252 Mo. 609 | Mo. | 1913
This was a suit instituted in the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, by the plaintiff against the defendants, to recover the sum of $25,-000 damages alleged to have been received by him for personal injuries, inflicted by the alleged negligence of the latter.
The defendants separately filed demurrers to the petition, which were by the circuit court sustained; and plaintiff declining to plead further, judgment was duly rendered against him, from which he timely appealed to this court'.
In the very nature of things this state of the record and the legal propositions presented thereby for determination, calls for a careful consideration of the petition.
“Plaintiff, by leave of court first obtained, files this his second amended petition, and for cause of action against defendants, states:
“That defendant Union Electric Light & Power Company is and was at all times hereinafter mentioned, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri and engaged in furnishing light and power for hire in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
“That defendant Bell Telephone Company of Missouri is and was at all times hereinafter mentioned, a corporation duly organized and existing under-the laws of the State of Missouri, and engaged in operating a telephone system and in stringing and maintaining wires and cables, along and over the streets of' the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
“That defendant city of St. Louis is and was at all times hereinafter mentioned, a municipal corporation, duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri and having charge of numerous streets in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri.
“That plaintiff James C. Meehan, is and was at all times hereinafter mentioned, a resident of the city of Decatur, State of Illinois', and employed as general foreman in the car department of the Wabash Bail-road Company at said place.
“That prior to the injuries hereinafter complained of and on the-day of-, 1909, defendant Union Electric Light & Power Company and city of St. Louis, for a valuable and sufficient consideration, entered into a contract for the lighting by Union Electric Light & Power Company, of certain streets within the downtown business district of the city of St. Louis by means of electric lights supported on large, heavy iron poles or standards, about twenty feet high, placed or erected at or near the curb of the streets.
*616 ‘ ‘ That included in the streets' thus embraced in ■said contract, is and was Twelfth street in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, and that on or about the 27th- day of September, 1909, the city of St. Louis, through its lighting department, issued a permit to the Union Electric Light & Power Company to erect and maintain a line of iron poles or standards supporting electric lights as provided by said contract, and hereinbefore described, along Twelfth street in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, and between Locust street and St. Charles street.
“That on or about July 24-, 1908, the Municipal Assembly of the city of St. Louis adopted the follow- . ing concurrent resolution:
“ ‘Whereas the attention of the Municipal Assembly has been called to the fact that November 9, 1909, will mark the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of St. Louis as a town; and
“ ‘Whereas, this event in the city’s history should be officially recognized and appropriately observed by a, celebration, participated in by all of our citizens, therefore, be it.
“ ‘Resolved, by the Council, the House concurring therein, that a committee of three from each house of the Municipal Assembly be appointed and that his Honor, the Mayor, be requested to call a meeting of the presidents of all the business, civic and professional organizations in the city to meet with the joint committee of the Municipal Assembly to arrange a plan for a dignified and appropriate celebration of the important event. ’
“That thereafter, on or about May 14, 1909, the Municipal Assembly of the city of St. Louis adopted the following concurrent resolution:
“ ‘Whereas, the Municipal Assembly by joint resolution has declared that the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of St. Louis “should be offi-*617 dally recognized and appropriately observed by a celebration participated in by all of our citizens,” and
“ £"Whereas, the Mayor, in response to tbe request embodied in said joint resolution, called a “meeting of the presidents of all the business, civic and professional organizations in the city to meet with the joint committee of the Municipal Assembly to arrange a plan for a dignified and appropriate celebration of this important event,”, and
“ ‘Whereas, the joint committee of the Municipal Assembly, and the presidents of the business, civic and professional organizations have organized the St. Louis Centennial Association, with the Mayor of the city as president of said association, and
“ ‘Whereas, the plan for “a dignified and appropriate celebration of this important event” has been received with marked approval by the citizens of St. Louis, and
“ ‘Whereas, the Centennial Association has advanced in its preparations sufficiently to indicate that the celebration will be worthy of the city’s one hundred years of progress since incorporation, now, therefore, be it and it is hereby
“ ‘Eesolved, that the Honorable Mayor of the city of St. Louis be requested by the city council to extend to mayors of municipalities and to such other guests as he may see fit, invitations to visit St. Louis- during the week October 3-9, 1909, and to participate in the celebration. ’
‘ ‘ That under and by virtue of said concurrent resolution, St. Louis Centennial Association was organized, being an unincorporated body composed of about one hundred members and of which His Honor, the Mayor of St. Louis, was president.
