiff then says that when be got within fifteen or twenty feet of the conductor, who had gotten off of the caboose, he heard the conductor say to the middle brakeman, “Take the boys and go and do the switching.” This remark he says was addressed to the middle brakeman; that at the time there were two brakemen and some four or five other boys near the conductor. Epple says there were eight or ten boys. This number did not include plaintiff and Epple. This testimony standing alone is of but little value. It does not show that either plaintiff -or Epple were included in the direction given by the conductor. As'we gather it both plaintiff and Epple were further from the conductor than the brakeman and the other four or five boys. If we are to apply these remarks at all to parties outside of railroad employees, they could with more propriety be applied to the other boys than to plaintiff, so that to this point we have but little tending to fix the status of plaintiff towards the defendant. The brakman was to the west of these boys at the time of this remark, as we gather it from the evidence.

From this point on, the plaintiff either makes or does not make his case. Plaintiff’s testimony is that one of the two brakemen started east, and said, “Come on, boys.” We are left to infer that these remarks were addressed to plaintiff and Epple so far as plaintiff’s individual testimony is concerned, but Epple fills up the gap by saying that the remarks were addressed to them. At any rate these two boys followed, but seem to have done little toward switching until the accident. Plaintiff claims to have set a brake before the train was first ent on the south track and to have unloosened a brake on one of the cars on the north track. The plaintiff’s evidence made it appear that these boys were there, whatever they were doing.

Going now to the last link in the chain we find plaintiff and Epple on the south side of the south switch track in a place of safety. The pole car is ‘ kicked back” on the south switch track; it begins to move slowly toward the east. The car was to the west of the point of the south switch track, and this was ninety-three feet west of the point of the north switch track. Thus far, to get positions. The middle brakeman, after the pole car had been “kicked” in on the south switch, and the engine and other cars pulled up east of the north switch track, opened this north switch so as to allow the other cars to be pushed or “kicked back” on that track. He then went across to the south side of the main track to give signals. Epple says he was thirty feet to the east of him, but it is not explained how he was only thirty feet to the east if he came directly across from the north switch, which was ninety-three feet east of the south switch. Plaintiff himself says he walked right across from the north switch to the south side of the main track, but he also said in chief he was thirty feet east of him when he gave the signal. On cross examination when pressed he said he didn’t know how far cast of him the brakeman was at the time. The ear started to move slowly eastward, and he and other witnesses say the brakeman told him to get up and set the brake, which he attempted to do. "We take it that under all the facts of this case his status as to defendant is fixed by this order. This evidence shows that the brakeman knew the place occupied by plaintiff, but does it show that the brakeman knew that the car had reached a point where a collision would occur at the time he gave the signal to the engineer to back np ? At this juncture it becomes necessary to determine the relation which, plaintiff bore to the company. The case was tried on the theory that he was a trespasser. Instructions for both sides so read •and the humanitarian doctrine alone is invoked. Both sides having adopted that theory below, we might proceed here upon the same theory with propriety and without determining the exact status of plaintiff, and would do so but for the fact that plaintiff’s counsel now urge in the brief that he was not a trespasser and therefore defendant was really favored by the theory upon which the case was tried.

We are of opinion that the plaintiff was a trespasser and the defendant’s liability, if any there be, must be guaged by the care required of it as to trespassers. The evidence shows that there was a conductor in charge of this train, and that neither the conductor nor any ether train employee was authorized to employ or direct persons to perform work for the defendant. There is nothing in the record to show any such powers or duties. The act of the braJceman in directing plaintiff to get upon the moving car to set a brake was an act beyond the scope of his authority. [Snyder v. Railroad, 60 Mo. 413; Sherman v. Railroad, 72 Mo. 62; Milton v. Railroad, 193 Mo. l. c. 57.]

If the direction was without authority it was not such as would make the plaintiff a licensee of the defendant. A license could only be granted by some authorized act of the defendant, or by acquiescence of defendant for a length of time.

