Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Co. v. Lagerkrans

91 N.W. 358, 65 Neb. 566, 1902 Neb. LEXIS 321

• Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
• Decided: July 10, 1902
• Docket: No. 11,427
• Status: Published

Opinions

Albert, C.

This is an action brought by the administrator of the estate of Waif red Hegglund, deceased, to recover damages for the death of the deceased, alleged to have been caused by the negligence of the defendant. A trial to a jury resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff. Prom a judgment rendered thereon, the defendant prosecutes error to this court. The facts sufficiently appear in the body of the opinion.

It is first insisted that the court erred in overruling a demurrer ore tenus to the petition. The petition, so far as is material at present, is as follows:

“That at all of said times said defendant was a common carrier of freights, live stock and passengers over said line of railway between said named points, and on said date, to wit: May 22d, 1899, said defendant in consideration of the sum of $-, agreed to be paid by said deceased to said defendant, received from and undertook to ship and agreed to ship for said deceased one car load of cattle, and safely carry said cattle and said deceased upon its freight train from said Oakland to said South Omaha, carrying said deceased in its caboose in said freight train for the purpose of caring for and looking after said stock.

“In pursuance of said agreement, and preparatory to shipping said cattle, said deceased loaded said cattle on a freight car furnished for' that purpose to said deceased by said defendant, said defendant receiving the same so loaded and placed the same in its freight train, which Avas due to leave said Oakland at about the hour of ten o’clock P. M. of said date.

“That said deceased, after so loading said stock, and before the arrival of said freight train at said Oakland, remained and waited in and about the office and Avaiting rooms of said defendant at its depot at said Oakland, and upon the arrival of said freight train, at said Oakland, Avas informed by the agent of the defendant having charge of said depot, that the caboose was attached to said train and in Avhieh said deceased Avas to ride to said South Omaha, would not stop at said depot for plaintiff to take passage therein, but the said caboose would be stopped in the yards of said defendant in said Oakland at a point about 15 rods north of said depot, upon the main track of said line or railroad; that said caboose did stop as aforesaid about said distance from said depot, and in order to take passage on said caboose said agent directed and told said deceased that it would be necessary for him, said deceased, to go to said point Avhere said caboose Avas so stopped; that pursuant to said directions, and Avhile attempting so to do, said deceased went upon and along the track of said defendant from said depot in the direction of said caboose, that being the usual and only reasonable Avay of going from said depot to cabooses in stock trains, and being the way usually taken and followed by other shippers of stock over said line of road at all times with full knowledge thereof on the part of the defendant; that at the point where said caboose and train Avere standing at the time aforesaid, there were three tracks, one being the main line and upon AA'hicli said train and caboose was then standing, and the other two being sidetracks or switches on either side of said main line; that on one of said side tracks at said time, there Avas a locomotive standing still, Avliich said locomotive was in charge of an engineer of defendant’s company; that Avhile said deceased Avas going along the tracks as aforesaid, the night Avas very dark, and after said deceased had passed Avhere said engine was standing on said side track, and after said deceased had reached a point about midway between where said engine and said caboose were standing, the said engineer, without any warning, either by whistle, ringing of the bell, signal light, or otherwise, started up said engine on said sidetrack behind and followed after said deceased at a rapid rate, to-wit: at about ten miles per hour, and said engineer carelessly, recklessly and negligently caused said engine to run against, upon and over said deceased, and thereby carelessly and wrongfully and negligently caused the death of said deceased, without any fault, carelessness or negligence of said deceased.”

The specific grounds upon which the petition is assailed, as taken from the defendant’s brief, are substantially as follows:

(1.) It fails to allege any excuse for the deceased being on the railroad track. (2.) It fails to allege that he took any precaution or exercised any of his faculties to protect himself from injury. (3.) It fails to allege that the defendant’s servants knew of his dangerous position in time, by the exercise of due care, to have prevented the accident which resulted in his death. ■ -

As to the first, we think the allegation to the effect that the deceased had arranged for passage on one of the defendant’s trains, and in order to reach it he was obliged to go some 15 rods north of the passenger depot, and that the railroad track was the usual route taken by passengers, and the only reasonable one, is a sufficient excuse for his being on the track.

As to the second, we do not understand the rule to be that, in order to negative contributory negligence, the plaintiff is required to set out the specific steps and pre: cautions taken to avoid injury. We think the- general allegation, “without any fault, carelessness or negligence of the deceased,” covers the ground in this case.

The third is based on the theory that the petition affirmatively shows negligence on the part of the deceased. The theory is unsound. If the allegations of the petition be true, and we must assume that they are when the petition is assailed by demurrer, the deceased may be said to have been on the track on defendant’s implied invitation. That being true, the defendant can not now be heard to say he was guilty of negligence in going where it had invited him to go. In our opinion, the petition is good, as against a demurrer.

