Epperson v. Postal Telegraph Cable Co.
Opinions
SHERWOOD, J.
Action for $10,000 damages for injuries received while acting as lineman for defendant corpora[350] tion, and through alleged negligence of defendant. The cause was tried on the first count in plaintiff’s petition which is nearly seven printed pages in length, and, in substance, the following: That defendant, a corporation, was proprietor of, operating and constructing a line of telegraph from Chicago, 111., to Indianapolis, Ind.; that such line was operated by means of wires stretched on poles, and a large gang of men was employed for the purpose of constructing such line, plaintiff being one of the numbpr, and his duty being to climb poles and stretch wires; that Terwilliger was in charge of the gang of men, acting as foreman; that when within a few miles of Indianapolis, and on the 28th of September, 1891, the foreman negligently and carelessly commanded plaintiff to take the wires so being stretched, ascend the pole and attach the wire to the pole, on which were other wires stretched; that the foreman knew, at the time of giving such command, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have known, that the wire plaintiff was ordered to ascend the pole with was in a dangerous condition by being charged with a dangerous intermittent current of electricity; that the carrying of such wire up the pole and attaching it, etc., would greatly imperil the life or limbs of plaintiff; that the wire thus being strung by the gang employed for the purpose was, add ought to be, a dead wire, without any current of electricity in it, and was expected by the members of such gang to be in that condition; that on the date aforesaid plaintiff observed an unexpected current of electricity in said wire, the existence of which in said wire was contrary to the ordinary course of plaintiff’s employment of stringing a new wire through the country, and the risk arising from the existence of such current of electricity in said wire was a risk not ordinarily incident to the employment in which plaintiff was engaged in the stringing of such wire; that on one occasion, on the morning of the day mentioned, plaintiff observed the unexpected current of electricity in said wire, and, notifying the foreman of it, was told [351] by him that if he noticed the existence of the current again he should notify him about it, and the latter would take steps to. find out what the trouble was; that on the same morning, having again noticed the current of electricity in the wire, he again notified the foreman of that fact; that the foreman negligently failed to ascertain the cause of the existence of the current in the wire, and to protect plaintiff against such unusual danger; that just before plaintiff started up said pole, having handled the wire all day, only feeling the current of electricity at intervals, he again noticed that the current of electricity was in said wire, and complained to the foreman that “said wire was too strongly charged with electricity to be handled with satisfaction;” that thereupon the foreman picked up the wire, held it in his hands, said he felt nothing in it, and thereupon negligently and carelessly assured plaintiff the wire was all right, and ordered plaintiff to go ahead with his work; that plaintiff, relying on this statement of the foreman, and being lulled into a sense of security thereby, went up said pole in obedience to said order; that after being notified of the intermittent current of electricity in said wire, it became the foreman’s duty to investigate and find out the cause of such wire being charged with electricity, etc.; that the foreman did not perform such duty in a careful manner, but negligently failed to do so, ¡after being notified, etc.; that it was also the duty of the foreman to remove the cause of the existence of such current of electricity in said wire, which he could have done by cutting the wire behind the places where plaintiff and other climbers were at work; that this duty, also, defendant negligently failed to perform; that pursuant to' the order aforesaid, negligently given, plaintiff, with the wire in his belt, mounted the pole; that when about thirty feet above the ground, while endeavoring to fasten the wire, by means of other wires, to the cross timbers on the pole, he received a shock of electricity from said wire; that it robbed plaintiff of consciousness, and caused 'him to fall heavily to the ground, [352] etc., to his damage, etc.; and that this result was produced by the negligence of defendant, as aforesaid. It will be noticed that there is no charge in the count in question that defendant was guilty of any negligence in- constructing its line, or that there was any defect in any portion of defendant’s electrical apparatus; nor that the electricity by which plaintiff, was shocked got into the wires through any negligence of defendant. The only negligence charged consists in the statement that Terwilliger, defendant’s foreman, was guilty of negligence in ordering plaintiff to ascend the pole, and proceed with his work, stringing the wires, when knowing, or negligently failing to know, that they were occasionally charged with an intermittent current of electricity, which was dangerous; and that Terwilliger negligently failed to remove the cause of the existence of the current of electricity in the wire by cutting the wires behind the workmen then engaged in stringing the same.
