54 Mo. 228 | Mo. | 1873
delivered the opinion of the court.
This was an action for damages for killing a cow belonging to the plaintiff by the defendant’s cars, the petition alleges, "that the cow was killed on a part of defendant’s road, where the same passed through uninclosed. prairie land, and where the same was not fenced, and was not at a public road crossing.
At the trial, the killing of the cow by defendant’s train was clearly proved, and also that it took place where the track was notfenced, and there was no road crossing. There was a verdict and judgment for plaintiff. A motion for a new trial was filed, assigning the usual reasons, and was by the court overruled.
The only question of law presented, deserving any attention, arises out of the ruling of the court in giving and refus
This instruction was refused, and rightly refused.
When the plaintiff showed that the animal was killed where the road passed through uninclosed prairie land, and that it was not fenced, and that there was no road crossing at the place, there was no necessity for him to go further and show, that the cow strayed upon the track without his fault, or by reason of the track not being fenced. ' From the proof of killing under such circumstances the law presumes negligence, and it does not devolve on the plaintiff to prove it.
The plaintiff asked for no instructions, but the court gave two of its own motion. These instructions were entirely too favorable to the defendant; the plaintiff might well complain of them, but the defendant cannot.
Some matters have been presented by counsel, which are outside of the record, and we decline to notice them.
Judgment affirmed ;