27 S.D. 627 | S.D. | 1911
This is an appeal by the defendant from a judgment entered in favor of the plaintiffs and from the order denying a new trial. The action was instituted by the plaintiffs as the minor children of Thomas Whaley, deceased, by their guardian, to recover damages claimed to have accrued to them on account of the death of Thomas Whaley on the 6th day of February, 1909, by collision with a locomotive at a highway crossing on appellant’s railway at Flandreau in Moody county. The complaint is in the usual form, and alleges that on or about the 6th day of February, 1909, the said Thomas Whaley was traveling with his wife, Mariah Whaley, the mother of these plaintiffs, with due care, in a wagon drawn by two horses, along a public highway and street in the city of Flandreau, which crosses said railway about 1,400 feet east of the depot of said railway company, commonly known as the “Mell Davis Crossing” and while crossing the track on the defendant’s railway at said crossing, the said Thomas Whaley and his wife were, by the negligence of the defendant, and its agents and servants, Felix Vidal and Will Larson, who were in charge of said passenger train of said company, struck, run over, and killed while on its way from Airlie, Minn., to said city of Flandreau; such negligence consisted in running said train at a high, negligent, and dangerous rate of speed of about 40 miles per hour, which said high rate of speed had been committed for a distance of over 4,000 feet within the
The answer, after admitting the’ corporation of the company, and that the city of Flandreau was, at the time mentioned in- the complaint, a municipal corporation, and that Felix Vidal and Will Larson were at the time of said accident and for a long time prior thereto had been respectively engineer and fireman upon the train which struck and killed the said Thomas Whaley; denies there was any ordinance in force and effect in the city of Flandreau as specified in plaintiff’s complaint. And the answer specifically alleges that the injuries of the said Thomas Whaley and his death were caused by and were the result of his own negligence and want of care, and that the want of care on the part of said AVhaley was the proximate cause of his injury and death. ’
The propositions upon which the defendants rely for reversal of the judgment herein are: “(i) That the evidence is insufficient to sustain a finding of negligence on the part of the appellants, or any of them, and that there is no proof of actionable negligence on the part of any of the railway company’s employes. (2) That plaintiff’s decedent, Thomas Whaley, was guilty of dontributory negligence, as a matter of law. (3) That excessive damages were assessed by the jury manifestly appearing to have been given under influence of passion and prejudice. (4) That it is the duty of a person approaching a railway crossing, whether driving of on foot, to look and listen before crossing the track. (5) That the trial court committed reversible error in the following particulars: (a) In rejecting and receiving evidence -as specified in the assignment of errors, pages 1 to 19, inclusive; (b) particularly in the court’s charge to the jury and in refusing to instruct the jury as requested on behalf of defendants and appellants; (c) particularly in the court’s refusal to direct a verdict at the close of all the testimony, as requested in the motion of defendants’ and appellants’ counsel.”
It is further disclosed by the evidence that at a point i6i}i feet northerly of the crossing, there was an unobstructed view of the track to the east and the train could have been seen at a point 1,400 or 1,500 feet easterly of the crossing and at other points between that point and the crossing, the train could have been seen from the highway for a distance of from 700 to 1,400 feet. There was also evidence tending to prove that the highway over which the deceased passed had been cut up by passing vehicles, and, on the night in question, was frozen over, excepting in two or three places near the crossing in which there were still muddy places which made it necessary to travel in a somewhat irregular track along the highway to the crossing.
Felix Vidal, one of the defendants, testified on the part of the plaintiffs substantially as follows: That he was a locomotive
Will Larson, the firman, testifying on behalf of the defendant/ stated that before reaching the crossing that night the whistle-was blown and the bell was rung; that Mr. Vidal, the engineer, blew the whistle and it was blown, as the witness presumed, about 30 or 35 rods east of the crossing; that it might be more or less; that it was a long, distinct, station whistle and that he began ringing the bell about the time -the engineer blew the whistle and continued ringing the same until after the accident.
