191 Mo. 395 | Mo. | 1905
This is an action for $5,000 damages arising from the death of the plaintiff’s nineteen-year old son, about six o’clock in the afternoon on the 20th of January, 1903, caused by one of the defendant’s cars colliding with the rear of a wagon driven by the deceased, at a point seventy to one hundred fifty feet west of Union avenue on De Giverville avenue, in the city of St. Louis. There was a verdict and judgment for the plaintiff for $5,000, and the defendant appealed.
The negligence charged in the petition is as follows :
“Plaintiff’s state further that said death was caused by the negligence of defendant’s servants on said ear in carelessly and negligently managing the same, in failing to sound the. bell, or in any other manner warning their son of the approach of the car, in failing to keep a watch for vehicles on the track in front of the ear, in failing to stop said car, after the danger to their son became apparent, or by the exercise of ordinary care would have become apparent, and by running at a high rate of speed.”
The answer is a general denial, coupled with a plea of contributory negligence, and an averment that, at the time and place of the accident, it was so dark as to render it impossible for the defendant’s motorman to see the deceased upon the track in a place of danger in time, by the use of all the means in his power, to stop the ear in time to avoid the accident.
When the panel of jurors was being examined upon their voir dire, it appeared that Rudolph Hartman, Jr., being duly sworn on his voir dire, was examined and answered as follows:
“By Mr. Jourdan, counsel for defendant: Q. Have you any claims or suits of any character pending against the Transit Company? A. I had in 1893. I was thrown off a car at Ninth and Greyer avenue, and I still have to wear a belt.
“Q. That was eight or nine years before the Transit Company was organized? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. That was one of Mr. Scullin’s lines? A. Yes, sir.
“ Q. What was known as the Union Depot Railway? A. Yes, sir.
“ Q. Now, would the fact that you received an injury resulting from an accident influence you in the trial of this case? A. Yes, sir.
“Defendant challenges juror because of prejudice and for cause.
“By Mr. Scullin: Well, you could be governed by the testimony and the instructions of the court, couldn’t you? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. You would listen to the testimony? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And try to do it impartially? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And you believe you could, do you not? A. Yes, sir.
“By the Court: Do you think that you might be more or less influenced by the prejudice you have against the company? A. No, sir; I have nothing against the Transit Company, personally.
“Q. I understand you to answer that you had a prejudice against the company? A. No, sir; I have a prejudice against railroad companies — against street car companies.
"Q. But have you any against this defendant? A. No, sir.
“Q. "Without being influenced by any feeling or prejudice at all against the defendant? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. It wouldn’t mingle in forming your judgment or opinion? A. No, sir.
“Challenge overruled.
“By Mr. Jourdan: Then what did you mean when yon told me, Mr. Juror, that you couid not try the case fairly, and that you did have a prejudice? A. If I hear the testimony I will try the case fairly.
“Q. Well, yon had no idea that you would try the case without hearing the testimony, had you? A. No, sir.
“Q. Well, did I misunderstand you — didn’t you tell me on your examination that you could not try this case fairly and impartially; that you had a prejudice growing out of your accident eight or nine years ago, because you were still compelled to wear a belt or something? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. You told me that? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Now, have you still that prejudice? A. No, sir.
“Q. Well, when was it removed? A. That was removed just now.
“Q. You mean that although you have had this prejudice since 1893, up to the time you answered my question a moment ago— A. I have not got a prejudice now. I have tried other eases.
“Q. I am not asking you about others, Mr. Hartman. All I want is a fair and.impartial jury. You told me you were prejudiced and you couldn’t try this ease, when I asked you not five minutes ago. Now, you say you have no prejudice, is that true? A. I have no prejudice now.
“Q. Although it had lasted from the time of your injury up to the time you were called into the box? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. You have no feeling either for or against the plaintiff or the defendant? A. No, sir.
“Q. Your mind is in that condition that you could go into the jury box and try it according to the testimony and the law, and absolutely nothing else? A. Yes, sir.
“ Q. And you have reached that conclusion within the last five minutes? A. Yes, sir.
“Defendant renews challenge because of prejudice and for cause. Overruled. To. which ruling of the court defendant then and there excepted.”
Ferdinand A. Bensberg, being duly sworn on his voir dire, was examined and answered as follows :
“By Mr. Jourdan, counsel for defendant: Q. Do you know of any reason why if selected as a juror you could not try this case fairly and according to the testimony and the law? A. I have a sort of prejudice against the company, a general prejudice.
“Q. That wouldn’t influence you in the trial of the lawsuit, would it? A. No, I don’t think it would, but still a person having a prejudice, that would probably unconsciously bias his opinion.
“Q. Well, do you feel that by reason of that prejudice your opinion of the testimony or the law might be biased against the defendant? A. No, I would try the cause according to the testimony, but unconsciously my opinion would be biased and I would give more preference to the testimony of a non-employee of the company than I would an employee.
“Defendant challenges juror because of prejudice and bias and for cause.
“By the Court: You mean by that you would allow the fact that the party was interested as an em
“Q. Would your opinion be the same as to parties who were interested on behalf of the plaintiff? A. Well, if they had a direct interest in it, then, of course, I would treat them the same way — if they were directly interested.
“Q. In other words, while considering the credibility of witnesses you would consider what interest, if any, they might have in regard to the matter in controversy — that is what you mean? A, Yes, sir, that is what I mean.