“That the week beginning Sunday, October 3, 1909, pursuant to said resolutions, was known in the city of St. Louis- and the territory tributary thereto as Centennial Week, with numerous attractions of a*618 national character, consisting of the Veiled Prophet’s, Industrial, Civic and Historical Parades, which were arranged for and advertised to take place by said St. Louis Centennial Association, in said city of St. Louis, Missouri, during said week, and said St. Louis Centennial Association invited and caused to be invited, by causing newspaper accounts of said attractions, and urging the public to attend, to be published in the city of St. Louis, and territory tributary thereto, the people generally,' in the United States, and particularly in the territory tributary to the city of St. Louis, to visit the city during said week and to enjoy and participate in its festivities.
“That among the attractions advertised for Centennial Week, by said St. Louis Centennial Association, was the Veiled Prophet’s Parade, on the evening of October'5, 1909, which consisted of a large number of gorgeous floats brilliantly illuminated, which said floats were propelled by means of electricity on and along the street railway tracks in the city of St: Louis, Missouri, in a procession, and passing, and so advertised to pass, and was so known to the defendants at the time of and long prior to the injuries complained of, along Twelfth street, between Locust and St. Charles streets in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
“That in the street, and near the curb along Twelfth street and between- Locust and St. Charles streets, large reviewing stands had been erected with a view to accommodate parties wishing to view advantageously the Veiled Prophet’s Parade, and that said reviewing stands, and the streets and sidewalks adjacent thereto, were known as the Court of Honor, and was one of the principal places for witnessing said parade in the city of St. Louis, and was calculated to, and was so known to the defendants, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have been so known to them, to attract large crowds on the evening of said Veiled Prophet’s Parade.
*619 “That between the 27th day of September, 1909, and October 5, 1909, the exact date this plaintiff is unable to state, Union Electric Light & Power Company, under its said contract with the city of St. Louis, and said permit, erected on the said sidewalk near the curb on the west side of Twelfth street, between Locnst and St. Charles streets, in the city of St. Lonis, a large iron pole or standard supporting an electric light of the character hereinbefore described, together with other poles of the same type, placed along Twelfth street at convenient distances.
‘ ‘ That prior to the injuries hereinafter complained of and on or about the — day of October, 1909, the city of St. Louis and Bell Telephone Company of Missouri, strung along Twelfth street on the west side thereof an iron cable attached to said pole hereinbefore described located near the curb on Twelfth street, between Locust and St. Charles streets, and ran and connected a said wire cable to the next succeeding pole, on the north side of the pole which fell, hereinbefore particularly described and designated, and which fell, as hereinafter alleged; that said iron rope or cable was strung along the edge of the sidewalk and at a height of about four feet therefrom, and was designed and intended by defendants herein, to prevent large crowds then and there to assemble during Centennial Week, to witness said attractions, from crowding one another off the sidewalk into the street.
“That the particular iron pole or standard here-inbefore described erected by the Union Electric Light & Power Company was, at the time of the injury hereinafter complained of, and was so known to the defendants and each of them, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have been so known to them and each of them, to have been insufficiently and insecurely fastened to withstand the pressure of a large crowd of persons upon said iron rope or cable thereto attached, in this, to-wit: that said pole or standard had been*620 negligently erected by defendant Union Electric Liglit & Power Company npon the granitoid sidewalk at said point between the dates hereinbefore alleged, by reason of the cement at and within the base of said pole or standard not having been allowed to remain a period of time sufficient to enable said cement to harden and hold firm and support said pole or standard, and that there was left as practically the solé support thereof, four iron pins or bolts by which the base of said pole or standard was attached to the granitoid sidewalk as aforesaid, and that said pins or bolts and the threads upon the same were not sufficient to secure said pole or standard without the cement protection as aforesaid, and that said pins or bolts were insecurely driven, screwed and placed in said base and sidewalk, all under the circumstances herein alleged, and that by reason thereof, said pole or standard was insecure and insufficient to hold said pole or standard, under the excitement and interest arising by the approach and passing of said Veiled Prophet’s Parade, and defendants knew that, for the purpose of witnessing said Veiled Prophet’s Parade approach and pass at said point, a large crowd was liable to assemble and to press heavily upon said wire and pole or standard, causing it to fall and injure persons' on the sidewalk, or by the exercise of ordinary care said facts might have been so known to the defendants, and each of them, and thereby rendered said sidewalk and street then and there perilous and dangerous to persons thereon.