Lyle Rowe who was a witness on behalf of the plaintiffs, testified in substance as follows: That he lived a mile and a half south of the Mell Davis crossing; that that road is a public highway and section line; that he knew where the Payne corner is and that he knew Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whaley in their lifetime, and
W,e think we have quoted -sufficient of the evidence to practically show how the accident happened and as there was no person present at the crossing at the time of the accident, there is no direct evidence as to whether the deceased, Thomas Whaly, and his wife stopped, looked, or listened, before they crossed the track.
[i] There was evidence tending to corroborate the engineer and fireman that the whistle was blown and the bell rung'before the train reached the crossing, but in view of the fact that neither Lyle Rowe nor his wife heard any bell or whistle, there was at least a conflict in the evidence upon that subject. It will be observed, however, that it is not claimed by either engineer or fireman that any whistle was sounded or bell run at a point 80 rods easterly of the crossing, and that the whistle sounded did not indicate a crossing signal, but a station signal. It will be further observed that it is admitted by the engineer that at the time of approaching the crossing he was running on a down grade át a rate of from 30 to 35 miles an hour.
Section 538, Civ. Code, of this state, requires the engineer to blow the whistle or ring the bell for a distance of 80 rods before crossing a public highway, and section 477 of the Penal Code prescribes a penalty for a violation of the same. The ordinance, introduced in evidence, of the city of Plandreau limits the running of a train through that city at a speed exceeding six miles an hour. The evidence, therefore, was clearly sufficient to warrant the jury in finding that the defendant was guilty of negligence in omitting to sound the whistle or ring the bell at a point 80 rods easterly of the crossing and in running its train through the city of Flandreau at a speed in excess of six miles an hour.
This brings us to the important question, namely, Was the deceased guilty of such contributory negligence as bars the right of recovery of the plaintiffs in this action? It is contended by the appellants that inasmuch as there was an unobstructed view at several points from the Payne corner to the crossing at which the train could have been seen for several hundred feet before it ap
[2] Where reasonable men might draw different conclusions from the undisputed evidence, the question of negligence or contributory negligence is one of fact for the jury, and it is only when the evidence is without material conflict and is such that all reasonable men must draw the same conclusions therefrom that the question is for the court. Grand Trunk Ry. Co. v. Ives, 144 U. S. 408-417, 12 Sup. Ct. 679, 36 L. Ed. 485; Ernst v. Hudson River Ry. Co., 35 N. Y. 9, 90 Am. Dec. 761; Edwards v. C., M. & St. P. Ry. Co., 21 S. D. 504, 110 N. W. 832; Columbia Box & Lumber Co. v. Drown, 156 Fed. 459, 84 C. C. A. 269; O’Connor v. Armour Packing Co., 158 Fed. 241, 15 L. R. A. (N. S.) 812; Schwanenfeldt v. C., B. & Q. Ry. Co., 80 Neb. 790, 115 N. W. 285; Wallenburg v. Ry. Co., 86 Neb. 642, 126 N. W. 289; Gray v. C., R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 143 Iowa, 268, 121 N. W. 1097; Nilson v. C., B. & Q. Ry. Co., 84 Neb. 595, 121 N. W. 1128.
[3] In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the law presumes that the deceased exercised such degree of care and caution as the circumstances and the law require, and the burden of proving that he did not rests upon the defendants throughout the case, and is a question for the jury. Nilson v. C., B. & Q. Ry. Co., 84 Neb. 595, 121 N. W. 1128-1130; Baltimore, etc., Ry. Co., v. Landrigan, 191 U. S. 461-474, 24 Sup. Ct. 137; Northern Pac. Ry.