“Q. Do you think you could fairly try the ease under the evidence and the instructions of the court and render a just verdict? A. Yes, sir, I think I could.
“Challenge overruled.
“By Mr. Jourdan: Mr. Juror, as I understand you, you would go into the jury box with the presumption that the defendant was at fault? A. No, I couldn’t say that.
“Q. Well, that the plaintiff ought to recover? A. No, I couldn’t say that.
“Q. Well, that the defendant’s employees, if they may be called as witnesses, will not testify truthfully? A. Well, a person might testify truthfully, too, but you wouldn’t get the same testimony as you would if they didn’t have an interest in the result.
“Q. Well, an employee cannot have any interest in the result of this lawsuit? A. Well, that’s the way I look at it.
“Q. You indulge the presumption that there is an interest, and that, therefore1, they will not testify as truthfully as though they were not? A. I give you my opinion.
“Q. Well, really, Mr. Juror, I don’t understand your position now. That is the reason I am asking
“Q. You still have the prejudice? A. Still have it.
“Q. And you also have a prejudice against the testimony of employees? A. I wouldn’t give it the same preference that I would the evidence of a person who was not an interested party on either side — more so an employee of the company.
“Challenge renewed for cause stated. Overruled. To which ruling of the court defendant then and there excepted.”
The plaintiff adduced the following testimony:
The plaintiff, himself, testified that his son was nineteen years old, unmarried, and engaged in the business of a teamster at the time of his death.
Gustav Eckhardt testified that he was a teamster, working for the same company as deceased, and saw him at the World’s Fair grounds on the 20th of January, 1903, about five o’clock in the evening; that De-Giverville avenue is a public highway running east and west on which the defendant has double street car tracks; that the distance between the car tracks and the curb stone is about twelve feet. On direct examination, when asked as to the condition of the street outside of the car tracks, he said he would not call it a street at all, and when asked why he would not call it a street, he said, “It ain’t made.” He further said that on the block west of Union avenue, “there is a little better road, but last winter the road was pretty rough on both sides.” When asked if he meant by rough that there was no macadam there, he answered, “No, coming down a pretty hard .walk for the horses.” On cross-examination, after stating that-he would call it a rough road, and asked whether other than being rough, it was a bad place to travel, he answered: “Well, the road was not in a condition to travel outside at all. All the teams used to take the car track.
The witness testified that there were no street lights on De Giverville avenue, but he thought there was one at the corner of Union and De Giverville avenues.
Carren Dunn, a laborer at the World’s Fair grounds, testified that he was a passenger on the rear platform of the car and knew nothing of the accident until the collision occurred. He said the car was going very hard; that no bell was rung to his knowledge; that he did not hear the bell rung when the car was coming down De Giverville avenue. On direct examination he said that it was not a dark night but that it was cold and clear, and on cross-examination he testified that “it was kind of dark,” that he did not know how far one could see; that there were no street lights on De Giverville avenue.
August Kuhne testified that he was working for the Koken Barber Supply Company; was eighteen years old; was.a passenger on the car, riding on the front platform in company with his brother. When asked at what speed the car was running, he said: “Well, I just could not tell, but he was going at a good speed. Q. He was going at a good rate of speed? A. Good rate of speed, yes, sir.” That prior to the accident the bell on the car was not rung; that just before the accident the conductor came to the front platform and asked him and his brother if they wanted transfers, and upon their replying they did, the conductor said, “Wait a minute,” and left the front door open; that the motorman turned and closed the door and then “went back to work at his brakes, and he tried to stop but it was too late;” that the motorman applied the reverse power after he had struck the wagon. And when asked if he saw the man driving the wagon (it
Otto Kuhne testified that he was a musician, and was a passenger on the car and was seated inside the car about the center thereof, talking to a friend; that just prior to the accident he heard no gong sounded; that the first thing that attracted his attention was the collision. When asked as to the rate of speed the car was traveling, he answered, “About fifteen miles an hour, I estimate it. I think something like that.” When asked as to the character of the night, he said, “I think it was kind of dark but it was clear; stars were out you know.” The weather and track were dry.
Ed Kuhne testified that he was a passenger, riding on the front platform of the ear; that the conductor came out and asked him and his brother if they wanted transfers, and upon their replying they did, the conductor went back into the car and left thei door open, “and just then the motorman turned around and tried to close the door. By that time he had hit the wagon.” When asked as to the rate of speed the car was traveling just prior to. the accident, he said, “Why, at a good rate of speed. Q. About how many miles an hour? A. Well, I estimate it at fifteen miles an hour. Q. Did the motorman reverse his car? A. Yes, sir. Q. At what time? A. Why, just a few feet; I guess when he seen he was rig’ht up against the wagon, then he reversed it. Q. What kind of a night was it, Mr.
On cross-examination he testified: “Q. And you say the night was dark? A. The night was dark. Saw no lights on De Giverville avenue. Q. And almost instantly after you saw this wagon which direction were you looking — were you looking in front or in the rear? A. I wasn’t looking out the front; we was kind of joking and talking and not noticing anything. Q. The first thing you noticed with reference to the accident was reversing the car, was it not? A. Well, I seen the sudden jerk the motorman gave, and I thought, well, something is turning up. Q. And he [the motorman] saw the wagon before you did. A. Well, I think he did.” Witness testified that he didn’t know how far the car went after the collision before it stopped. That he thought one horse was knocked down. That the deceased was lying on the track in front of the car after it was stopped.