Another ground urged for a reversal of the judgment is, that the court erred in overruling the defendant’s motion for the direction of a verdict in its favor. In support of this position, the defendant again challenges the sufficiency of the petition. We have already gone into that question, and Avill only add that it is involved to some extent in the question of the sufficiency of the evidence admitted in support of the allegations of the petition to Avarrant the submission of the case to the jury; consequently what we may say on that question Avill apply, to some extent, to that of the sufficiency of the petition.

Another ground upon which the defendant insists it was entitled to the direction of a verdict is that there was a failure to prove the alleged omission of the defendant to sound the bell, bloAV the whistle, or display lights on the engine which caused the death of the deceased. Some of the Avitnesses on behalf of the plaintiff testify they were in a position to have observed these warnings had they been given, and that they observed none. On the other hand, some on behalf of the defendant testify that they heard the bell and saAV the lights on the engine. As a rule, positive testimony is more satisfactory than that which is purely negative. But whether such warnings Avere given was a question of fact for the jury to determine from all the evidence. They were the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses, and of the weight to be given their testimony. For the court to have assumed, in the face of the testimony, that the giving of such warnings was conclusively established, would have been a usurpation of the province of the jury.

But the defendant urges that it Avas entitled to the direction of a verdict for the reason that the evidence conclusively shows contributory negligence on the part of the deceased. As the question is raised in this case, every fact favorable to the plaintiff, which the evidence proves, or tends to prove, must be taken as true. With this rule in mind, we shall not be misunderstood when, in the determination of the question before us, we deal with such facts as the established facts in the case. Such facts, so far as-material at present, are substantially as follows: The deceased had arranged with the defendant for the shipment of a car load of stock and passage for himself over the defendant’s road from Oakland to Omaha, on a certain train which usually left the former place about 11 o’clock at night. He loaded his stock and went to the defendant’s passenger depot shortly before the time for his train to leave, where he was informed by the person in charge of the depot that the caboose of the train on which he had taken passage, would not stop at the depot, and. that in order to get on he would have to go to where it was then standing, and where passengers were usually taken on, some distance north of the depot. The most practicable route from the depot to the caboose, and the one usually taken by passengers, was on the defendant’s right of way, and for a part of the distance, on the track or one of the side tracks. On receiving such information the deceased and some other passengers started for the caboose, walking on one of the side tracks, the deceased between the rails. On the way they passed an- engine standing on a spur of road which led from a turntable to the side track' on which they were walking. As they were thus making their way to the caboose the engine which they had passed backed from the spur onto the side track on which they were walking, and moving backward in the direction of the caboose at the rate of about ten miles an hour, struck and killed the deceased. There is also evidence tending to show that no warning was given the deceased of the approach of the engine by bell, whistle, the display of lights or otherwise. The night was dark; so dark, the defendant insists, that its engineer could not have seen deceased and his companions in time to warn them had he been looking. For the greater part of the distance from the depot to the caboose, and at the point where the accident occurred, there 'was a space between the tracks where the deceased might have walked; but it was not wholly free from obstructions, more or less formidable to those walking after night. We think the foregoing fairly refects the facts which the evidence proves or tends to prove, so far as they throw light on the present inquiry. We might add that there is no evidence that the deceased at any time looked or listened for the approach of an engine or train. The question presented at this stage is whether the facts stated show such negligence on the part of the deceased as to preclude. a recovery in this case. The facts relied upon as showing such negligence, are that there was a space at the point where the deceased was killed, and for some distance before he reached that point, where he might have walked instead of walking on the track; and that, being on the track, he failed to look or listen for approaching trains. While a railroad track is a place of danger, to walk on such track is not always negligence. Whether it is negligence in a given case depends largely on the attendant circumstances. In this case the defendant was under contract with the deceased to carry him by one of its trains from Oakland to Omaha. Through no fault of his, in order to get on the train the deceased was obliged to walk some distance in the dark on the defendant’s right of way, and a part of the distance on one of its tracks. While it is true that at the place he was killed, and for some distance before reaching that point, there was a space between the tracks, where he might have walked, and which, as a matter of fact, was reasonably safe, it was of such a character that one walking in the dark, as was the deceased, might reasonably hesitate in making choice between it and the track as a place of safety. One threading his way among the tracks in a railroad yard is surrounded by dangers. In his effort to avoid one he is liable to run into another. The best and safest course is largely a matter of conjecture. A mere error of judgment in choosing under such circumstances, can not be said, as a matter pf law, to constitute negligence. What we have just said applies, in part, to the omission to look and listen. On that point we may add that this court can not say, as a matter of law, how often or at what intervals the deceased was required to use his senses to determine whether an engine is approaching him from behind on the side-track. He had passed over that portion of it, and found it clear. The track in front of him, another engine in the yard, his own steps, and other matters, all claimed his attention. Besides, it is conceded, that it was so dark that the engineer, had he been on the lookout, could not have seen the deceased in time to warn him. As we have seen, we must assume that no lights were displayed on the engine; the companions of the deceased did not hear the approach of the engine until it was so near that they had barely time to save themselves. Under such circumstances, his failure to look and listen is not conclusive on the question of negligence. In our opinion, the motion for the- direction of a verdict was properly overruled.