“Plaintiff further alleges that said’ iron cable strung for the purpose and under the circumstances herein alleged, was carelessly and negligently strung in this: That defendants, city of St. Louis and Bell Telephone Company of Missouri, knew or by the exercise of ordinary care could have known that said iron pole or standard which fell had been negligently erected by defendant, Union Electric Light & Power Company*621 as herein alleged; and plaintiff alleges that said defendant, Union Electric Light & Power Company, negligently suffered and allowed said iron cable to he thus strung and attached to the said pole or standard which fell and which had by it been carelessly and negligently erected, as herein alleged.
■ “That the plaintiff (in response to said general invitation given through the public press of St. Louis as aforesaid, visited St. Louis on October 5, 1909, and while he, thus invited, on the evening of said mentioned day) was lawfully and properly standing on the sidewalk on Twelfth street between Locust and St. Charles streets, and in close proximity to said iron pole or standard, negligently erected and herein particularly described, and with said iron cable carelessly and negligently attached and fastened to said iron pole or standard thus insufficient and insecure as hereinbefore alleged, rendering his lawful position on the street unsafe and dangerous under the circumstances herein alleged, upon an outcry that the parade was coming, the large crowd then and there assembled upon the sidewalk, pushed forward heavily and violently against said iron cable and thereby and by reason of the carelessness and negligence of defendants herein alleged., caused said iron pole or standard to fall, striking plaintiff with great force and violence upon the head, knocking him unconscious, severely and permanently fracturing his skull and bruising and contusing his breast, and greatly and permanently shocking his nervous system.
“That by reason of the injuries thus sustained, plaintiff has suffered, and will in the future suffer, great pain of the body and mind; his hearing has been permanently impaired; his head is and will be permanently scarred and disfigured; he has lost and will in the future lose the earnings of his labor; he has incurred and become obligated for, and will in the future incur and become obligated for, large expenses for*622 medicines, medical attention' and nursing, all to Ms injury and damage in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, for which sum he asks judgment against defendants, and for costs.”
The demurrer of the city was as follows (captions and signatures omitted):
“Now comes the city of St. Louis, one of the defendants in the above entitled cause, and demurs to the second amended petition filed herein, and for ground of its demurrer says that said second amended petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against this defendant, the city of St. Louis. ’ ’
On April 5, 1910, and during said April Term, defendant Bell Telephone Company of Missouri filed its demurrer thereto, as follows:
“Now comes the Bell Telephone Company and demurs to the second amended petition of plaintiff filed herein. And for ground of its said demurrer said defendant assigns that said petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against said defendant.”
And that of the Electric Light Company was as follows (caption and signatures omitted):
“Comes the above named defendant Union Electric Light & Power Company, and demurs to the second amended petition herein and for ground of demurrer shows:
“1. The petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against this defendant.
“2. The said petition on its face shows that the defendants created no obstruction to or nuisance in the street and place mentioned in said petition, and that what was done by defendants was a proper and lawful police regulation and for the public good and safety.
“4. The petition on its face shows that the alleged damage to plaintiff was not the proximate re-*623 suit of the act of this defendant as set forth in said petition.
“5. The said petition on its face shows that the accident to plaintiff was manifestly an extraordinary one, arising from extraordinary conditions, and beyond such foresight as could be reasonably required to be anticipated.
“6. The said petition on its face shows that plaintiff could have as easily anticipated the consequences of the unusual condition resulting in the accident to him as could have this defendant, and by placing himself in the way of danger plaintiff was himself lacking in due care under the circumstances mentioned and set forth in said petition.”
