Jackson v. Baker, 24 App. D.C. 100

Jackson v. Baker

24 App. D.C. 100 | D.C. Cir. | 1904

Mr. Chief Justice Clabaugh,

of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (who sat with the court in the hearing of this cause in the absence of Mr. Chief Justice An vet), delivered the opinion of the Court:

*103Prom the statements of counsel, made in the argument before us, it is evident that the lower court based its decision upon a concessum that the appellee was the superintendent of the National Zoological Park, and as such officer was the keeper of and had the custody of the wolf. And the real question argued was, Was it necessary, under such circumstances, to allege that the wolf escaped through the negligence of the appellee. There is nothing in the record, however, to show that such was the contention, and we are therefore compelled to decide the case upon the record as we find it.

It is manifest that the demurrer ought not to have been sustained, for, says Mr. Justice Clifford, in the case of Congress & E. Spring Co. v. Edgar, 99 U. S. 651, 25 L. ed. 487:

“Animals feres natures, as a class, are known to be mischievous, and the rule is well settled that whoever undertakes to keep such an animal in places of public resort is or may be liable/ for the injuries inflicted by it on a party who is not guilty of negligence, and is otherwise without fault. * * * And it is an established rule of pleading that it is not necessary to aver negligence in the owner or keeper, as the burden is upon the der fendant to disprove that impTed^rniputatioi^j

It is therefore clear that the order sustaining the demurrer must be reversed. Inasmuch, however, as the real question argued was as to the first county we do not think we ought simply to reverse without expressing our view's upon the other question, and thus save any necessity of compelling the question to be again raispd by an appeal in this case.

The National Zoological Park was established by act of Congress and an appropriation made, and the reasons assigned for its establishment were: “Por the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.” By a further act of Congress, approved April 30, 1890 (26 Stat. at L. 78, chap. 173, U. S. Comp. Stat. 1901, p. 1248), the said park was placed under the direction of the regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who were “authorized to transfer to it any living specimens, whether of animals or plants. * * * And to administer *104the said Zoological Park for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.”

In the act incorporating the “Smithsonian Institution ” (Title LXXIII. of U. S. Rev. Stat., U. S. Comp. Stat 1901, p. 3742 ), Congress clearly indicated that it was to be regarded and held as one of the public institutions of the government, and, as we have seen, it was under the board of regents of this institution that the direction of the National Zoological Park was placed. The board of regents under the authority vested in it by Congress had the power of appointment of the officers of the National Zoological Park, and, in pursuance of that power, the appellee was appointed its superintendent, and hence a public official of whose position the court would take judicial notice. The question, therefore, presented is: “Is the superintendent of this park prima facie guilty of negligence upon the statement made in the declaration ?” It must be remembered that the regents of the Smithsonian Institution have power and authority to send such animals to the park as the regents may deem proper. It is necessarily the duty of the superintendent of the park to receive them. He has no discretion in the matter, and for the purpose of carrying out tl^pe and other provisions Congress annually makes appropriations.

Is, then, the appellee responsible for the injury done by a wild animal placed in his care ,at the Zoological Park, irrespective of negligence on his part ? In the case cited above, 99 U. S. 645, 25 L. ed. 487, Mr. Justice Clifford, cites with approval the statement of Lord Denman, “that the gist of the action is the keeping of the animal after knowledge of its mischievous propensities,” and, therefore, it followed, “whoever keeps an animal accustomed to attack and injure mankind, with knowledge that it is so accustomed is prima facie liable in an action on the case, * * * without any averment of negligence.” The reasoning to us is clear, but we do not think it applies to a case in which the keeping is not only made lawful but obligatory. In the case at bar the appellee is the superintendent of the Zoological Park; it becomes his duty to receive under the law any animals that the regents of the Smithsonian Institution may direct to be placed *105in the said park; therefore the keeping of the animals is his lawful duty and obligation, and the law will not hold him responsible for an injury inflicted by an animal, except the injury has been occasioned through the negligence of the appellee.

We have thus indicated our views for the reasons heretofore assigned, but, inasmuch as the record shows an error had been committed in sustaining the demurrer to the second count of the declaration, the judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.

Reversed.