Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry Co. v. Dickens

103 S.W. 750, 7 Indian Terr. 16, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 4
CourtCourt Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
DecidedJune 14, 1907
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 103 S.W. 750 (Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry Co. v. Dickens) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry Co. v. Dickens, 103 S.W. 750, 7 Indian Terr. 16, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 4 (Conn. 1907).

Opinion

Clayton, J.

(after stating the facts). The complaint alleges four acts of negligence on the part of the railway company, as follows: “(1) That it carelessly left an engine standing on its tracks under full head of steam with no competent and fit person in charge thereof. (2) That its tracks at the coal chute and cinder pit are connected by a series of switches and turn-outs, and at the time the engine was left standing at the coal chute they were so negligently and carelessly arranged by the employes of the company, whose names plaintiffs do not know and have no means of ascertaining, that an engine starting at the coal chute towards the cinder pit would run directly into an engine standing over the cinder pit under which deceased was at work. (3) That defendant failed to furnish deceased a reasonably safe place for the doing of the work he was required and directed to do. (4) That defendant failed to furnish an adequate and sufficient number of competent and fit persons to operate its locomotives, and failed to see that its engines were operated by competent persons, anrl failed to furnish an adequate number of competent persons to have charge of and operate its switches and turnouts so as to prevent an engine running into one set over the cinder pit [20]*20in the manner said engine did run into the engine under which Henry Dickens was working. The answer denies every allegation in the complaint, and avers: "First, That Henry Dickens was injured through the negligence of one H. A. Cooper, who was then not in the employ of defendant, and was in no way responsible to the defendant for his acts. That said Cooper, without authority got upon an engine of defendant standing on one of its side tracks at the coal chute of defendant for the purpose of being loaded with coal to- be used in the service of defendant, while the steam on said engine was carefully shut off; the engine being safejy and properly left in said position. That said Cooper opened the throttle of said engine and caused it to move and failed to control it, causing it to back rapidly over the tracks, and against the engine which the deceased was under. That Cooper was not an employe of the defendant, but was the employe of one G. W. Closson, with whom the defendant had a contract to unload cars of-coal into the coal chute at Purcell, and to unload coal from the chute into the engines; the said Closson being an independent contractor, for whose acts the defendant was in no way liable. And, second, without waiving the first averment, that the said Cooper, bywhose negligent act alone the injury to the deceased occurred, was a fellow servant of the deceased. There were 18 requests for instructions presented by the defendant, most, if not all, of which were refused and exceptions saved. There were 10 grounds set up in the motion for new trial, and there is filed an assignment of errors, containing 54 specifications of error; and, as if this were not enough, or possibly for the purpose of emphasizing the fact that they were well taken, they are set out the second time in the record. That we may get to the real and substantial issues presented here, we will eliminate one of these copies; and, as appellant’s counsel have, by their brief, argued the first five of the specifications, deeming, no doubt, that the others were not,, of sufficient importance to be noticed, we feel that we can safely also eliminate the other 49.

[21]*21As to the allegation of the incompetency of the employes in and about the yard, inasmuch as the proof shows that Seaford, the assistant hostler, is the man who “spotted” engine No. 601 and left it unguarded, and as it is not shown that any other person had anything to do with the accident, if they were in fact incompetent, it is only necessary as to this point to consider the proof as to him. We will say, however, in passing, that there was no testimony offered which tended to show that any other employe of the company was incompetent. As to Seaford, the testimony of plaintiff showed that he had had over one year’s experience as an assistant hostler, or “fire knocker,” as they are sometimes called; that prior to that time he had had three years’ experience in running a traction engine. He had never had an accident to oecurr with him in either employment. He had been regularly promoted to the positions. No witness testified that he was incompetent, or to any act of his that would tend to show that fact, unless, it was that he left the engine unguarded; and every witness who testified as to that said that, to leave an engine in this condition, and adjusted as this one was, was safe. A number of witnesses testified for plaintiff that he was a competent hostler. The hostler’s duties were shown to be to handle the engines; to move them from place to place in the yards; to “spot” them at the chute, over the pit, or wherever it was necessary for them to be. This was all the testimony that was offered to show the incompetency of the deceased’s fellow servants; and, of course, that is not sufficient.

As to the negligent arrangement of the tracks and switches leading from the chute to the pit, there was absolutely nothing showing that they were in an improper condition. The only thing shown was that the track tan straight from' one point to the other, and this was a side track, and, as it is evident that an engine must be taken from one point to the other, to be cleaned at one and coaled at the other, we can see no objection [22]*22to its being straight, or any advantage in its being crooked. Of course, if the two points were connected by a straight track, it would give an opportunity for a “wild” engine leaving the chute in' the direction of the pit to run over it; but, as the very purpose of the construction of the pit is to run the engine over it to be cleaned, it is hard to conceive how it would be an act of negligence to so place the 'tracks.

As to whether the company failed to furnish a safe place for the deceased to work by a negligent construction of the pit, the evidence showed that it was made of concrete masonry and iron, on which the track was laid. The depth and dimensions have been stated.. It was shown, and not disputed by the proof, that they were of approved make, in common use on the road, and in good repair. ' The only evidence tending in any wise to show any negligent construction or condition was that another accident had.happened at the same pit about a month later, when the pit was in the same condition; but how it happened the cause whether by an engine colliding with one on the pit, or by burning by steam, from an engine or the slipping of the foot or what other cause is not shown — simply that an accident happened. It might have been that a. man had accidentally been shot there, as far as the proof shows. Juries can learn ■ nothing from such testimony. It proves nothing and could only serve to prejudice the case of defendant. It was clearly irrelevant, and so the court at first held; but by some means the proof was introduced. And that this pit had no barrier erected across the track at the pit, while another one in the same yards had; and this was all the testimony on that point. There was no evidence that the condition of the two pits were the same, or that, if such a barrier had been erected, it would probably or possibly have arrested the force of an engine running against it under full steam, with sufficient force to drive an engine standing upon it 150 yards, as the proof showed was the effect of this engine. It is easy to imagine [23]*23why a barrier might be a necessity at one pit and not at another.

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Bluebook (online)
103 S.W. 750, 7 Indian Terr. 16, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atchison-t-s-f-ry-co-v-dickens-ctappindterr-1907.