The status of plaintiff being fixed as that of a trespasser the only duty owing to him by the defendant was to use reasonable care not to injure him after he was discovered and known to be in a place of imminent danger or peril. In some of the cases applying the humanitarian rule it is stated that “if defendant knew, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have known, of the imminent peril of deceased in time to have averted the accident by the use or exercise of ordinary care and caution, upon its part, and did not do so, then the plaintiff is entitled to recover.” But this broad rule does not apply to this case. In this case it is incumbent upon the plaintiff to show that defendant or its agents actually knew that plaintiff was in a dangerous place. The rule that a defendant might have known of the dangerous position of a party by the exercise of ordinary care only applies to such cases where the defendant has a reason and right to expect persons to be in danger, as at a public crossing, or on a portion of track habitually used by the public, or such other similar conditions. In all other cases the plaintiff fails unless actual knowledge is shown. As shown by his instructions the plaintiff in this case understood the law as we do, for the first instruction requires actual knowledge of the dangerous position. Does the evidence so show? Wé shall take the engineer and brakeman separately.

The positive statement of the engineer is that he never saw the boy until after he had fallen to the ground. For the plaintiff the evidence shows that the engineer was on the south side of the cab leaning out and looking west toward where the pole car stood, taking signals from this brakeman who stood on the ground to the south of the main track. Two things must be shown to convict the engineer, (1) that he saw plaintiff upon this ear, and (2) that he knew the car was in position to be struck by the cars in his train when he backed them to the west and with this knowledge proceeded to bring about the collision, and not only destroy his master’s property, but injure the plaintiff. No sane man believes he did this. The plaintiff’s whole case as to the engineer rests upon the theory that he was facing west toward where this car was, taking signals from the brakeman. He had no reason to expect a trespasser upon any car. He had no reason to look further than to the signals of the brakeman. Under the evidence it was his duty to watch the brakeman for signals, and in this very case the necessity of the engineer watching the brakeman who gives the signals, rather than the cars or tracks, is fully demonstrated, for it appears that the brakeman finally discovered danger and had to give another signal to stop. Defendant explains the inability to stop by showing that the cars for the north track had been cut loose from the engine, and whilst the engineer stopped the other cars and his engine attached thereto he could not stop these cars. As to whether this was a fact was disputed by plaintiff’s evidence. It is also shown that there were a number of box cars between his engine and the pole car, and it is not shown that in his position he could even see the track upon which he was running. He might have had his face in the direction of plaintiff and no doubt did, because he was taking signals from the brakeman which required him to look in the direction of plaintiff, but' this does not show that he saw the plaintiff, or saw and knew that the pole car was not in the clear. The evidence is not sufficient to convict the engineer, nor the defendant for the alleged negligence of the engineer.

Now as to the brakeman. His position is different from that of the engineer. Under the evidence he was the man who directed and controlled the acts of the engineer. Upon his signals the engineer moved. He was the man in charge of this work under the record evidence. Under plaintiff’s evidence the car had not cleared the main track in the effort to “kick” it in on the south track. Under the evidence it was moving eastward. As to how far it would have to move to occasion a collision with cars going in upon the north switch track is not apparent, but that it did move to such a point is apparent.

The evidence for plaintiff shows that the brakeman did know that plaintiff was on that car and did know that it was moving eastward, and that it was either in, or might soon reach a place where a collision would he inevitable. "Without evidence the court knows that it was the duty of this brakeman, having charge of the switching, to see that this car was in the clear before giving orders for other cars to be “kicked’' or pushed back in that direction. This was a duty to his master. But extended discussion of this question is unnecessary. As above stated the brakeman knew the boy was on the car and knew the car was moving in the direction from which the other cars were to come upon hi's signal. The distance was evidently short. These facts alone render the position of a boy of plaintiff’s age a perilous one, conditioned upon the movement of the car and the boy’s ability to mount it and apply the brakes. Under the plaintiff’s evidence all this was apparent to the brakeman. The boy was in a perilous position from the time he attempted to mount the car to the moment of the accident and this was known to the brakeman. As to the brakeman the evidence is sufficient to take the case to the jury. He should have seen that the car had been stopped in a safe position before giving his signal.