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SHERWOOD, J.
Action for $10,000 damages for injuries received while acting as lineman for defendant corpora[350] tion, and through alleged negligence of defendant. The cause was tried on the first count in plaintiff’s petition which is nearly seven printed pages in length, and, in substance, the following: That defendant, a corporation, was proprietor of, operating and constructing a line of telegraph from Chicago, 111., to Indianapolis, Ind.; that such line was operated by means of wires stretched on poles, and a large gang of men was employed for the purpose of constructing such line, plaintiff being one of the numbpr, and his duty being to climb poles and stretch wires; that Terwilliger was in charge of the gang of men, acting as foreman; that when within a few miles of Indianapolis, and on the 28th of September, 1891, the foreman negligently and carelessly commanded plaintiff to take the wires so being stretched, ascend the pole and attach the wire to the pole, on which were other wires stretched; that the foreman knew, at the time of giving such command, or by the exercise of ordinary care might have known, that the wire plaintiff was ordered to ascend the pole with was in a dangerous condition by being charged with a dangerous intermittent current of electricity; that the carrying of such wire up the pole and attaching it, etc., would greatly imperil the life or limbs of plaintiff; that the wire thus being strung by the gang employed for the purpose was, add ought to be, a dead wire, without any current of electricity in it, and was expected by the members of such gang to be in that condition; that on the date aforesaid plaintiff observed an unexpected current of electricity in said wire, the existence of which in said wire was contrary to the ordinary course of plaintiff’s employment of stringing a new wire through the country, and the risk arising from the existence of such current of electricity in said wire was a risk not ordinarily incident to the employment in which plaintiff was engaged in the stringing of such wire; that on one occasion, on the morning of the day mentioned, plaintiff observed the unexpected current of electricity in said wire, and, notifying the foreman of it, was told [351] by him that if he noticed the existence of the current again he should notify him about it, and the latter would take steps to. find out what the trouble was; that on the same morning, having again noticed the current of electricity in the wire, he again notified the foreman of that fact; that the foreman negligently failed to ascertain the cause of the existence of the current in the wire, and to protect plaintiff against such unusual danger; that just before plaintiff started up said pole, having handled the wire all day, only feeling the current of electricity at intervals, he again noticed that the current of electricity was in said wire, and complained to the foreman that “said wire was too strongly charged with electricity to be handled with satisfaction;” that thereupon the foreman picked up the wire, held it in his hands, said he felt nothing in it, and thereupon negligently and carelessly assured plaintiff the wire was all right, and ordered plaintiff to go ahead with his work; that plaintiff, relying on this statement of the foreman, and being lulled into a sense of security thereby, went up said pole in obedience to said order; that after being notified of the intermittent current of electricity in said wire, it became the foreman’s duty to investigate and find out the cause of such wire being charged with electricity, etc.; that the foreman did not perform such duty in a careful manner, but negligently failed to do so, ¡after being notified, etc.; that it was also the duty of the foreman to remove the cause of the existence of such current of electricity in said wire, which he could have done by cutting the wire behind the places where plaintiff and other climbers were at work; that this duty, also, defendant negligently failed to perform; that pursuant to' the order aforesaid, negligently given, plaintiff, with the wire in his belt, mounted the pole; that when about thirty feet above the ground, while endeavoring to fasten the wire, by means of other wires, to the cross timbers on the pole, he received a shock of electricity from said wire; that it robbed plaintiff of consciousness, and caused 'him to fall heavily to the ground, [352] etc., to his damage, etc.; and that this result was produced by the negligence of defendant, as aforesaid. It will be noticed that there is no charge in the count in question that defendant was guilty of any negligence in- constructing its line, or that there was any defect in any portion of defendant’s electrical apparatus; nor that the electricity by which plaintiff, was shocked got into the wires through any negligence of defendant. The only negligence charged consists in the statement that Terwilliger, defendant’s foreman, was guilty of negligence in ordering plaintiff to ascend the pole, and proceed with his work, stringing the wires, when knowing, or negligently failing to know, that they were occasionally charged with an intermittent current of electricity, which was dangerous; and that Terwilliger negligently failed to remove the cause of the existence of the current of electricity in the wire by cutting the wires behind the workmen then engaged in stringing the same.