That was all the testimony for the plaintiff on the case in chief. The defendant demurred to the evidence. The court overruled the demurrer and the defendant excepted.
The defendant introduced testimony as follows:
George Eoff testified that he was the motorman of the car, which was east-bound on De Giverville avenue; that the collision occurred about one hundred and fifty feet west of Union avenue; that the car was running about eight.or ten miles an hour just prior to the accident; that he didn’t see the wagon until about within twenty-five feet of it; that he could not see more than twenty-five feet ahead of the car because of the darkness; that immediately on seeing the wagon he applied the reverse power and brakes and all the ap
Louis Hall, the conductor in charge of the car, testified he was on the inside of the car at the time of the collision and didn’t see the collision; that the car was reversed just before the collision; that the wagon remained on the track in front of the car after the collision; that the collision was not severe and no damage was done to the wagon; that one horse was knocked down.
R. A. Lindsay, a railroad machinist, working for the Nelson Morris Packing Company, testified that he was a passenger on the front platform, standing just behind the motorman at the time of the collision; that it was a dark night; that the car struck the wagon about seventy-five feet west of Union avenue; that just prior to the accident he was standing right in the rear of the motorman; that about a minute before the accident the door had been opened once, “and all at once I seen the motorman take his precautions — what rail
S. W. Carroll testified that he was a time-keeper at the World’s Fair; that he was a passenger on the car, seated inside of the car at the time of the accident; that the car came down De Giverville avenue at a very rapid speed; but as it approached the point of collision, that being near the curve at Union avenue, it slacked up and was going at about one-third of the speed it had been running five hundred yards west of there; that the motorman had to slow down for the curve; that he could not say what the speed was in miles; that it was a very dark night and that immediately prior to the accident his attention was called to the darkness by a fellow passenger, who was riding on the same seat with Mm; that he did not remember whether the gong was rung or not.
Charles F. Graham testified that he was a civil engineer and an inspector for the World’s Fair, and was a passenger on the inside of the car, seated with Mr. Carroll at the time of the accident; that the car was lighted up and the screens were down in front; that the night was very dark, exceedingly so; that prior to the accident he called Mr. Carroll’s attention
John Boatright, a trackman for the defendant, testified that he was a passenger on the front platform of the car at the time of the collision; that the motorman was at his post, looking ahead, one hand on the brake and the other on the controller; that he, the witness, was looking ahead just before and at the time of the collision and saw a wagon on the track about twenty feet ahead; that the motorman reversed the power as quickly as he could; that the minute the motorman saw the wagon he turned his brake and threw the power off and reversed it; that the car struck the coupling pole of the wagon, which stuck out about eight or ten feet behind the hind wheels of the wagon; that after striking the wagon the car ran about ten feet and stopped; that the night was dark and there were no lights on De Giverville avenue; that the gong was sounded quite often before the collision — was sounded just before the car hit the wagon.
Daniel Downey, a police officer, testified that he reached the scene fifteen or twenty minutes after the collision; that the night was dark; that there were no lights on De Giverville avenue; that he took the wagon to a livery stable after the collision and examined it and that it was not injured “a bit;” that there was a light at Union and De Giverville avenues, one hundred and fifty feet from where the car struck the wagon.
This was all the evidence introduced by defendant.
In rebuttal the plaintiff called John Aslag, who testified that he had operated electric cars on Lee avenue in St. Louis for six years and was familiar with electric cars, and appliances for stopping them. The .witness was then asked this question: “Q. Well, on an ordinary track on the level, coming at a rate of eight or ten miles an hour, in how many feet can you stop
Counsel for defendant objected to the question and insisted that it. should embody the conditions which existed that nightand should show that the witness had operated the same character of a car with the same character of brakes and reverse power. Thereupon the question was withdrawn, and the following question put to the witness: “Q. On a frozen track, a crowded car, say with sixty-five passengers aboard, on a level space, with the brake appliance and the reverse appliance, in how many feet can you stop a car going, at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour.” The defendant objected to the question for the same reason as before. The court overruled the objection and the defendant excepted. The witness answered: “Well, that time when I worked on the road, I could have stopped a car within fifteen feet; that is in 1900, when I was let out. ” That he had worked on the Lee avenue road for seventeen years. On cross-examination the witness testified that he had never run a car on De Griverville avenue, or anywhere else except on Lee avenue; that he had never seen the ear in question here, and didn’t know what kind of a brake it had or what kind of a reverse or other machinery it had.
This was all the evidence in the case. Thereupon the defendant again demurred to the evidence; the court overruled the demurrer, and defendant excepted.
The ruling of the court in respect to the giving and refusing of instructions is also complained of by the defendant, and will be discussed in the course of the opinion. The plaintiff recovered a judgment for $5,000, and after proper steps the defendant appealed.
I.
The first error assigned is the ruling of the trial court in overruling the challenge for cause of the jurors Hartman and Bensberg.
The juror Bensberg testified that he had a sort of a prejudice against the company, and that he did not think it would influence his verdict as a juror, yet added, “But still a person having a prejudice, that would probably unconsciously bias his opinion.” And further added: “I would give more preference to the testimony of a non-employee of the company than I would an employee.” Upon the court’s suggestion that he meant thereby that he would consider the interest of the employee in determining the credibility of his evidence, the juror acceded to that view. After examination by the court and counsel, the juror was asked: “Q. Well, really, Mr. Juror, I do not understand your position now. That is the reason I am asking these questions. A. Well, as I said before, I have a prejudice against the company to start with. Q. You still have that prejudice? A. Still have it. Q. And you also have a prejudice against the testimony of employees. A. I would not give it the same preference that I would the evidence of a person who was not an interested party on either side — more so an employee of the company.”