II. It is next contended that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in going upon and remaining upon the pole car. It is said that he had been jumping cars for some five years and was perfectly familiar with switching movements. That he was fifteen years old, lacking three months, and should have seen the peril he was in and protected himself by jumping -off of the car when he could have seen that it was in a position to be struck. It is true that the evidence showed the boy to have jumped and ridden upon moving cars for a long time prior to the accident. It is also true that the evidence discloses his age to be nearer fifteen than fourteen years. All this we grant, but can it be said that there was such contributory negligence as to take the case from the jury in a case wherein contributory negligence would be an effective defense? When be boarded tbe car it was under tbe direction of an experienced man, and presumably sucb experienced man would not bave directed tbe act if it amounted to negligence as a matter of law. But to tbe facts. Tbe car was moving slowly and tbe boy got on it. We can’t say that was so negligent as to take tbe question from tbe jury even if contributory negligence were a matter of defense in tbe case. When on be was attempting to set tbe brakes and stop tbe car and if in sucb act bis mind was diverted from tbe exact position of tbe car, we can bardly denominate that negligence as a matter of law. Again in going there be bad a right to rely upon tbe brakeman not giving a signal until tbe proper time. Tbe evidence also shows that, tbe engine and cars”were backed up at a very rapid rate of speed. Under all these facts it was a question for tbe jury to say whether or not plaintiff was guilty of sucb contributory negligence as would bar a recovery, if in fact a question of contributory negligence is in this case at all, which question we reach later.

We conclude, therefore, that tbe demurrer to tbe testimony was properly overruled.

III. Connected with tbe foregoing and closely allied thereto is another contention of defendant to tbe effect that tbe court refused to give instructions A and B as by it requested'. These two instructions submit the question of tbe alleged contributory negligence of tbe plaintiff in getting upon tbe car. To our mind tbe theory upon which this case was tried upon both sides fully answers this contention. That theory was that plaintiff was a trespasser and bad no right to be where be was, and that if be recovered at all it was upon tbe humanitarian rule. The petition is drawn upon tbe humanitarian doctrine. Tbe plaintiff’s case is put to tbe jury upon that idea and none other. Tbe humanitarian doctrine presupposes negligence or contributory negligence upon the part of the party invoking the rule. That doctrine in its essence is that conceding that I am guilty of negligence in being where I am, yet if you know of my peril in time to save my life or limb, by the exercise of ordinary care on your part, then it is vour duty to exercise such care, and a failure to so do, renders you liable. In this case there was no error in refusing' these instructions.

IY. It is next urged that plaintiff’s instruction number 1, supra, is in a measure conflicting with numbers 4 to 7, inclusive, given for defendant. This is true. Plaintiff’s instruction permits the jury to consider the negligence of all the defendants’s employees then engaged in the operation of the engine and cars, whilst the four instructions mentioned limit it to the negligence of the engineer alone. The plaintiff’s instructions permitted a recovery upon the negligence of the employees or either of them. Plaintiff’s instruction we think was well enough, following as it did the petition. Defendant’s instructions numbers 4 to 7 were erroneous in undertaking to limit the right of recovery to the negligence of the engineer alone. In such case the error was committed in defendant’s favor in this matter. In Christian v. Insurance Co., 143 Mo. l. c. 468, Sherwood, J., said: “A long while ago it was decided in this State- that a party cannot complain of errors in an instruction given at his own instance. [Flowers v. Helm, 29 Mo. 324.] This ruling was thought indisputably good law for many years. Later on, however, in Bluedorn v. Railroad, 108 Mo. 439, a brand new doctrine was proclaimed, to-wit: That if the instructions of a plaintiff in a damage suit were all right and regular, but one asked by and given to defendant was erroneous and in conflict with the correct instructions of plaintiff, and the latter recovered, this conflict, on the appeal of defendant, would necessitate the reversal of the judgment.In other words, that self-invited error was ground for reversal. But this heresy was not long-lived; it received its coup de grace in Baker v. Railroad, 122 Mo. 533. So that having held plaintiff’s instruction 7 is free from error, it must needs follow that if defendant’s instruction 2 is in conflict therewith, it must be erroneous, and if so, defendant takes nothing by reason of such conflict.”