I11 the case of Railroad Co. v. Gentry, supra, the Supreme Court of the United States held, as appears by the fourth headnote, as follows: “Where no one personally witnessed the crossing of the track by deceased, nor his death while crossing, the presumption is that he stopped, and looked and listened for approaching trains; and hence it is proper to refuse to charge that there could be no recovery if deceased, by looking and listening, could have known of the approach of the car in time to have kept off the track and prevented the accident.” And the court, in its opinion, speaking by Mr. Justice Harlan, says: “One of the assignments of error relates to the refusal of the court to give the-following special instructions, asked by the defendant: ‘You are instructed that it is the duty of an employe, or any other party,, about to cross a railroad track, to look and listen for passing engines, cars, or trains, to ascertain whether or not same are approaching, before going upon the track; and if the party fails to-exercise such care, he cannot recover. You are therefore instructed that; if the deceased, E. D. Gentry, by looking or listening, could have known of the approach of the engine and car, and in time to have kept off the track and prevented the injury to-himself, and that he failed to do so, you will find for defendant/ It is undoubtedly true, as claimed by the defendant,. that the deceased was under a duty not to expose himself recklessly when about to cross the track of the railroad.” The court then refers to Railroad Co. v. Houston, 95 U. S. 697, 702, 24 L. Ed. 542, Schofield v. Railway Co., 114 U. S. 615, 618, 5 Sup. Ct. 1125, and Aerkfetz v. Humphreys, 145 U. S. 418, 12 Sup. Ct. 835, and continues: “But the present case did not admit of or require an instruction upon this special subject. There was no evidence upon which to rest such an instruction. As already stated, no one personally witnessed the crossing of the track by the deceased, nor the running of the flat car over him. Whether he did or did not
In Baltimore & Potomac R. R. Co. v. Landrigan, supra, that court again having a similar question under consideration, speaking by Mr. Justice McKenna, says: “There was no error in instructing the jury that in the absence of evidence to the contrary, there was a presumption that the deceased stopped, looked, and listened. The law was so declared in Texas & Pacific Railway Co. v. Gentry, 163 U. S. 353, 366, 16 Sup. Ct. 1104. The case was a natural extension of prior cases. The presumption is founded on a law of nature. We know of no more universal instinct than that of self-preservation, none that so insistently urges to care against injury. It has its motives to exercise in the fear of pain, maiming, and
We have quoted at considerable length from these opinions as they are directly in point in this case and express the unanimous opinion of that learned court. It will be observed in the case at bar that there was no direct evidence as to whether or not. the deceased stopped, looked, or listened before passing over the track, and hence, under the rule established by the decisions above cited and quoted from, it was the duty of the jury to draw the inference from the want of evidence on the part of the defendant as to the failure of the deceased to stop, look, and listen, that he did do all required of him under the law. Taking this view of
We shall not attempt to review the numerous cases cited by the defendants bearing upon the question of contributory negligence, but it must suffice to state that in our view it appears from nearly all of those cases that the party injured or killed by the train while crossing the track was either attempting to cross it in the daytime when there was an unobstructed view of the approaching train for a considerable distance from the crossing, or that there was direct evidence tending to prove that the injured party was guilty, of contributory negligence, -and that he knew of the existence of the track, and could, beyond any reasonable doubt, have seen the train had he looked and heard it, and heeded it, and thus avoided the injury. It will be observed that the case at bar does not come within either of these classes, and that there is nothing in the evidence to rebut the presumption of due care on the part of the deceased.
While it is- true that the witness Mell Davis testified that the deceased had passed over the track some years prior to the accident, he also testified that in the earlier days the traveled path was not, as now, located due north -and south upon the section line, but ran, as it were, across lots. The question, therefore, as to whether or not the deceased actually knew of the location of the railroad crossing on the night of the accident, was squarely in
In its charge, the court instructed the jury upon this question as follows: “If, therefore, Thomas Whaley either knew at the time, or by the exercise of ordinary care would have known that he was driving onto the railroad track, if he knew the railroad track was there, yet voluntarily drove on the track, he was negligent in 'so doing, and the plaintiffs in such case cannot recover. In determining whether or not Thomas Whaley knew, or by the exercise of ordinary care would have known, that the railroad crossing was there, consider his knowledge or want of knowledge of the crossing, his knowledge of the location of the railroad in Plandreau so far as it is disclosed in evidence, the character of the night, the weather, and all the surrounding facts and circumstances so far as disclosed in evidence.” And the jury evidently, by their verdict, found that he had no such knowledge.
