Cole v. C. & N. W. R. R.

38 Iowa 311

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: June 3, 1874
• Status: Published

Opinions

Cole, J.

1.bailkoads: ages*:®affltial Vlt2. pbacticb: ciency ¿f. — I. The error first assigned relates to the sufficiency of the notice and affidavit of loss, and service thereof. The notice stated that, “on etc., your train ran over a co^ belonging to me; * * * * now unless you pay the value thereof, etc.” The affidavit stated, “ that the train of cars going east * * * * did run over and destroy a colt belonging to your affiant of the value of one hundred dollars,” etc. These ai’e sufficient “ to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended.” Annexed to the copy of the affidavit and notice of loss filed with the petition as an exhibit, was an affidavit by the plaintiff of the service of it upon the agent of defendant, by reading the same to him, and delivering to him a copy, thereof. On the trial, the original of this affidavit and notice of loss and the said service thereof, were offered in evidence, and the service was by the court, held insufficient. The court also held that the plaintiff was competent to make the service and to prove it. ' Thereuj)on the plaintiff testified as a witness that he served the notice and affidavit on the defendant’s station agent, who had only been there two or three days. The court, upon this and the other evidence in the case left it to the-jury to determine the fact of service, and also whether the person on whom it was made wag the defendant’s agent. In all this we see no error. McNaught v. The C. & N. W. R. R. Co., 30 Iowa, 336. It is true, as argued by appellant’s counsel, that the sufficiency of the service of a notice or paper, is a question of law for the court. But this applies only where the proof of service is in writing, or the facts constituting it are conceded or without conflict in the evidence. Where the fact of service, rather than its sufficiency, is at issue; or, the fact of the agency of the person upon whom the service is made is controverted, such fact may properly be left to the jury to find, under proper instructions by the court as to the law. This is what the court did in this case.

II. The defendant asked the court to give to the jury the following instructions: “If the jury find that defendant had built its line of fence and cattle guards up to its depot or station grounds, and had left the line of track unfenced on either side where the plaintiff’s animal was killed on account of its being within the limits of the town of Woodbine, and within its depot and station grounds, where it used its track for switching and making up trains, etc., and for other depot purposes, then defendant is not liable unless for gross carelessness shown.” This was refused; but the court gave the following: “ The defendant is not liable- under the statute for failure to fence within the limits of a laid out town, by or through which its road is located and operated.’’ And also, “ A railroad company is not bound to fence such depot grounds as are set apart and are necessary and proper for the convenience and accommodation and safety of the public and the company in the transaction of their business at such depot; and if the jury find that the colt was injured on ground of this character, they will find for the defendant.” Due exceptions were taken thereto by the defendant’s counsel.

Itis now and here objected that the instructions given left it to the jury to determine whether the depot grounds were such as were necessary and proper at that point, wdien no such issue was made by the pleadings. But, the' instruction asked by defendant’s counsel, and refused, embodied substantially the same idea, by leaving the jury to find the “station grounds where it used its traeh for switching and making up trains, etc.” The instructions given were more favorable to defendant than the one refused; for they required the jury to find for the defendant in the cases specified; while the one refused allowed them still to find for the plaintiff, if there was gross carelessness by the defendant. As to this latter point there was no issue. Further than this, the first witness introduced by the defendant, its division engineer, was asked by defendant’s counsel, and stated as to the amount of ground necessary and proper for station purposes at that place; and no testimony whatever was offered by either party as to the survey and platting of the depot grounds there, or of the limits allotted for that purpose. Other evidence upon the same matter was received without objection. Under such a state of ca.se, we cannot say there was error in giving instructions as above set out.

3. kailkoads: depot grounds: evidence. Where a railroad company has its depot or station grounds surveyed and platted, or distinctly and definitely allotted, such survey or allotment and use would constitute a , , „ „ , . very strong, it not conclusive, proof of their necessary boundaries, and we should hesitate long before sanctioning the submission to a jury, in a case like this, of the question whether the boundaries or the grounds embraced therein were more or less than were necessary or proper. Of course, the question as to where those boundaries are is one of fact, which, if in issue, may be left to a jury like other controverted facts. Comstock v. The Des Moines Valley R. R. Co., 32 Iowa, 376. Affirmed.