Under our system of jurisprudence there is no
The juror Bensberg more candidly and accurately stated the conditions existing in such cases when he said: “Well, a person having a prejudice, that would probably unconsciously bias his opinion.” The truth of this statement is self-evident. The question of the qualification of a juror is a question to be decided by the court, and not one to be decided by a juror himself. It is the prerogative and duty of the trial court to exercise a wise, judicial discretion in this regard, and the conclusion of the court should rest upon the facts stated by the juror with reference to his state of mind, and should not be allowed to depend upon the conclusions of the juror as to whether or not he could or would divest himself of a prejudice he admitted existed in his mind. And this is true whether the prejudice exists against either of the parties or against the character of the subject-matter in litigation, or against either of the parties as a class, and not against the party as an individual. It is proper to examine a ju
It is altogether a mistaken idea that the ruling of the trial court on such questions is conclusive and not subject to review. In some cases it has been loosely said that the ruling of the court on such questions is like the ruling of the trial court in law cases, and that where there is any evidence to support the ruling, an appellate court will not review the same. Such questions generally arise only in cases at law. It is the discretion exercised by the trial judge which is the subject of review. In approaching the decision of that question an appellate court is always guided by the same rule that obtains with reference to the review of discretionary judicial acts of inferior tribunals. Great deference is paid to the finding of a trial judge, but that finding is not conclusive, and where the facts are, as here, practically undisputed, such ruling is subject to review on appeal. Otherwise the whole power and authority as to the selection of jurors would be vested in the trial court, and it is against the policy of our law to permit any ruling in a nisi prius court to be beyond review and correction by an appellate court. Accorded such a power, all else would be a foregone conclusion, and a litigant would be entirely at the mercy of the trial judge, and the usefulness and propriety of appellate courts, would, to a large extent, be diminished.
This matter has been the subject of much consideration and adjudication not only in this State but in sister states, and text writers have undertaken to formulate rules which should be observed in the deter
In State ex rel. v. Bank, 80 Mo. l. c. 632, the fact appeared that the juror avowed a prejudice based upon what he had read in the newspapers, and even after the challenge was made and overruled, he stated that he had a prejudice which would require a considerable amount of evidence to remove, and asked to be relieved from sitting. His request was refused, and that ruling was sustained. The ruling was placed upon the ground that the decision of the trial court was like any other decision of fact, and ought not to be disturbed where there was any evidence to support it, and that the trial court was better able to pass upon the question than an appellate court.
Unless the predicate of that ruling is correct there can be no doubt that the juror in that case was not an impartial juror, and should not have been permitted to sit in the trial of the case, for no man is a fair and impartial juror who enters upon the trial of a case with a prejudice that it would require a considerable amount of evidence to remove. The parties litigant are entitled to a jury of men whose minds are not thus imbued, and who do not require a considerable amount of evidence to remove a prejudice before they can decide the issues of fact.
The more correct ruling was stated by Black, J., in McCarthy v. Railroad, 92 Mo. l. c. 539, where he said:. “It is not every opinion of a juror concerning the matter in litigation, which will operate as a disqualification. To have that effect, it must be such an opinion as will influence his judgment in the consideration of the cause. This is substantially the rule of the statute. [Sec. 2796 (now sec. 3785, R. S. 1899).] Opinions formed, but not of a fixed character, and which readily yield to evidence, do not disqualify the juror. [State v. Walton, 74 Mo. 270.] If he have such a bias or
In State ex rel. v. Cunningham, 100 Mo. 388, the rule was thus stated by Black, J.: “A juror who states on his examination that he has formed and expressed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused, and that opinion has been formed from rumor or newspaper reports, and that it would require evidence to remove the opinion, is not an incompetent juror, provided it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that such opinion will readily yield to the evidence in the case, and that the juror will determine the issues upon the evidence adduced in court free from bias. [State v. Walton, 74 Mo. 270, and cases cited; State v. Bryant, 93 Mo. 302.] This rule, so often asserted by this court, is in accord with that where it is said: The true doctrine is, that if a juror’s conceptions are not fixed and settled nor warped by prejudice, but only such as would naturally spring from public rumor, or newspaper reports; and his mind is open to the impressions it may receive according to the law and testimony, he is not incompetent. [2 Graham & Wat. on New Trials, 378.] Now, the opinion of the juror in this case was based upon what he had read in the paper over a year before the trial, since which time he had not thought‘of the matter. There is but one question left, and that is, whether it appears the opinion thus formed is such as not to bias his mind in the
The same rule was announced by Gantt, J., in State v. Williamson, 106 Mo. 169.
