Carter v. Sioux City Service Co.
This text of 141 N.W. 26 (Carter v. Sioux City Service Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
Evans, J.
The accident occurred about 9:30 p. m. on the night of December 14, 1909, a cold and stormy night. It occurred on Iowa street, which was one of the main streets of the city between Momingside and the city proper. Iowa street runs north and south. The street car in question came from the south. The railway train came from a general northeasterly direction, but turned due west as it approached Iowa street. For the distance of nearly one block up to the point of collision the freight train was moving due west from east. Across Iowa street running east and west the company was maintaining twelve parallel “stub” tracks. These covered an area in width of about one hundred and fifty feet, extending from Third street south, Third street being an east and west street lying immediately north of the place of collision. The following plat will aid i» an understanding of the record:
[81]*81
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Evans, J.
The accident occurred about 9:30 p. m. on the night of December 14, 1909, a cold and stormy night. It occurred on Iowa street, which was one of the main streets of the city between Momingside and the city proper. Iowa street runs north and south. The street car in question came from the south. The railway train came from a general northeasterly direction, but turned due west as it approached Iowa street. For the distance of nearly one block up to the point of collision the freight train was moving due west from east. Across Iowa street running east and west the company was maintaining twelve parallel “stub” tracks. These covered an area in width of about one hundred and fifty feet, extending from Third street south, Third street being an east and west street lying immediately north of the place of collision. The following plat will aid i» an understanding of the record:
[81]*81
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" 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It will be noted from the diagram that the parallel tracks in question number from one to twelve beginning at tbe south' side. The collision in question occurred at the intersection of track eleven. On the night of the accident these tracks were largely occupied by standing freight cars extending up to the sidewalk line. This was true of tracks ten and twelve. Track eleven, however, was open. As the street car approached the tracks from the south on the night in question it was stopped while its conductor proceeded ahead over the tracks as far as track nine. From track nine the conductor could . see for a distance of fifteen or twenty feet from the street along track eleven. He neither saw nor heard any sign of an approaching train, and upon his signal the street <?&¥ [82]*82came forward. As it passed track nine, the conductor stepped aboard while the car was moving. As track eleven was closely approached the freight train coming from the east was seen. It was too late to stop the street car, and it was hastened across. The freight train collided with the rear vestibule; both cars being derailed thereby. The freight train was made up of ten empty cars being pushed in front of an engine, and being transferred from one yard to another; the ultimate purpose being to distribute and “spot” them at various places where they were to be loaded with merchandise for shipment. The train exhibited no lights except the lanterns of men on top of the cars. For the purpose of lookout and signals, two men were stationed on top of the westermost car each with a lantern, and another man was stationed on top of a car near to the locomotive for the purpose of relaying signals in passing around curves. The decedent was one of the two who were stationed on top of the westermost car. He was in complete charge of the crew and train and of the making up of the same. By reason of the collision the decedent was thrown to the ground from the car, and received injuries thereby from which he died in a few hours. Other points will be stated in their appropriate place in the discussion of the various features of the case which are presented for our consideration. Eighty-nine formal errors are assigned for reversal by appellant. These are presented in still larger numbers in points in the brief. Manifestly we cannot follow the argument through so many details, but must content ourselves with dealing with the proper subjects involved in the various groups of exceptions.
II. Was the decedent guilty of negligence on his own part which contributed to his injury ? This is a crucial question, and is not without its difficulties in this record. As already indicated, the decedent was in full charge of the train, and clearly he was responsible for the manner in which thé train was made up and for the manner of its operation. The night was cold and the rails were frosty. Each car was equipped with an air brake, but none of these air brakes were coupled. The only brake, therefore, in use upon the train [84]*84was that of the engine. The train so made up was being moved through the city for the distance of about one mile. As already indicated, it carried no lights except the lanterns in the hands of three men. By reason of the curve in the track and of the height of the standing cars on the other tracks and of the fact that the lanterns were carried at about the height of the knee, they served to give but very brief warning of the approach of the train to the crossing, even though a flagman had stood upon the intersection. Carter and his brakemen, Stickle, were upon the westernmost car. As they approached the crossing they saw the light of the street car through its transoms from a point south of the tracks, and observed its approach toward track eleven without further stopping. It appears from the evidence of Stickle as a witness for the plaintiff that the approach of the street car was a subject of conversation between them. The fact that they could see only the transoms of the street car indicated that their own lanterns would be at that time below the line of vision of the persons in charge of the street car. The freight train was moving at the rate of about five or six miles an hour. There was no flagman in sight upon the intersection. The decedent gave no signal to the engine until his car had reached the line of the street, nor did he' display his lights or attempt any other signal to the street car conductor. The defendants contend that the decedent was negligent as a matter of law. This contention is based upon two principal grounds: (1) That he was running his train in violation of section 2082 of the Code, and. was therefore guilty of a misdemeanor, and that such violation contributed to the accident; and (2) because he saw the approach of the street car toward the intersection, and failed to stop as soon as he could have stopped and failed to display signals within the range of vision of the street car conductor.
[85]*85Sec. 2079. On New or Repaired Cars. No corporation, company or person operating any line or railroad within this state,. or any car manufacturer or transportation company using or leasing cars therein, shall put in use any new car or any old one that has been to the shop for general repairs to one or both of its drawbars, that is not equipped with automatic couplers so constructed as to enable any person to couple or uncouple them without going between them.
See. 2080. On All.Cars. After January 1, 1898, no corporation, company or person, operating a railroad, or any transportation company using or leasing cars, shall have upon any railroad in this state any ear that is not equipped with such safety automatic coupler.