[5] Having so found upon the conflicting evidence, the verdict is conclusive upon this court and relieves the deceased from the charge of contributory negligence, and it will thus be seen that the presumption of due care on the part of Thomas Whaley, at the time of the accident in question, was not rebutted.
[6] It may be further added that the fact that neither Lyle Rowe nor his wife heard any bell or whistle or railroad train at the time they crossed the track immediately preceding the deceased, clearly raised a conflict in the evidence as to the blowing of the whistle and ringing of the bell requiring that question also to be submitted to the jury.
[7] It is further contended -by the appellants that the court erred in admitting in evidence the city ordinance of the city of Plandreau as it appears in the book of ordinances of said city, limiting the speed of trains passing through the city. This contention is clearly untenable.
It is provided, among other things, in section 1213 of the Political Code as follows: “* * * The city auditor shall record in a book kept for that purpose, together with, the affidavit of the publisher, all such ordinances so passed and published; and said
Lewis Benson, as a witness on the part of the plaintiffs, testified that he was city auditor of Flandreau; that he had in his possession all such books, records, and files of the office of city auditor as came into his possession as such, and that he had in his possession the book called “Ordinance Book” in which appears what is called ordinance 62, of the city of Flandreau, and which book he produced at the trial. The plaintiffs thereupon offered in evidence pages of the book containing the ordinance referred to and which he produced. We are of the opinion that by the provisions of the section last quoted, that the said ordiance book was properly admissible under the provisions of that section.
[8] It is further contended by the appellants that the court erred in refusing to give the instructions requested by them and refused by the court. These requested instructions are quite lengthy and we do not deem it necessary to set them out in this opinion, as, in our view, the charge of the court clearly and fully covered all the questions presented by the evidence in the case, and that all of the requested instructions correctly stating the law, were covered by the court’s charge to the jury and were quite as favorable to the defendants as the law would permit. The charge of the court seems to have been satisfactory as no exception was taken thereto.
[9] It is further contended by the defendants that the verdict of the jury Was excessive in the amount awarded to the plaintiffs as damages sustained by them by reason of the death of the deceased for the réason that the same was the result of passion or prejudice. The amount of damages in cases of this nature is peculiarly within the province of the jury, and appellate courts are very reluctant to reverse the verdict of -the jury as to amount of damages unless the case is an exceptional one and the appellate court can clearly see that the verdict is for such an amount as does clearly show that the jury were influenced by passion or prej
[10] We are of the opinion that the verdict of the jury, in view of all the circumstances of the case, was not so excessive as to indicate that it was given under the influence of passion or prejudice on the part of the jury. Davis v. Holy Terror Mining Co., 20 S. D. 399, 107 N. W. 374. It will be observed that the action is brought by three sons of the deceased, aged respectively, 13, 11, and 9.
It is disclossed by the evidence that the deceased was about 51 years of age, was a man of good habits, a prosperous farmer, and the expectation of the life of the deceased at the time of his death was about 20 years. It will be observed that the children were of an age at which they required the benefit of a father’s instruction physically, intellectually, and morally. It is further disclosed by the evidence that the health of the deceased was good; that he was always rugged and strong; that he had no ailments
Numerous errors are assigned as to the admission of evidence on the part of the plaintiffs, but, in our opinion, the court in its ruling upon these questions committed no reversible error, and a discussion of these various errors would prolong this opinion to an unreasonable length.
Finding no error in the record, the judgment of the court below and order denying a new trial are affirmed.