In State v. Bauerle, 145 Mo. l. c. 15, this court had this question before it, and speaking through Gantt, J., said; “Only one juror was challenged and this brings us to a consideration of the first exception in the trial. It is charged that the court erred in excusing H. F. Kleinschmidt from the panel of forty. It is not insisted that the panel of forty finally obtained were not entirely qualified, but that the defendant was entitled to have Kleinschmidt retained on the panel. The juror was informed that the State expected to substantiate the charge in the indictment by circumstantial evidence, and was asked by the prosecuting attorney if his opinions were such as to preclude his finding the defendant guilty upon circumstantial evidence alone, in a case where the punishment would be death. He answered he was opposed to capital punishment on circumstantial evidence. Upon further examination and cross-examination he still asserted that he was opposed to capital punishment on circumstantial evidence, but there might be an exceptional case where he could do so, but as a general proposition he would not convict on that character of evidence. Being pressed to say that if the evidence convinced him of defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, whether he could or could not convict, he answered, ‘Well, I believe I could, but I would have to admit it would take a great deal of it and would have to be very strong.’ Upon this showing the court excused him. This juror
So in civil cases there is no reason why a party litigant should have the additional burden of removing an admitted prejudice or bias in the mind of a juror, who admits that such prejudice would unconsciously affect his action.
The statute, section 3783, Revised Statutes 1899, prescribes, that in civil cases each party shall be entitled to challenge peremptorily three jurors. Section 3785 prescribes, “No witness or person summoned as a witness in a civil cause, and no person who has formed or expressed an opinion concerning the matter, or any material fact in controversy in any such cause, which may influence the judgment of such person, or who is of kin to either party in such cause within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, shall be sworn as a juror in the same cause.”
The statute does not speak of the bias or prejudice of a juror affecting his qualifications, because it is fundamental in our system of jurisprudence that a juror shall be free from bias or prejudice, and that the burden shall not be cast upon the parties litigant to first remove the bias or prejudice of the juror before, or in addition to, proving the facts in the case. The principle of the rule underlying the statute, and affording ground for challenge for cause, is the same
Counsel for plaintiff refer to Thompson in his work on Trials, section 100, where it is said: “Under modern practice the court acts as trier of all challenges. And the determination of questions of fact is final and not subject to review.” Of this it is sufficient to say that such is not the rule in this State.
Counsel for plaintiff further refer to Thompson on Trials, section 115, where the doctrine is laid down as follows: "The sound and prevailing view is that a party cannot, on error or appeal, complain of a ruling of a trial court in overruling his challenge for cause, if it appear that, when the jury is completed, his peremptory challenges were not exhausted; since he might have excluded the obnoxious juror by a peremptory challenge, and therefore the error is to be deemed error without injury. For the same reason, if a court erroneously overrules a challenge for cause, and thereafter the challenging party excludes the obnoxious juror by a peremptory challenge, he cannot assign the ruling of the court for error, unless it appear that, before the jury were sworn, his quiver of peremptory challenges was exhausted; in which case there is room for the inference that the erroneous ruling- of the court may have resulted in leaving upon the panel other obnoxious jurors whom the party might, but for the ruling, have excluded by peremptory challenge. Some courts, therefore, hold that it is enough, in such a juncture, to show that his peremptory challenges were exhausted before the jury was sworn. But others take what seems the better view, that it must also appear, not only that his peremptory challenges were exhausted, but that some objectionable person took his place on the jury, who otherwise would have been excluded by a peremptory challenge.”
Counsel for plaintiff cite cases which hold that even where the trial court erred in overruling a chai
This doctrine is manifestly pregnant with difficulty, and would necessitate an extensive collateral inquiry precedent to the regular proceedings in a case, in order that it might appear that the aggrieved party had or had not exhausted his peremptory challenges, or had not been driven to the necessity of using some of his peremptory challenges to get rid of the alleged prejudiced juror, whom he had challenged for cause, and thereby been deprived of the opportunity of getting rid of other objectionable jurors, though less objectionable than the juror challenged for cause. Such a ruling imposes a burden upon the party aggrieved, which he ought not to be compelled to bear, and reverses the theory of our system.of jurisprudence that error is prejudicial, unless the party in whose favor the error is committed, shows that it was harmless error. The rule stated by Thompson on Trials reverses this practice and imposes upon the party who points out and assigns the error, the further burden of. showing affirmatively that he was prejudiced by the error. Under our statute each party is absolutely entitled to three peremptory challenges. The statute also gives parties litigant the right to challenge a juror for cause. If error appears in the ruling of the court on a challenge for cause that question should be decided wholly independent of any consideration of whether the party litigant had or had not exhausted his peremptory challenges. In other words, the statute provides for two classes of challenges, one for cause and the other peremptorily without assigning any cause. And in the determination of the question of the propriety of the ruling upon a challenge for cause, it is improper to mix with it a consideration of the
In Billmeyer v. Transit Co., 108 Mo. App. 6, it appeared that one of the jurors was challenged for cause. On his voir dire, the juror stated that he had a prejudice against the defendant because it had come near killing two of the members of his family. But that such prejudice would not affect him in the trial of the case and he thought he could give the defendant a fair trial. Yet that he had some hard feeling against the company on that account and he thought he had a right to have such a feeling; and that if he was selected as a juror, whilst, he would not allow his feelings to interfere with his verdict, still he could not get over that feeling, and that it would require the defendant to make a stronger defense than if the defendant were some other company. The trial court overruled the challenge for cause, and the Court of Appeals reversed the judgment for that reason alone. The opinion of the court was rendered by Goon®, J., and is one of the best and dearest considered cases bearing upon this subject to be found in the books. The learned judge in disposing of the case said:
