Colesar v. Star Coal Co.

99 N.E. 709, 255 Ill. 532
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 26, 1912
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 99 N.E. 709 (Colesar v. Star Coal Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Colesar v. Star Coal Co., 99 N.E. 709, 255 Ill. 532 (Ill. 1912).

Opinions

Mr. Justice Cooke

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff in error first contends that the evidence of defendant in error, together with the justifiable inferences to be drawn therefrom, wholly fails to establish a cause of action under any of the counts on which the case was submitted. The first amended count charged that by reason of the failure of the plaintiff in error to comply with the statutory requirements the air current was not traveling in its proper course. The second count charged that by reason of the same failure the air current was not traveling in a proper quantity. The third count charged that the plaintiff in error failed to note in the book provided for by the statute, the existence of gas in the hole in question. There is proof in the record tending to support each of these counts. For ten days prior to the accident Joseph Morgan was employed as mine examiner in this mine. On the night of November 13 and the morning of November 14, 1907, he examined the mine and made a written report of the conditions as found by him. He made no report as to gas in this hole and testified that he discovered none. He did not indicate by any marks at its location that the hole was in a dangerous condition. The report was made on a printed fonn, certain blanks being filled in, and was signed by the examiner. Morgan testified that he had no independent recollection of what he did on that night during his examination of the mine, and relied wholly upon what was shown from his report. The testimony on behalf of defendant in error tended to prove that there had been gas in this hole shortly before-the explosion, and that there was gas in the hole at the time, which’ caused the explosion, is apparent and is not denied. ’Prior to the employment of Morgan, Frank Hughes had been the mine examiner of this mine, and he testified that the curtain had been put up at this hole because of the presence of gas therein, and that he placed danger signals at the curtain. He also testified that it was necessary to renew those marks at least once a week, owing to the damp condition of that portion of the mine and of the dirt and dust in that entry, which obliterated the marks. Morgan did not renew these marks or signals, and did nothing during the ten days prior to November 14, 1907, when he was acting as mine examiner, to indicate the presence of gas in this hole. There is also evidence tending to prove that there had been falls of rock in the course of the air current shortly prior to the time of the accident, which tended to prevent the air from traveling in its proper course, and there is also evidence that immediately preceding the time of the accident the air current was weak and not traveling in proper quantity. This evidence is contradicted by the testimony of witnesses on behalf of plaintiff in error, and it relies upon this contradiction as having successfully refuted the testimony offered on behalf of defendant in error. We cannot weigh the evidence or determine on this review upon which side the evidence preponderates. If there is any evidence tending to prove the material allegations of defendant in error’s declaration the peremptory instruction was properly refused. We find that there is such evidence in the record and the case was properly submitted to the jury.

The second ground of complaint is based on the admission of the testimony of Dr. Hatheway. The proof tended to show that as one of the results of the injuries received by defendant in error there was blood and pus present in the urine. Expert witnesses testified that this might be due to a stone in a kidney, and that as this condition was present so soon after the accident it could not have been due to such a stone produced by the accident. Dr. Hatheway was employed by defendant in error to take X-ray plates of his body from the chest down, to and including the pelvis. Dr. Hatheway qualified both as a medical expert and as an expert in the use and operation of X-ray machines, and testified to an extensive experience with taking photographs by the X-ray process and making examinations by this process for the purpose of determining physical conditions. He testified that in order to examine the plates or negatives prepared in this case he used an illuminating box which illuminated the plates, and that it was not possible to make an examination of the plates and determine what they represented without the illuminating box. He testified further that the purpose of making a certain plate, which was marked as an exhibit, was to determine if there was any stone present, and that the plate showed that there was no stone.- Referring to another of the plates, which was likewise marked as an exhibit, the witness testified that no one but an expert could take the plate and tell what it was and that without the assistance of the illuminating box no one could determine what conditions were shown. The plates were then admitted in evidence over the objection of plaintiff in error, and this action of the court, together with permitting the witness to testify that one of the plates showed that there was no stone present, is urged as error. Having qualified as an expert it was proper for him to state what he found as a result of his examination and to state whether or not there was a stone present in the kidney of defendant in error. Under the state of the record the two X-ray photographic plates ought not to have been admitted in evidence, as from the evidence of this witness they would be unintelligible to the jury. This error, however, was harmless, as the witness testified that the plates disclosed nothing whatever except when examined by the use of the illuminating box. We do not regard this error of such a prejudicial character as to warrant a reversal of the case.

It is next urged that the several motions for a directed verdict as to each count of the declaration should have been allowed. As has been pointed out, the three counts alleging a willful violation of the statute were supported by the evidence. It may be conceded that some of the counts alleging common law negligence were not supported by the evidence, but even under this situation the action of the court in refusing to give the peremptory instructions as to such counts does not constitute reversible error. It is allowable to charge different acts of negligence, in different counts of the declaration, as the cause of the injury alleged', and the plaintiff is not bound to prove each count of the declaration in order to entitle him to a verdict, and he may recover if one count is sufficient and the proof supports that count. Scott v. Parlin & Orendorff Co. 245 Ill. 460.

Under the fourth contention made we will consider two of the points raised. The first instruction given on the part of defendant in error directed the jury that at the time in question there was in force in this State a provision of law in reference to coal mines in words as follows: “A mine examiner shall be required at all mines. His duty shall be to visit the mine before the men are permitted to enter it, and first he shall see that the air current is traveling in its proper course and in proper quantity.

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Bluebook (online)
99 N.E. 709, 255 Ill. 532, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/colesar-v-star-coal-co-ill-1912.