Whether the plaintiff was guilty of negligence contributing to the accident, was a question of fact for the jury. The trial judge could not properly rule, as a matter • of law, that she was guilty of culpable imprudence in attempting to pass over the obstructions upon the sidewalk, although they were known to her. Pomfrey v. Village of Saratoga Springs, 104 N. Y. 459; 5 N. Y. State Rep. 802. Whether she could pass over them in the exercise of proper care, or whether she was bound to go around them into the muddy street, were questions of fact for the jury.
The earth was thrown upon the sidewalk by an adjoining owner, who was engaged in building a trench and postholes a fence upon the line of his lot. The evidence on the p.iit of the plaintiff tended to show that this obstruction ; p'MV the sidewalk had existed for about ten days, but on bu part of the defendant there was evidence tending to that the trench and postholes were dug and the earth tin-own out upon the sidewalk on Friday and Saturday prior to the Sunday morning upon which the accident happened, and that the work was finished on Saturday afternoon. Whether upon the whole evidence the obstruction had existed for such a length of time that the defendant was guilty of negligence and in fault for not taking notice of it and removing it, was also a question of fact for the jury.
Counsel for the defendant requested the court to charge as follows: “ If the jury believe that the dirt was all thrown upon the sidewalk upon the Friday and Saturday before the accident which occurred on Sunday, then the city is not guilty of negligence.” The court refused to charge this request, but did charge that it was for the jury to determine whether reasonable time had elapsed in which notice should be taken. To this refusal defendant’s counsel excepted. This exception presents no error.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs
All concur.