“That testimony disclosed a very strong bias in the mind of the venireman; not exactly a prejudice in the strict sense of that word; for he had not prejudged the particular case, nor formed an opinion about it. Yet it is plain that he cherished a bitter and resentful feeling against the defendant which would be apt to prevent a dispassionate consideration of the case. It .is true the juror swore he did not think his feelings would affect his judgment and that he could give the defendant a fair trial. But his entire testimony produces the conviction that his conception of a trial which would be fair to the defendant, embraced the notion that it would be incumbent on defendant to clear itself of blame for the accident by stronger evidence than other defendants, in similar actions, ought
“We have not found the decisions plentiful on the precise question of what bias against a party to a suit will disqualify a venireman; but the whole spirit of Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence is that causes shall be tried by men who are free from partiality or bias for or against the litigants; which indeed is the essence of a trial, properly so-called; for everyone knows how much a feeling of sympathy or aversion will influence the mind in coming to a conclusion on given facts. The rule of Lord Mansfield, a judge peculiarly attentive to the composition of his juries and their selection by the summoning officers was that ‘a juror should be as white as paper and know neither plaintiff nor defendant, but judge of the issue merely as an abstract proposition upon the evidence produced before him. He should be superior even to a suspicion of partiality.’ It has been said that this rigor of qualification is now relaxed because of the difficulty in procuring such men when the news of events is generally spread by the press and that the prevalent test is the one stated by Chief Justice Marshall in Burr’s case: ‘That light impressions which may fairly be supposed to yield to the testimony that may be offered, which may .leave the mind open to a fair consideration of that testimony, constitute no sufficient objection to a juror; but that those strong and deep impressions, which will close the mind against the testimony that may be offered in the opposition to them, which will combat that testimony and resist its force, do constitute a sufficient objection to him.’ [Thompson & Merriam, Juries, sec. 207.]
“ The juror challenged in the court below was not in a mood that left his mind open to a fair consideration of the defendant’s testimony and hence was disqualified by Judge Marshall’s standard. In State v. Bauerle, 145 Mo. 1, 46 S. W. 609, the State’s challenge for cause of a venireman who was opposed to capital punishment on circumstantial evidence, was allowed, and the ruling was approved by the Supreme Court, although the venireman swore he believed he could convict the defendant on such evidence, if his guilt was established beyond a reasonable doubt; but that ‘it would take a great deal of it (i. e., circumstantial evidence), and it would have to be very strong.’ That man’s bias was like the bias of the juror challenged in this case, in that both were in a temper to resist the effect of the evidence they would have to weigh. Of course, an appellate court more readily sustains than reverses the ruling of a trial, court on such a question, which is one largely of discretionary action. But the decision of a case by jurors not inspired by animosity against one of the litigants is so important in the administration of justice, that when a venireman is challenged on his own confession of. ill will towards one of the parties, deep-seated enough to prevent him from returning a verdict for such party on proof that would satisfy him were some one else concerned, we feel justified in saying it was error to overrule the challenge. [McCarthy v. Railroad, 92 Mo. 536; State ex rel. v. Bank, 10 Mo. App. 482, 80 Mo. 626.] ”
The ruling announced in that case is so clearly just and equitable, and accords so nicely with the American
The statutes of this State authorize a change of venue in civil cases, where either party, by ex parte affidavit, charges bias or prejudice of the judge. These statutes exemplify the policy of the law, which is intended to guarantee an absolutely free and fair trial. In the nature of the things it is impossible that like provisions should be made to secure unprejudiced jurors. In lieu of them the law has provided that the question of bias or prejudice of a juror shall be developed and determined on his voir dire. Of what avail is it to a litigant, if, when such examination develops the fact that a prejudice or bias exists in the mind of a juror, such as will influence, or tend to influence, his verdict, or such as will require evidence to remove, or such as will put either party to the necessity of producing stronger or better evidence than would be required if the suit was between persons as to whom the juror had no such bias or prejudice, the court permitted the question of fitness of the juror to be determined by the juror, himself, declaring that he would be able to accomplish the almost human impossibility of fairly and impartially deciding the facts, notwithstanding the bias or prejudice he admitted existed in his mind?
The juror Bensberg in this case candidly stated what every unbiased mind must know is the truth, that such a prejudice would unconsciously affect the verdict.
The administration of justice has not yet fallen so low, nor the character of our people become so imbued with prejudice, that it is impossible to secure a jury
The conclusion is irresistible that the trial court should have sustained the challenge for cause.
II.
The next error assigned is the action of the trial court in overruling the demurrers to the evidence.
It will be remembered that the negligence of the defendant charged in the petition was, first, failing to sound the bell or warn the deceased of the approach of the car; second, failing to keep a vigilant watch for vehicles on the track in front of the car; third, failing to stop the car after the danger became apparent, or by the exercise of ordinary care, would become apparent, and fourth, by running at a high rate of speed.
The case made is this: The deceased was driving a lumber wagon which was a mere skeleton wagon with no bed on it. Prior to the accident he was last seen at the World’s Pair grounds, the exact point not being disclosed. The accident occurred at a point about one hundred and fifty feet west of Union avenue on De Giverville. It does not appear how far the deceased had driven on the railroad tracks on De Giverville avenue, going eastwardly, before the accident, but the presumption is a legitimate one from all the testimony in the case, that he had done so for several blocks. The accident occurred about 6:15 p. m. on January 20, 1903. The night was dark — somé of the witnesses say it was very dark. There is no certain testimony from persons qualified to speak as to the rate of speed of the car. The testimony on behalf of the plaintiff in this regard was given by the three Kuhnes, two of whom
On the other hand, the motorman testified that the car was running eight or ten miles an hour. Carroll, a time keeper at the World’s Fair, testified that it had been going at a very rapid speed, but that five hundred yards west of Union avenue it slowed down to about one-third of the speed it had been running, he could not estimate the speed in miles, on account of approaching the curve at Union avenue.