The following are among the assignments argued at length:

“The court erred in overruling the defendant’s objections to the questions put by the plaintiff’s counsel, to the witnesses, as to whether or not there was any light on the rear end of the engine No. 104 and as to whether Or not any bell was ringing on said engine just before it struck the deceased, because said questions were leading and suggestive, and were incompetent and immaterial under the issues in this case.

“The court erred in receiving the evidence of plaintiff’s witnesses as to conversations between the deceased, and others present, and the Western Union Telegraph operator, Walter Rindquist, in regard to going to the caboose, over the objections of the defendant, because the same was incompetent and immaterial and there was no evidence to show that said operator had any power to bind the defendant by any statement whatever.”

The briefs are equally obscure as to the witnesses referred to, and the portion of the voluminous record where the alleged errors occurred. The assignments are too indefinite. Wonderlick v. Walker, 41 Nebr., 806, 810; Eagle Fire Co. v. Globe Loan & Trust Co., 44 Nebr., 380; Sigler v. McConnell, 45 Nebr., 598; Bloedel v. Zimmerman, 41 Nebr., 695; City of Omaha v. Richards, 49 Nebr., 244.

It is next urged “the court erred in excluding the evidence of the witnesses, offered hy defendant, as to the condition of the grounds and traveled paths, from the depot north to the north end of defendant’s yards, both on the east and west sides of defendant’s main line track.” This assignment is no more definite than those last referred to, but the brief points out the page of the bill of exceptions where the rulings complained of may be found. In one instance, the evidence was sought to be elicited by the defendant on cross-examination, by the following question: “Then a person could travel, from the depot, between the main line track and the passing track, without obstruction, from the depot clear back to the north end of the yard at Oakland.” This question followed a rigid cross-examination in which the facts were laid bare. The offer, following the rulings on the question, was not to show that a person could travel as indicated by the question, but to show the same state of facts as had already been drawn out on cross-examination. The offer was properly rejected.

The next question referred to is one addressed to defendant’s own witness. It was objected to and the objection sustained. No offer showing what the defendant expected to prove by the witness was made. The settled rule is that without such offer, the ruling on such objection will not be reviewed.

The defendant tendered the following instructions, ail of which were refused, and such refusal is now assigned as error:

“1. In this case the plaintiff as administrator of the estate of Waif red Hegglund, deceased, sues to recover damages from the defendant on account of the death of the said Hegglund, claiming that sgid death Avas caused by the negligence of the defendant, and that said Hegglund Avas free from any negligence on his part. The defendant denies that I-Iegglund’s death Avas caused by its negligence, denies that said Hegglund Avas free from negligence on his part, and alleges that his death Avas caused by the carelessness and negligence of the deceased himself. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff to establish the íoIIoaa7-ing facts: First, that deceased came to his death on account of the negligence of the railroad company; second, that such death occurred under such circumstances and in such a manner that deceased, if he had lived, could have recovered damages against the defendant for his injuries. The jury are therefore instructed that unless you are satisfied, by the preponderance of the evidence, of the truth of both of these propositions, the plaintiff Avill not be entitled to recover, and your verdict should be 'for the defendant.”

“3. You are instructed that negligence, Avliich in laAv Avill entitle the plaintiff to recover, is the omission to do and perform some act or duty, AAdiich a reasonable man would do or the doing of some act which a reasonable and prudent man would not do, under the same or similar circumstances. Measured by this rule, if the plaintiff has failed to establish such negligence on the part of the defendant by a preponderance of all the evidence, your verdict should be for the defendant.

“6. The undisputed facts established by the evidence in this case, are that the deceased at the time of the accident knowingly and Avithout any cause or excuse therefor went upon the defendant’s railroad track and between the rails of said track upon Avliich an engine was standing, fired up and ready to move; that he walked along on said track, between the rails in the night time, with his back to said engine, and without making any effort to ascertain if said engine was moving or in which direction the same was moving, snch action on his part was gross contributory negligence. And unless you find from- the evidence that the person or persons, in charge of said engine, knew, or by the exercise of ordinary diligence might have known, of the dangerous position in which deceased had placed himself; and having such knowledge carelessly and without warning ran said engine over him and killed him, the plaintiff can not recover; and you will find for the defendant.