Among the instructions asked by, but refused, defendant, was one in the nature of a demurrer to the evidence. The refusal of this instruction necessitates the giving of the substance of that, evidence, and in some instances of giving it literally. Plaintiff, an experienced lineman, who had been in the service of defendant corporation stringing new telegraph wires from Chicago to Indianapolis, and had worked as lineman in cities and towns off and on for the space of some two and one-half years, was one of the gang employed during the months of August and September, 1891, to string wires between the terminal points aforesaid; Terwilliger being foreman of the gang which left Chicago in August, and pro[355] ceeded on its way towards its ultimate destination. They started stringing five new wires at cable house in Chicago. At Myrtle avenue they dropped two, and went on from there with three wires to Indianapolis — a road wire, field wire, and bracket wire. ’The wire next to the public road was the road wire, the one next to the fields the field wire, and the one on the bracket was the bracket wire. There were a great many wires on the poles besides those they were putting on- — -about twelve. They were on cross-arms above the wires then being strung. They strung the road wire and field wire on the lower cross-arm, on which there were two wires already strung. The wires strung by them were mostly over those of the Western Union Telegraph Company. The gang crossed those wires at nearly every railroad crossing that they encountered on their route, and in the suburbs of Chicago, and every little town they passed through where there -was a railroad. They also crossed over trolley wires at Lafayette, Ind., where there was an electric plant, where the trolley wires were under the wires of defendant, and where there were -telephone and electric wires as well as those of the Western Union. These crossings of defendant’s wires crossed over the other wires mentioned three, four, or five times while passing through Lafayette. The trolley wire is always heavily charged with electricity, and in Lafayette the trolley wire was some ten feet below defendant’s wires, and the electric light wires some twelve or fifteen inches from defendant’s - wires at that point. Defendant’s wires also crossed the electric wires at Ora-wfo-rdsville, Ind., three times, and the Western Union twice. On the morning of the 28th day of September, 1891, about 9 o’clock, when they had reached a point in the country about seven miles northwest of Indianapolis, the plaintiff noticed a current of electricity in the wires while.handling them, and said to the foreman “that there was -either a cross up with some wires, or they had turned the current on us.” That thereupon the foreman said: “It is about time they [356] were getting to tlieir offices, and very likely they are feeling for us” — meaning the operators in charge of the Chicago office — “and, if you feel it any more, let me know it, and I will send a man. back to see where the trouble is.” That he then proceeded with his work. About 11 o’clock plaintiff again felt a current, and when the foreman came along he called his attention to it. The foreman passed on, and said nothing, and the plaintiff kept on at work until noon. Nothing was said or done by plaintiff or the foreman. Plaintiff and the rest of the gang went to work after dinner as usual, and about 1 o’clock all hands quit, and went to' a spring to get a drink, and while there plaintiff and other linemen were talking among themselves, in the hearing of the foreman, to the effect that there was a current on the wires, but no one said or thought it was dangerous. Rut it does not appear that any current had' been on the wires since 11 o’clock in the morning; at least plaintiff testifies that there was not. After getting a drink at this spring, they all went back to their places to work, there being four climbers, including plaintiff. Plaintiff’s pole was in front, nearest towards Indianapolis, Kaiser’s was next, Vincent third, and Scott was last. Each one started for his pole, the poles being about 150 or 175 feet apart. On leaving the spring, the foreman, Terwilliger, accompanied the plaintiff to his pole. When plaintiff reached his pole, he picked up-the wires, put them in his belt, which had a hook on it to hold them, and started up, and when he had ascended three or four feet he got a shock from the wires, and threw them down, and descended from -the pole, and said to the foreman, who was standing near, “These wires are too d-d hot to handle with any satisfaction,” and that “he would not handle them any more until Chicago quit feeling for him.” When plaintiff threw the wires on the ground,, they lay on the ground to