31 Ind. App. 605 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1903
Action by appellee. Yerdict and judgment for $500. Demurrers to first and second paragraphs of complaint overruled. Motion for a new trial overruled.
It is averred in the first paragraph of complaint, in substance, as -extracted from a multitude of words, that appellant was on August 25, 1901, a corporation operating a street railway system in Indianapolis and was a common carrier for hire; that it owned a park near said city, and maintained certain attractions therein to induce persons to ride on its cars, inviting them to said park; that on
The pleading charges appellant with notice of the alleged conspiracy, with acquiescence therein, and, by its guards or policemen, with passive participation in the actual assault made upon appellee. “When one expressly or by implication invites others to come upon his premises, whether for business or any other purpose, it is his duty to be reasonably sure that he is not inviting them into danger, and to that end he must exercise ordinary care and prudence to render the place reasonably safe for the visit.” Cooley, Torts (2d ed.), 718; Howe v. Ohmart, 7 Ind. App. 32, 38; Richmond, etc., R. Co. v. Moore, 94 Va. 493, 37 L. R. A. 258; North Manchester, etc., Assn. v. Wilcox, 4 Ind. App. 141; Penso v. McCormick, 125 Ind. 116, 21 Am. St. 211.
No case has been cited or found where the premises upon which the injury complained of occurred, and to which the complainant came by invitation, were made unsafe through a conspiracy of the nature set up herein. Danger usually has been attributed to some defect in the premises themselves. But as a matter of principle it is quite as reprehensible to invite one knowing that an enemy is awaiting him with intent to assault and beat him as it would be to invite him without having made the floor or the stairway secure. One attending an agricultural fair in response to a general invitation extended to the public has been awarded .damages against the association where his horse was killed by target shooting upon a part of the ground allowed for such purpose. Conradt v. Clauve, 93 Ind. 476, 47 Am. Rep. 388.
Eecoveries have also^ been sustained: When spectators rushed upon a race-track, causing a collision between horses
The duty of common carriers to protect their passengers from injury on account of unlawful violence by persons not connected with their service has frequently furnished
Without further elaboration it may safely be said that the unusual character of an alleged peril, from which it is averred the appellant did not use due care to protect’ its visitors, does not affect the right of recovery, it being otherwise justified. The demurrers were therefore correctly overruled.
Evidence was introduced of other prior assaults at said park upon colored persons, and articles previously published by daily newspapers in the city describing such occurrences were also admitted. In order to determine whether appellant used due care, it was essential to show its knowledge or means of information relative to the conditions alleged to exist, rendering it dangerous for appellee to visit the park. The evidence of similar occurrences was competent as tending to show notice of the conditions. Toledo, etc., R. Co. v. Milligan, 2 Ind. App. 578; City of Delphi v. Lowery, 74 Ind. 520, 39 Am. Rep. 98; City of Goshen v. England, 119 Ind. 368, 375.
Appellant and its officers appear to have displayed indifference to the conditions existing which it and they could not well help knowing. This may have been due to the idea, sometimes entertained, that as to acts of lawlessness it is a sufficient duty of citizenship to be indifferent. Such idea is entirely erroneous.
Judgment affirmed.