Thus the maximum of speed testified to by anyone was fifteen miles an hour, and the minimum speed, eight miles an hour. There was a double track on De Griverville avenue. Between the rails of the street car track and the curb of the street there was a space of twelve feet. The street was not an improved street, and was somewhat rough, but was in condition for travel. And its condition near Union avenue was better outside of the tracks than it was further west. There were no street lights on De Griverville avenue. There was one street light at the corner of De Griverville and Union avenue, which was one hundred and fifty feet east of the place of the accident. The car was well lighted with electricity, and had a head light burning. There were five persons on the front platform of the car, to-wit, Grus Kuhne, and his brother Ed
There is no evidence that any of the appliances or machinery were improper appliances, or that they were out of repair, or that they failed to do their duty, nor that the motorman as soon as he discovered the wagon on the track, did not use every means in his power to stop the car in time to avert the collision, but was unable to do so. The car struck the end of the coupling pole which projected some feet behind the wagon, shoved the wagon along, knocked one of the horses down, and the deceased was thrown from the wagon
The theory of the plaintiff’s ease as expressed in the three instructions given for the plaintiff, is that it was the duty of the motorman, while bis car was moving forward "to keep a constant and vigilant watch ahead, and that if such failure on bis part directly com tributed to, and was the direct and proximate cause of the death of the deceased,” the verdict should be for the plaintiff. And further that the car was running at a dangerous rate of speed and that no gong was sounded or warning given of the approach of the car.
The rate of speed, whether it was fifteen miles an hour or eight miles an hour, was not in itself a dangerous speed, nor is there any evidence that it was negligence to run at that rate of speed at the place where the accident occurred, it being the western part of the city over an unimproved street. There is, therefore, nothing in this case which would justify a verdict for the plaintiff because of the dangerous speed of the car.
Tbe place of tbe accident was one hundred and fifty feet west of Union avenue, and there is nothing in tbe testimony which tends even to cast a duty upon tbe defendant to sound a gong at that point, it not being an intersecting street and tbe presence of tbe wagon on tbe street not being known. Tbe argument of tbe plaintiff, however, is that the defendant should have known or anticipated that persons would likely be traveling on De Giverville avenue at that time of tbe evening, returning from the World’s Fair to tbe city, and hence it was tbe duty of tbe defendant to sound tbe gong, and warn persons so traveling over tbe street of tbe approach of tbe car. But it was equally tbe duty of persons passing over the street, and while driving on tbe street car tracks, to know that street cars were constantly passing over the same, and take proper precautions to get off of the track in time to avoid a collision. There is a conflict in the testimony
The chief point relied on by the plaintiff is that it was the duty of the motorman, under the circumstances, to keep a constant and vigilant watch ahead to discover persons on the tracks, and to stop the car as soon as he saw, or by exercise of ordinary care, might have seen, the danger of the plaintiff, and that he was guilty of a breach of this duty because he turned his attention from the front long enough to close the front door of the car.
This is the chief, if not the only, act of negligence claimed in this case. There is, however, no evidence in the case that if the motorman had been constantly and vigilantly, as the plaintiff claims is his duty, looking ahead on the track, he would have been able to discover the presence of the wagon on the track any sooner than he did, or in time to avert the collision. The only witness Avho testified that he was looking ahead all the time was Boatright and he said that he did not discover the wagon on the track until after the motorman had closed the door and resumed his position at the brakes, and was beginning to apply the brakes and reverse the power. The two Kuhnes, who were on the front platform, testified that they were not
It is hard to draw a material difference between this case and the case of McGauley v. Transit Co., 179 Mo. 583. That, too, was a rear-end collision between a lumber wagon, with no bed on it, and in all respects like the wagon in this case, and a street car, both going in the same direction on the car tracks, at a point where there were no cross streets. There, as here, the night was dark, and the motorman testified that he did not and could not discover the presence of the wagon on the tracks until he got within fifteen feet of it; and that he immediately applied the brakes, but was unable to stop the car in time to prevent the injury. There, as here, the plaintiff contended and the court instructed, that the defendant was liable if the motorman failed to ring the bell or give a warning of the approach of the car. In that case it was claimed that the brakes were out of repair, but for which the car would have been more quickly stopped. In that case the street outside of the car tracks was macadamized, while here it was unimproved. In that case the plaintiff testified that he heard a noise behind him and tried to turn out of the track to get out of the way of the car, but did not succeed in doing so. In that case the motorman admitted
This court, speaking through Valliant, J., disposed of that case as follows:
“That the plaintiff was guilty of negligence directly contributing to cause the accident appears from his own testimony. He was not a trespasser on defendant’s track; the track was laid in a public street and therefore he had a right to drive his wagon along it. But in going upon the track he chose the more dangerous part of the street; he. could with more safety to himself have driven along the west side of the street, outside the railroad, which the evidence shows was macadamized and adapted for travel. His duty to himself was to use ordinary care, to avoid injury, and when he selected the more dangerous part of the street for his use, his care should have been commensurate with the greater danger thus assumed. He knew — the law compelled him to know — that cars were liable to come towards his wagon from behind, and he should have been on the lookout for them, he should have looked in the direction from which he knew they were liable to come. It was dark, there were no street lights there, and that fact should have made him more cautious. There were no street crossings there — it was in the suburbs — and the sounding of the street car gong which is usual at street crossings in the day was not to be expected there. There was an electric headlight on the dash board of the car, which, although there was some effort in the plaintiff’s evidence to show was not very bright, could have been seen ac
"Granting that the motorman was negligent in not sounding his gong — that the defendant was negligent in allowing the car to be in use without a safe brake — that those facts contributed to the catastrophe —still the accident would easily have been avoided if the plaintiff had taken care to look for the car which he knew was liable to come and seeing it had driven out of the track.
