56 Ind. App. 58 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1913
The record discloses that on May 9, 1907, appellee’s minor son, John Broderick, then thirteen years old, had his left leg crushed by one of appellant’s locomotives, or by a ear drawn by said locomotive, at or near the Ray street crossing in the city of Indianapolis. This action was commenced by appellee, the father of the boy, against
The record discloses that at the time when plaintiff’s son received his injury, Ray street extended east and west through the city of Indianapolis, and that appellant’s lines of railroad extended in a north and south direction through the city, intersecting Ray street at grade and practically at right angles. A short block east of the intersection, there was the common intersection of Ray street and Delaware street extending north and south, and Madison avenue, coming into the intersection from the northwest. Bach-man’s mill, a two-story structure, fronted on Madison avenue, and extended westward along the north property line of Ray street to very near appellant’s tracks. Appellant’s railroad at Ray street crossing consisted of three tracks, of which the east track was a stub track, extending northward from a bumper on the north side of Ray street near the southwest corner of the mill. The middle track was appellant’s main line, and the west track was a running or passing track. The main track and the running or passing track both extended across Ray street, and thence to the south. Chestnut street extended north and south and intersected Ray street at the point of the intersection of the latter and the railroad track, but the evidence was not clear as to whether the tracks were within the limits of Chestnut street or immediately east of it. It was seven feet from the west rail of the east or stub track to the east rail of the main track, and twelve feet from the west rail of the main track to the east rail of the running track. The record does not disclose the exact distance between the east rail of the stub track and Bachman’s mill, but there was evidence that the space between the mill and a box ear which was standing on the south end of the stub track at that time, was about two feet. The main track was straight from Ray street
Respecting the occurrence in which appellee’s son received his injury, the boy’s testimony was substantially as follows: In May, 1907, the boy was attending school, but sold and delivered newspapers evenings. On May 9, there was no school. At about three o ’clock in the afternoon of that day, the boy, in company with his cousin, Patrick Lyons, who was about the same age as appellee’s son, was walking westward along the north sidewalk of Ray street, from its intersection with Delaware street and Madison avenue, toward the Ray street crossing, his course being along the south side of Bachman’s mill. His destination was some point west and north of the Ray street crossing, and his purpose to procure papers preparatory to the evening delivery. He had traveled the Ray street crossing many times and was familiar with the surroundings, and knew that appellant’s lines of railroad crossed the street at that point. As he approached the crossing, he discovered a box car against the bumper at the south end of the stub track, the south end of the car being near the north line of the sidewalk. There was a space of about two feet between the car and the mill. The mill completely obstructed the view of appellant’s tracks, until the boy reached its southwest corner, and was also an obstruction to the noise made by any train approach
For error in giving instruction No. 12, the judgment is reversed, with instructions to sustain the motion for a new trial.
Note. — Reported in 102 N. E. 887. As to a railroad’s duty to public in respect of warnings at crossings, see 17 Am. Rep. 363; 37 Am. Rep. 443; 100 Am. Dec. 412. On the question of failure to give signal as affecting liability for injury to small children on railroad track, see 25 L. R. A. 788. As to the contributory negligence of children, see 1 Ann. Cas. 895; 17 Ann. Cas. 353; Ann. Cas. 1913 B. 969. See, also, under (1) 2 Cyc. Anno. 1013; (2) 3 Cyc. 348, 354; (3) 33 Cyc. 968, 976; (4) 33 Cyc. 1070, 1114; (5) 38 Cyc. 1817; (6) 38 Cyc. 1781; (7) 33 Cyc. 1134; (8) 38 Cyc. 1809; (9) 33 Cyc. 1138; (10) 38 Cyc. 1595; (11) 38 Cyc. 1782; (12) 2 Cyc. 1016.