Sec. 2081. Driver Brake on Engines. No corporation, company, or person operating any line or railroad in this state shall use any locomotive engine upon any railroad or in any railroad yard in the state that is not equipped with a proper and efficient power brake, commonly called a ‘driver brake.’
See. 2082. Power Brake on Cars. No corporation, company or person operating a line of railroad in the state shall run any train of ears that shall not have therein a sufficient number of cars with some kind of efficient automatic or power brake to enable the engineer to control the train without requiring brakemen to go between the ends or on the top of the ears to use the hand brake.
Section 2083 provides that a violation of any of the four preceding sections shall be deemed a misdemeanor and punished accordingly.
It will be noted that these sections prescribe the duty of the operating company to equip its ears with “automatic couplers” and “power brakes.” These requirements purport to be made for the protection of employees. The declared purpose is to dispense with the necessity of requiring hrakemen to go between the cars for coupling purposes or on top of the cars for braking purposes. In the case before us all the ears were properly equipped with air brakes and literally answered the call of the quoted statute, but these air brakes were not connected. Section 2082 does not require that all ears in a train shall be equipped with an ‘ ‘ automatic or power [86]*86brake.” It does require that there shall be a “sufficient number” to “enable the engineer to control the train without requiring brakemen,” etc. In the case before us the engine was equipped with a driver brake as required. The ultimate question therefore is, Was this train so made up as to “enable the engineer to control the train ’ ’ ¶ The train was made up of “empties.” It was running slowly. It was controlled by the engineer, and was stopped quickly. The defendants, however, introduced expert evidence to show that, if the power brakes on all of the cars had been connected, a quicker stop could have been made, and that the difference in time would have avoided the accident. This evidence, however, is not decisive as a matter of law. As already indicated, the statute does not require the connection of all of the cars in the train with the power brakes. On behalf of the plaintiff there was evidence tending to show that it was impracticable as well as unnecessary to couple the air brakes because each car had to be cut off and spotted for loading at its appropriate place. We conclude, therefore, that it cannot be said as a matter of law at least that the decedent was guilty of violating the statute.
There are certain rules of law applicable to “customs.” These rules are usually applicable to what is called the custom of a trade or locality. In an appropriate case a custom may be made the basis or measure of a liability. It may become a part of an implied contract. In such cases universality, certainty, notoriety, and perhaps other characteristics [88]*88must be shown. Under old English law, it was essential that a custom should have antiquity to a point “whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.” Many such customs were recognized. There was a custom of London, and the custom of gavelkind in Kent which controlled the descent of real property, awarding it not to the eldest son, but equally to all the sons; and the custom of merchants which later become known as the “Law Merchant.” The subject has had its expansion and relaxation in modern times. In this country no custom could be traced into antiquity, and this requisite has been abandoned here. The subject is recognized as an incident of trades and occupations and localities, and it is often resorted to in construing contracts or supplying their implications. The subject of custom in that sense is not involved here. The fact that the term “custom” was used in the testimony of the witnesses is not controlling. The word has its indiscriminate uses in the English language. "We have before us here only an attempt to show the usual method of doing a practical thing, which must necessarily be done in 'some way, and may perhaps be done in a variety of ways. And, if it be proper to show the usual method of doing a thing, did the evidence become inadmissible because it disclosed that there .was more or less variation in the usual method? And yet it is contended here by appellants, that because the usual method according to the witnesses was not rigidly definite and certain and uniform under all circumstances, therefore the evidence was not admissible at all. And this argument is predicated upon the proposition that no evidence of “custom” can be shown unless these legal prerequisites be first made to appear. From a somewhat different angle we had occasion in McNames v. Donaker Bros., 155 Iowa, 318, to consider the distinction between the use of the term “custom” in its technical and restricted sense and its use in a general and more indiscriminate sense. What we have said there has its application here. See, also, Legh v. Hewitt, 4 East, 154 (7 Rev. Rep. 445). Evidence of usual method or [89]*89practice is very common where a question of negligence is involved. See Auld v. Railway Co., 136 Ga. 266 (71 S. E. 426, 37 L. R. A. [N. S.] 518). In the cited case it was shown to be a common practice of passengers to pass from one ear to another while the car was in motion. The evidence was held admissible on the question of negligence, though there was no claim that the practice, was universal. In the case before us it was incumbent upon the jury to say whether one or both of these parties was responsible by his negligence for the collision. The jury could not say whether either one of these parties was negligent without having some conception of what under all the circumstances he ought to have done. What was the usual method (or usual methods if more than one) of piloting the street car across these tracks was to our minds an appropriate circumstance for the consideration of the jury. Not that any particular method was binding as a matter of law upon either party, but that the jury was entitled to all the circumstances. If there was or was not a departure from the usual method, such was proper evidence for whatever light it might bring. Upon the objection of the defendants, however, the trial court limited the purpose for which this evidence could be considered, and permitted the jury to consider it only as bearing upon the question of the negligence of the decedent. Its admissibility for this purpose is considerably emphasized. There was a collision at an intersection where both parties had a right to pass. The safe passage of each depended upon their co-operation and mutual understanding. If there were usual methods practiced which were mutually understood by both parties, then a departure from such methods by one tended naturally to the discomfiture of the other.
We think they cover the ease concretely and fairly, and furnish the appellant no ground of complaint.
[94]*94
Other minor errors are stated, hut we find them without merit.
The judgment below must be Affirmed.
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141 N.W. 26, 160 Iowa 78, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carter-v-sioux-city-service-co-iowa-1913.