Counsel for all parties have presented many legal propositions, and have learnedly briefed and argued
Counsel for plaintiff maintain the affirmative of this proposition, while those for the defendants insist upon the negative thereof.
In our opinion the circuit court properly held that the petition failed to state a cause of action against any one or more of the defendants, and our reasons for so stating are as follows:
The petition discloses the facts that the plaintiff was injured during the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the city of St. Louis; and that the Veiled Prophet’s Parade, among other things, was a part of the ceremonies — the fame of which, as the petition alleges, and as all know, has become national, and as the petition also alleges, which is also current history, or common knowledge, brings together large crowds of people, so vast in number that great prepara--
We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the parade mentioned in the petition passes along many miles of the streets of the city, and that the crowds consist, as the petition alleges, of great numbers, and as all know, hundreds of thousands who line the sidewalks practically throughout the length of the parade.
The petition alleges that ropes or cables mentioned are designed as barriers, barricading the people lining the sidewalks- from encroaching upon the street proper, which is’ reserved for the passage of the pageantry. Concede, as we prast, that to be true, yet they must in the very nature of the case be temporary in character and frail in structure, and. are not intended as fences or barricades to physically or forcibly keep the crowds of people on the sidewalks from encroaching upon the street.
We must read the petition in the light of common' knowledge regarding such matters, and that is, these barriers are intended only for the purpose of warning the people that they must,not pass that line, for the reason that the street proper is reserved for the pageantry; and not a barricade in the technical sense to retard or bar an enemy or a crowd which is bent upon entering the street. If that was the intention, then the cable would be wholly useless, because they could easily pass over or under the cable.
All of the respondents had a right to presume that the people viewing the parade understood the character and purpose of the cable or rope mentioned, and that they would act accordingly. -
That is true not only of - the Veiled Prophet’s Parade, but of all parades which pass along the streets
Should the law require permanent harriers or barricades along the streets upon such occasions, which would physically withstand the great weight and force of a crowd of people such as is described in the petition, should they see fit to throw their weight violently against it, the cost thereof would be so great that no city or anyone else for that matter, could afford to give an 'entertainment of this character, which is for the pleasure and amusement' of the people, without profit to anyone. ' . ■
The law required no higher degree of care of those who gave or participated in this entertainment, than that which is usually exercised by ordinarily prudent persons under similar circumstances.
The petition in this casé discloses the fact that this parade was conducted in precisely the same manner, as all know, that all such parades are conducted throughout the State and country, with ropes or cables stretched along the edge of the sidewalks, attached to trees, lamp posts, hitching posts, fences, electric-light, telephone arid telegraph poles, or any other object that may he standing along the line of the walk.
, It is not claimed that the injury in this case was caused through the negligénce of the defendants in furnishing a weak and insecure pole for .the anchorage of the cable in question, but because the cable was tied to the pole in question, which was suitable and sufficiently strong for the purposes for which it was erected, but not strong enough to withstand the great weight
The petition states that the pole had been erected some time between September 27 and October 5, 1909, upon a granitoid sidewalk, by means of bolts set therein and secured by means of cement filled around them, and that they extended upward and through the base or flange or the lower end of the pole and were made fast thereto by means of nuts screwed down on said bolts and against the said base or flange; that said cement had not had sufficient time in which to set and properly harden prior to the time of the accident; that the respondents knew of or by the exercise of ordinary care, could have discovered that fact, in time to have prevented the injury; and that in consequence thereof the cement and bolts gave way, and the pole fell and injured plaintiff when the people threw their weight violently against the cable, which, as before stated, was fastened to the pole about four feet above the ground.
While the demurrer admits the truthfulness of those allegations, yet does it necessarily follow therefrom, that the respondents are liable for that negligence, if negligence it was ? I think not; for the reason that the petition states that the pole was erected some time between September 27th and October 5th, a possibility of eight days.
With that knowledge coupled with the common knowledge that ordinarily cement sets and hardens and becomes as strong as it ever will in a much shorter time than eight days, can it be said that respondents could have reasonably anticipated that the cement in this case had not hardened in that time and that the weight and force of the people against the cable would have been sufficiently great to have pulled the pole from its fastenings in the sidewalk, when anchored as this one was? I think not.