within a few feet of Kaiser’s pole, who had not yet ascended it, and were also lying on the ground a long distance towards Indianapolis — about three hundred yards, to [357] where Bell, the slack puller, was located. The wires, therefore, must have been on the ground on both sides of the plaintiffs pole when he received a shock above referred to, as he got the shock when he had ascended the pole only three or four feet, and he was, therefore, not high enough from the ground to raise the wires off .the ground back as far as Kaiser’s pole, or as far away as the slack puller, and the other climbers had not yet ascended their poles and lifted the wires off the ground. As soon as plaintiff threw down the wires with the above remarks to the foreman, the latter immediately walked up to where the wires were lying, and picked them up in his bare hands, and held them for a few minutes^ and then dropped them, saying: “Tom, I don’t feel anything on these wires. They are all right. Gro ahead.” Plaintiff was then ten or twelve feet away from the foreman. Plaintiff saw the other boys going up their poles, and then picked up the wires again, and started up his pole, but he says, “I don’t know but what I would have picked them up before if they had not started.” When he picked up the wires this time, he felt nothing in them. He put them in his belt, .and carried them up to the top of the pole, and felt nothing until just as he reached the cross-arm, where he intended to place the wires. Then he felt the current again while the wires were in his belt, before he attempted to take them out, and also when he took them out of his belt with his hands, and threw them to their places on the bracket and the cross-arm. Notwithstanding this fact, he proceeded without saying anything more to the foreman, took the wires out of his belt, threw them over the cross-arm and bracket, tied the field wire, and, when starting to tie the road wire, received a shock which knocked him off the pole, thereby injuring him.
In his deposition, which defendant read as an admission, the plaintiff on this point testified as follows: “Q. Well, after Mr. Terwilliger had thrown these lines down, saying he felt nothing, you took them up of your own notion ? A. I [358] took them up when he said they were all right. Q. You just picked them up, and you felt nothing the matter with them? A. Not at the very instant I picked them up. Q. And you did not feel anything until you got that shock handling them up on the poles ? A. Yes, sir; I did. Q. Before you got that shock ? A. Yes. Q. When did you first feel any electricity? A. When I was placing them. Q. You kept right on then, knowing that they were charged with electricity? A. When I would feel it, I would know it was a current. Q. Well, you felt it then when you were placing them on the pins on the poles ? A. Didn’t I state that ? • Q. I want to know if I understand you correctly. And still you kept right on handling these wires, and attempting to tie them ? A. I went ahead with my work as I was instructed. Q. Well, do you swear now, then, after you found, when you were placing them, that they were charged with electricity, did you call out to Mr. Terwilliger, and tell him that you wouldn’t handle those wires, that they were alive, or say anything about it? A. Not while I was on the pole; no, sir. Q. You proceeded to handle them knowing them to be charged with, electricity, and did tie one, and then proceeded to tie the road wire, and then, while attempting to tie that, you got a shock that knocked you off the pole, is not that so ? A. Yes, sir.” Plaintiff’s testimony also shows that he was an expert at the business, and knew all about it — its dangers and the consequences thereof, and the way to prevent the same. He.testified, over defendant’s objections, that the way to have prevented the accident was to have cut the wires, which he admits he knew was not done, or even suggested, either by himself or the foreman. Plaintiff knew that when the foreman picked up the wires and examined them, and said that there was no current in them, that the wires were lying on the ground for some distance on both sides of the foreman, yet plaintiff says that he knew that in such circumstances nothing could be felt in the wires if there had been a current in them. Plain[359] tiff failed to make any complaint of the sufficiency of the foreman’s examination. He further testified: That in repairing or reconstructing lines the linemen always handle the wires with the telegraph current on, but in stringing new wires in the country, the new wires are supposed to be dead. In handling old wires, linemen are constantly looking out for it, because they have notice that it is in the wires, and there is nothing alarming