Snook v. Clark, 20 Mont. 230

Snook v. Clark

20 Mont. 230 | Mont. | 1897

Pemberton, C. J.

The appellants contend that the evi dence is insufficient to justify the verdict.

Under this assignment, counsel for appellants argue that it was impracticable to maintain a fence or cattle guard at the *232point where the cattle got on the track of the-railroad. It is contended that a fence or cattle guard at this point would materially obstruct the county highway.

The court, instructed the jury, in effect, that, if a fence or cattle guard would obstruct the highway, the railroad company was not obliged to maintain a fénce or cattle guard at the point in question. We are not certain that the court did not go too far in favor of appellants in this respect, but, if so, the appellants cannot complain. But this matter as to the' practicability of a fence or. cattle guard was a question of fact, and was submitted to the jury under instructions very favorable to appellants. The jury found on this issue in favor of the plaintiff, and we think the evidence amply supports the finding.

Counsel also contend that the cattle were killed as a result of the contributory negligence of the plaintiff in driving them into the canyon without taking proper steps to avoid coming in collision with the train, that after he knew ‘ the train was coming he did nothing to stop it, and that he could have stopped the train before it struck the. cattle if he had used proper effort.

But the road plaintiff was driving his cattle over was the only road he could use to get through the canyon. He had a right to use it, and the train was a special. The plaintiff knew the hours when the regular trains passed through the canyon. He had avoided them in selecting his time to drive his cattle by the point of danger. He heard the whistle of the special one quarter of a mile away, — coming at the rate of 35 miles an hour. His cattle were then on' the track. He and his son did all they possibly could to get them off the track. It is contended that the plaintiff could have left his cattle, and ridden back to a curve in the road to flag or stop the train. He could have gone only a short distance in the few seconds he would have had to flag the train, and he would have had to ride into and along a- deep and dangerous cút to a point where he could have seen the rapidly approaching train. To have done so would, in our judgment, have been an un*233called-for exposure of his life. He did what any prudent man would have done. When he heard the train approaching he and his son went to work with all'their might to get the cattle off the track. The engineer says that, if he had been warned by plaintiff, he might not have killed so many cattle as he did. But it does .not appear from the engineer’s evidence that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in not doing what counsel says he ought to have done to stop the train. But this question was submitted to the jury under proper instructions, and we think the evidence fully supports the findings in this respect.

Appellants contend that the act of the legislature under which this suit was brought is unconstitutional, because of a defect in the title. The act is entitled ‘ ‘An act requiring railroad companies to pay for damages to stock.” Laws 1891, p. 267. Counsel contends that, as the act is silent as to fences and penalties, the law is inoperative, under Section 23, Article 5, of the Constitution of the state.

This question was passed upon by this court in State v. Bernheim, 19 Montana 512, 49 Pac. 411. The constitutionality of the law in question was sustained also by this court in Beckstead v. Railway Co., 19 Montana 147, 47 Pac. 795. We think there is no merit in the contention that the law is unconstitutional.

Prom an inspection of the record, we think the court instructed the jury with absolute fairness for the appellants upon every phase and issue of the case, and that the proper result was reached in the trial of the cause.

The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.

Affirmed.

Hunt and Buck, JJ., concur.