It should not be overlooked that this swing brakeman was the man controlling the movements of the engine and the cars in the yard. Under the plaintiff’s instruction the jury could have well found for the plaintiff-on the negligence of this brakeman.

Other points made have been examined, but these are the only ones we deem necessary to mention in further detail.

The judgment is affirmed.

All concur.

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Rehearing

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.

GRAVES, J. —

It is earnestly, insisted in the motion for rehearing that the negligence of the brakeman was never submitted to the jury and that therefore the issue found by this court as vital to defendant’s case is an entirely new theory injected here for the first time. And it is further insisted that the petition does not count upon the negligence of the brakeman. If either of these contentions was well founded, there would be error in the opinion, but they are not, as we read the petition and the instructions.

In the first place the petition, after stating that plaintiff was placed in a place of danger by the direction of the brakeman, then proceeds: ‘£ That while plaintiff was so engaged on said car, and was in said place of peril, defendant and defendant’s said conductor, agents, servants and employees operating said train, knowing that plaintiff was -on said car and in a place of peril and after they could have known it by the exercise of ordinary care, negligently and unshUlfully mismanaged the said engine, cars and train cmd carelessly and negligently and with great and unusual and unnecessary force and violence ran said engine and freight cars attached thereto, against the said car on which said plaintiff was, by reason of which, ” etc.

TMs petition is certainly broad enough to include the brakeman. It includes in its allegations not only all tbe agents and employees of defendant, but the defendant itself, the language being, “defendant and defendant’s said conductor, agents, servants and employees operating said train.” It does not stop here, but it avers that “they” (referring to the clause above, which included defendant and all of its employees) “negligently and uuskillfully mismanaged the said engine, cars and train and carelessly and negligently . . . . ran said engine and freight cars attached thereto against the said car on which plaintiff was,” etc.

So that it is apparent that a fair construction of this petition leads to the inevitable conclusion that it charges the injury to plaintiff to have been occasioned by the negligence of the brakeman, as well as by the negligence of the engineer and other employees. Then going for a minute to the evidence, it is there shown that the middle brakeman was the vice-principal so far as the switching of cars was concerned. Under the evidence .his peculiar duty was to get the switch list from the station agent and proceed to do the switching. Whilst so doing the engineer acted under his orders and signals. When he signaled to the engineer to come, he came, and when he signaled to him to go, he went. He was in fact the party, at that time, managing and “operating” that train, or portion of the train. He was in charge of and operating that train in the doing' of this work. This under the testimony was his duty.

Now, was this negligence submitted to tbe jury? We tbink so. Instruction numbered 1 for tbe plaintiff, among other things, says: “That defendant’s agents, servants and employees in charge of and operating and managing an engine and cars attached thereto, saw the said Errett Hall and his said peril and danger and became aware thereof in time by the exercise of ordinary care, to have avoided injuring him, and that the defendant’s said agents, servants and employees in charge of said engine and cars attached thereto failed to exercise such ordinary care and negligently ran said engine and cars against the car upon which said Er-rett Hall was,” etc.

When this is read in connection with the portion of the petition above quoted, it will be seen that the instruction covers the negligent acts of the same persons as is covered in the petition.

It covers the acts of all agents and employees engaged in operating the train at the time, and certainly covers the negligence, if any, of the brakeman who, under the evidence, was in fact the controlling spirit of the operation of the train at the time.

The negligence of this particular employee was not only pleaded but submitted. In the original opinion we discuss fully the effect of the giving of an erroneous instruction for the defendant, when a proper one had been given for the plaintiff, and will not reiterate here. Under the facts, had defendant asked and the court refused an instruction limiting the liability to the negligence of the brakeman, the defendant would have been in condition to complain.

Other points made are sufficiently answered in the original opinion. Motion for hearing overruled.

All concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Hall v. Missouri Pacific Railway Co.

Court Name: Supreme Court of Missouri

Date Published: Apr 13, 1909

Citation: 219 Mo. 553

Court Abbreviation: Mo.