about it. That he knew these wires were alive before the accident, but did not think the current was dangerous. A live wire is a wire that has a current of electricity in it; a dead wire is one that has.no current. That the feeling current is not dangerous,and is even a little lighter than the ordinary telegraph current, as he had always found — -not pleasant to handle, but not dangerous. A feeling current means that they are testing to see if you have the wires up to the office which you are going to. That he thought the current he had felt on the wires was a feeling current. He told the others so. Terwilliger told him he thought it was a feeling current, and he told Terwilliger the same thing. So far as he knew, all that the foreman knew as to the kind of current that was on the wires was what he (Epperson) told the foreman. Nobody said there was any, dangerous current. The only difference in repair work and putting up new wires is that in repair work a lineman knows the wires are alive, and expects the current, and can guard against it, and in new wires it is unexpected; but in this instance he did have notice of the current. He had felt feeling currents before. In stringing neAV wires they frequently swing up among the live wires on the poles, and a lineman gets a shock that way very frequently. The day plaintiff was hurt was very hot and sultry, and plaintiff’s clothes, and even socks and shoes, were wet with sweat, and he was therefore more liable to get shocked than if they had been dry, as he knew. The old wires on the poles, among which he was working, were supposed to be alive.There were two live wires on the lower cross-arm, on which [360] he was stringing the new wires. The wires all the way from Chicago, were strung in a good, safe, careful, workmanlike manner by himself and the rest of the men; and, so far as he knew, none of them broke or fell on any of the trolley, electric light, or other wires over which they crossed. Plaintiff further testified, over defendant’s objections and exceptions, that on the route from Chicago, at several points, the wires which he had strung crossed over telegraph lines, electric light and trolley wires, and he also testified as to the manner of stringing the wires, the character of the poles on which they were strung, and generally described the line on which he had been working, and its condition. Plaintiff knew all about the construction and condition of the line he was working on, and never made any complaint or objection to it. But there was nothing in his or any other testimony in the case to show that there was any negligence in the construction, or maintenance, or operation of the line, or wires, or other apparatus of defendant; and the court instructed the jury that the defendant was not guilty of any negligence or fault whatever whereby the electricity which injured plaintiff got upon the wires. Plaintiff also testified, in answer to the question, “What did you rely upon when you went up there?” (referring to the pole at the time of his injury), “I relied upon his [the foreman’s] words being all right.”
Grayson testified: “There is a great deal more danger from crosses with electric light wires than telegraph wires. If telegraph wires get crossed with electric light or trolley wires, the telegraph wire has to carry the current of the electric light or trolley wire. Swinging crosses are occasioned by wires falling down or becoming slack. Would not cut or snub telegraph wires if I thought, or had been told, that there was simply a current on them from a telegraph dynamo battery. Telegraph wires are always alive when being repaired or changing an old line into a new.” This witness also testified, over defendant’s objection, that, if a man under him had [361] complained that the wire was too hot to handle with satisfaction, he (the witness) would have cut the wires, and would not have run into any more danger — would not pick them up himself to see.
Loring testified: “When stringing new wires in the country, the wires are usually supposed to be dead, but in repairing and handling wires in a city or town they are supposed to be handling live wires. Telegraph current, either from dynamo or battery, is not ordinarily dangerous, -even though men come in contact with lightning rods on poles while handling wires charged with such current. While repairing or reconstructing telegraph lines, wires axe usually charged. Feeling current is same as ordinary telegraph current. In repairing old lines, current is on all the time, but in putting up new lines only occasionally, when feeling, when the work is getting through; and there is more danger, for that reason, of getting hit with electricity in repairing old lines than in putting up new ones.'”