“7. The plaintiff in this case can only recover for the pecuniary loss, sustained by the widow of Walfred Ilegglund, occasioned by his death. Such pecuniary loss is the loss of her means of support for the period during which he would probably have lived, but for his injury and death on the 22d day of May, 1899. If you find that his widow has marned again, since his death and is not now dependent upon his labor for her support, then if you find for the plaintiff, you may take this fact into consideration in estimating the pecuniary loss, if any, which she has sustained and in fixing the damages in this case.”

As to the first, it is faulty, because by it the defendant sought to submit a question of law to the jury, namely, whether the deceased, had he lived, could have recovered damages of the defendant for his injuries. It was properly refused.

As- to the third, the court on its OAvn motion gave one numbered 3, in the same language, adding thereto the following : “It is for you to fix the standard for reasonable, prudent, cautious men under the circumstances of this' case, as the evidence discloses such circumstances to you, according to 'your judgment and experience of what reasonable, prudent and cautious men would do under the same circumstances, and then test the conduct of the deceased involved in this case, and try it by that standard.” The defendant insists that the foregoing addition renders the instruction obscure. It does not so appear to us. It simply gives the jury the standard by which they are to test the conduct of the deceased. The standard given is the one they should have applied in the absence of any instruction on that point. As the instruction tendered was included in the one given by the court on its OAvn motion, Avhich included other matters upon Avliich it Avas proper to instruct the jury, there Avas no error in refusing the one tendered.

As to the sixth, it does not truly reflect the facts and Avas properly refused.

As to the seventh, it appears in evidence that the deceased was a married man, but died without issue, and that his widow had remarried before this case was tried below. The question raised is not free from difficulty. We have found no authority directly in point. The statute provides that, “in every such action the jury may give such damages as they shall deem a fair and just compensation with reference to the pecuniary injuries, resulting from such death, to the Avife and next of kin of such deceased person, not exceeding the sum of five thousand dollars.” Compiled Statutes, ch. 21, sec. 1. The recovery is thus limited to the pecuniary injuries resulting from the death of the deceased. The defendant insists that the pecuniary loss to the widoAv is loss to her means of support, and, having married again, she thereby acquired new means of support, and that such fact should have been submitted to the jury, and by them taken into account in arriving at a verdict. That the pecuniary benefits, resulting to a wife from her relationship to her husband, give her a pecuniary interest in his life, will be conceded. Such benefits are not general, but specific benefits, resulting from a specific relationship. His death ends that specific relationship, and deprives her of such specific benefits. The pecuniary injury resulting to her from his death, in our opinion, is to be measured by the probable value of such specific benefits, unaffected by the fact that subsequently she may have entered into neAV relations Avhich will result in benefits similar to those she has lost by his death. The instruction Avas properly refused.

Complaint is made of the first instruction given by the court on its own motion. It is long, and it must suffice to say that it is a clear statement of the issues in the case, and of the facts the plaintiff was required to prove to entitle him to a verdict. No error in it is pointed out, nor do we discover any.

The third instruction is complained of but we have considered it under the assignment of the refusal to give the third instruction asked by the defendant.

The sixth instruction, given by the court on its own motion, is as follows:

' “If you find from the evidence, under the instructions of the court, that the deceased, Waif red Hegglund, went upon the right of way and tracks of the defendant company for the purpose of getting upon the caboose of the train which, was to transport his stock, and while so doing-conducted himself and acted as an ordinarily reasonable, prudent and cautious man would have acted under the same circumstances, and while so upon said right of way and tracks received injuries which caused his death by and through the negligent act of said defendant company or its agents or employees, which negligence must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence, and must be the negligence complained of; then, and in that event, your verdict should be for the plaintiff for such sum as the evidence sIioavs to have resulted therefrom, not to exceed the sum of $5,000.”

The defendant insists that this instruction is erroneous, because “the jury should have been told that it must have been either necessary or proper for the deceased to have ]>laced himself on the railroad tracks.” The question Avas not exactly whether it Avas necessary or proper for the deceased to have placed himself on the railroad track, but rather, Avhether in doing so, he did that Avhich a man of ordinary care and prudence would not have done, under like circumstances. By the instruction under consideration the jury Avere told that if the deceased went — that is, Avalked or traveled — on the right of way and tracks for the purpose of getting on the caboose, and while doing so conducted himself and acted as an ordinarily reasonable, prudent and cautious man would have acted, under the same circumstances, etc. We think a fair construction of this instruction on this point is that it required the jury to find that in walking on the track the deceased was doing that which a man of ordinary care and prudence might have done under like circumstances. If a more explicit statement on that point was desired by the defendant, it should have tendered an instruction to that end. The instruction as it stands is not erroneous.

The defendant complains of the refusal of the court to submit certain special findings. This is a matter largely within the discretion of the trial court. Such discretion does not appear to have been abused in this case. We discover no error in the record.

It is recommended that the judgment of the district court be affirmed. ,

Duffie and Ames, CC., concur.

By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is

Affirmed.