“It is doubtful if the evidence shows any negligence on the part of the defendant. The motorman was not an unfriendly witness to the plaintiff. He had been discharged by the defendant and had been on very pleasant relations with the plaintiff ever since his discharge. We do not mean to imply that he was not truthful in his testimony, but only to say that he was not reluctant to tell anything he knew that would benefit the plaintiff’s case. He said he did not sound his gong, because he did not see anything on the track until he was so close to the wagon that he could do nothing to avert the collision. This was a wagon not easily seen in the dark; it had no body, was composed of only the wheels and gearing and was rather of skeleton form. We cannot say as a matter of law that the motorman was negligent in not seeing it and therefore in not sounding the gong to warn the driver to move off the track. There was no evidence that the motorman was
“Respondent contends that the case should have been given to the jury on the theory of his second instruction which the court refused, that is, that the plaintiff was entitled to recover notwithstanding his own negligence.
“There is nothing in this case to bring it within the doctrine of Kellny v. Railroad, 101 Mo. 67; Morgan v. Railroad, 159 Mo. 262; Klockenbrink v. Railroad, 172 Mo. 678.
“There is no evidence tending to show that with a brake in perfect repair this car could have been stopped in time to avert the accident after the motorman saw the wagon; there is no evidence tending to show that the motorman was not on the lookout, or that he could by the exercise of ordinary care have seen the wagon before he did see it. Plaintiff’s own evidence shows that the motorman did everything in his power, after he saw the danger, to prevent the collision. In no view of the evidence was the plaintiff entitled to recover.”
In all essential legal principles there is no difference between the McGauley ease and the case at bar. For whilst in the McGauley case the motorman said that he was looking ahead, still he said that the brake was in bad condition. In both eases the danger of the driver of the wagon was not discovered until the car was within fifteen or twenty-five feet of the wagon. In this case there is no evidence that there was any defect
in.
At the request of the plaintiff, the court instructed the jury as follows:
“3. You are further instructed that it was the duty of the motorman of the car, while his car was moving forward, to keep a constant and vigilant watch on the track ahead; if you believe from the evidence that the motorman failed to keep such a watch; and that such failure on his part directly contributed to, and was the direct and proximate cause of the death of the deceased, your verdict must be for the plaintiff, provided, you further find that at the time of the collision, and immediately preceding same, the deceased was in the exercise of ordinary care.”
This is assigned as error. This is a common law action of negligence and not one arising under any ordinance or statute. The deceased was not a passenger on the car, neither was he a trespasser on the track, therefore, the obligation of the defendant was to use ordinary care to prevent injuring him; and the correlative duty of the deceased was to use ordinary care to avoid being injured. There is no element of wilfulness or wantonness in this case, and, therefore, the
A vigilant watch means, in the common acceptation of the term, an exceedingly careful watch. At any rate, the use of that term is well calculated to cause the jury to believe that the court intended to impose a stricter duty on the defendant than was ordinarily required. Yet the defendant’s duty in this case was to exercise ordinary care. The meaning of the court in this respect is emphasized by its refusal to give the 7th instruction asked by the defendant, which was as follows:
“If you find by reason of the darkness and character of the vehicle, the motorman, by keeping a vigilant watch, was unable to see the wagon until he was so close to the same that by using the instrumentality at his command, he was unable¡ to stop the car and thus avoid the collision, and that as soon as he saw the same, he used every, and the most effective means of stopping the car, and failed so to do, then the defendant is not liable and you will so find.”
It will be observed that the defendant also employed in its instruction the term vigilant watch, yet
But such a view is untenable, for instruction No. 7 put the case to the jury upon the predicate that if the motorman had been keeping a vigilant watch ahead on the track, he would not have been able sooner to discover the wagon on the track by reason of the darkness and the character of the wagon. This view of the case the defendant was certainly entitled to have go to the jury and no other instruction covered it. On the contrary, the only other instruction given was instruction No. 3, which required the motorman to keep a constant and vigilant watch on the track ahead, and it may have been argued before the jury, as it is strongly argued here, that it was the duty of the motorman to keep a constant and vigilant watch. In support of this contention plaintiff refers to an instruction given in the case of Heinzle v. Railroad, 182 Mo. 528, which required the motorman to keep a constant lookout on the track. Of that instruction, however, it is only necessary to say that no objection was made by the defendant to the use of the word "constant," and therefore the correctness thereof was not passed upon by this court.
This being an action under the common law it was improper to instruct the jury as the court did in plaintiff’s instruction No. 3. Instead of telling the jury that it was the duty of the motorman “to keep a constant and vigilant watch on the track ahead,” the court
For the foregoing reasons the judgment of the circuit court is reversed.