Bloss testified: “Electrical currents get in dead wires by contact with live wires — by being blown against them by the wind, or other causes. Feeling is sending a current over the wire to see where it ends. Feeling would not knock a man off a pole, or unsteady his action. If a person is wet with sweat, and comes in contact with lightning rods on a pole, he is more liable to get shocked than if dry. A feeling current is not generally as strong as an ordinary telegraph current. Linemen habitually work with the wires when full telegraph current is on, in repairing the wires. It is part of their business to do so. Feeling current in new wire is the same current that is in old wires which linemen handle when repairing. Currents on new wires might come from feeling, from crosses with other live wires, or from lightning. It is customary to send out feeling currents occasionally when men are stringing new wires, to find out how far they have got; and linemen understand that. Live telegraph wires are not dangerous, but [362] electric light wires are. If wire is too hot to handle, that would indicate it was not a feeling current. When telegraph wires are put up over electric light wires, it is possible they may sag down, or slip off, and fall on them, but it is not ordinarily to be expected. If telegraph wire gets too hot to handle with- satisfaction, that would indicate contact with some highly-charged wire; that it is in extremely dangerous condition; apparently dangerous for any one to handle; dead sure to work an injury. Current which injured plaintiff might have got on wire from lightning, or cross with highly-charged wires.”
Frank Bums testified that he got hurt once, and was therefore more cautious than he otherwise would be. “Ordinarily no danger at all from live telegraph wire, especially so if man holding wire is standing on telegraph pole, or anything’ that keeps him off the ground, even though one end of wire is on the gr ound. If a man’s clothes are wet with sweat, he'is more liable to get shocked. In order to get shocked, there must not only be a current on the wire you are handling, but you must at same time come in contact with the ground, either directly or indirectly, by touching another wire which is connected with the ground, so as 1» complete the circuit. Feeling currents are not considered dangerous, even though you are grounded.”
McQuire testified: “Could not tell positively, by picking up wire, standing on ground, whether there was electricity in it or not. It depends on circumstances. If wire was completely grounded in front of me, electricity would go off in the ground. Or ground might be so dry as not to draw off 'the electricity. But I would not pick up live wire. I never acted as foreman for telegraph company. The current from a telegraph battery and dynamo are the same — no difference. Even if a live wire was lying on the ground on both sides of me, I would not pick it up. If it was charged with low electric motor, and grounded from me, I probably would not [363] feel it. But I would not pick it up. Yet the fact that I could not feel it would not be positive proof that it was not there. If I was standing on dry dirt, .or something that insulated me from the ground, I wouldn’t feel the current, but, if standing on moist ground, I might get a shock. If a man is in a dry condition, and stands upon dry ground, and picks up a live wire which lies well on the ground, it depends upon the electric motor force in the wire as to whether he could feel the current. If of high voltage, he could; if of low voltage, it is altogether different. It would not be a proper test to determine whether there was any electricity in the wires. I never was a foreman for a telegraph company, but I have worked with them, mainly because under that head is all electrical business. The telegraph current, whether produced by a dynamo or a battery, is the same. Linemen handle live telegraph wires every day in doing repair work, but it depends on circumstances in stringing new wires. Judge, they don’t work on live wires unless they are notified of the fact the wire is alive. But they do work on live telegraph wires. Telegraph wires are not as dangerous as electric light wires, because the telegraph current is very low — it is a very small quantity.” He also was asked the following question by plaintiff’s counsel:- “What would be the usual method of obviating a difficulty on an occasion of that kind'?” to which defendant duly objected, and his answer was, “By going back and cutting the wire.”
