12 S.D. 326 | S.D. | 1900
This is an appeal from an order overruling a motion for a new trial in an action where respondent, a brakeman, recovered $250 damages on account of an injury to his finger caused, it is claimed, by the negligence of appellant in using a defective coupler, or appliance forming a part thereof, attached to one of its engines. Without the aid of an appear anee on the part of respondent in this court, the case must be determined upon the-abstract and brief of appellant, with such farther investigation as we may be able to pursue.
The substitution of “link pin” for “coupling pin” by the way of amendment to the complaint at the trial did not materially change the issues, and, as no prejudice appears to have resulted therefrom, we find appellant’s assignment of error presenting the point to be without merit.
Over the objection that it was “incompetent and immaterial,” a Janney coupler, with accompanying parts was offered and received at the trial as a means of illustrative vidence; and, concerning the device, respondent testified that it was a rough model of a casting such as caused the injury to his finger. In order to enable counsel to change the form of a question or mode of proof, and make it practicable for the court to rule understanding^, an objection should be so phrased that the attention of both court and counsel is called directly to the exact ground relied upon. Every conception of fairness and the orderly administration of justice suggests that, in open court, suitors should be required to proceed openly; and, to the end that all may be saved from the consequences of latent defects, a party objecting to a question or to evidence must specify the grounds upon which he stands. According to a rule that obtains universally, the general objection that evidence is incom
Illustrating by the use of this model, respondent testified that: “In making the fly, dropping that car out, and in pulling this pin, the engineer giving me the slack, this being chipped out and warn out here when he gave me the slack, it let me back in here, and it pinched off the end of my finger. By the court: Now, what was worn out? A. The bull nose
It is next argued that the court erred in permitting respondent to testify as to the number of days that he was unable to work by reason of the injury, but our conclusion is that such evidence went to the true measure of damages, and was very properly admitted. It was undisputed that his average run previous to the accident was 136 miles per day, that his pay was $2.05 per 100 miles, and that by reason of the injury he was unable to work for 39 days, at the end of which time he returned to his duties as a brakeman in the employ of appellant. From this the jury might reasonably infer-that
The case cited and relied upon by appellant is an authority in point, namely, Braithwaite v. Hall (Mass.) 46 N. E. 398. the undisputed evidence shows that respondent sustained permanent injury, justifying a verdict for the full amout received. Conflicting testimony as to the negligence of appellant, to-, gether with that which it is claimed tends to show contributory negligence on respondent’s part, was submitted to the jury under instructions which, on the whole, state the law of the. case fully; and of such, appellant has no just cause to complain. From the record, all of which has been carefully considered, we conclude, without further comment, that the case was fairly tried, and the court rightfully overruled the motion for a new trial. The order appealed from is therefore affirmed.