Jones testified: “If a telegraph line comes in contact with an electric light or trolley wire, it becomes charged with the electric light or trolley current. Linemen work right along with live telegraph wires in repairing and handling the lines. They do not cut them or disconnect from the dynamo or battery.” In answer to -the following question of plaintiffs counsel, to which defendant objected: “What could have been used whereby he [meaning defendant’s foreman] could have told whether there was a current in that wire that was [364] too strong — whether it was a dangerous current ?” this witness said that “electric light companies had a volt meter by which the strength of the current could be ascertained.”
On behalf of defendant the testimony was the following:
Terwilliger testified: “Was foreman of gang from Chicago to Indianapolis. The bracket wire was strung on a bracket on the poles about eighteen inches below the lower cross-arm, on which the road and field wires were strung. It is always customary to keep the telegraph current on when linemen are handling wires in repairing and reconstruction, and adding new wires to old pole lines is a species of reconstruction or repairing. It was Epperson’s business all the way from Chicago to climb the poles and tie the wires on. Generally had four or five climbers, and a man or two to clean up' — that is, men to loosen the- wires from the fence, brush, or other things they would get caught on, so that the climbers would not have to come down off the poles to- loosen them. The climbers carried the wires up the poles on hooks in their belts. Also had a wagon to carry wire on ahead. Also had men ahead with the reel — sometimes two. It was a usual thing for linemen to get shocks from the wires. Epperson never said anything that day — in the morning, or about 11 o’clock, or any other time — about currents in the wires until we got to pole after going fo the spring in the afternoon. "When Epperson returned from the spring, and threw the wires down, saying, ‘They were too d-d hot to handle with satisfaction,’ and ‘he wouldn’t handle them any more until Chicago quit feeling for him,’ witness picked them up in his bare hands, and held them a short time, and felt nothing. Thereupon he threw them down, and simply said, ‘Tom, I don’t feel anything in these wires now.’ Ele did not add, ‘They are all right; go ahead.’ ” On this point Terwilliger testifies as follows: “I walked up to the pole, and picks up the wires, and held them for a few seconds, and I didn’t feel anything, and I threw them down, and I turned [365] around to him, and I said: 'Tom, I don’t feel anything on these wires now.’ I kind of looked back then, and saw the other men going up to the poles, and I just started ahead to Bell, the slack puller; aud Epperson, he walks up, and he picks the wires up, and he put them in his belt, and he carried them up the pole, and I walked from him with my back towards him; and I had a wire in each hand, holding them up like this (indicating) as he went up the pole. Of course, he carried them higher all the while as he went up the pole. As he went up from me the wire was about, the same height from me. I walked a few steps in that' position. I had the other wires — two wires in my left hand, and one in my right, sliding them through my fingers that way (indicating) for a distance of twenty, thirty, or forty feet, and I did not feel anything. I let loose of them. I never turned around, hut kept walking towards Bell, and I had not gone over twenty or thirty feet after I let loose of the wires until Bell says, 'There goes Tom,’ or 'There goes Slowfoot,’ a kind of a nickname that the boys had for him. ‘ I just whirled around in time to see him strike the ground. I was the first man to him after he was on the ground to take hold of ■him.” Erom what Epperson said, witness supposed Chicago might he testing — sending out light current. "Scott, who was on pole tying behind, got knocked off at same time Epperson did, and was injured a little. After we sent Epperson ■in wagon to hospital, we put the wires up on the poles until we reached the wagon, which was about a quarter of a mile ahead, and it was then time to quit, and we snubbed up the wires, and went to Haughville, a suburb of Indianapolis, where we stopped that night. Where the accident occurred was about seven miles from Indianapolis the nearest telegraph station. Bid not cut the wires before Epperson was hurt, because it was something I had never known to be done in this country. Lots of times the. men would get little shocks from the wires they were stringing swinging up and striking [366] the live wireso on the poles, but we never cut or .deadened the wires. That is never done except in very high altitudes, like Colorado, where the electricity in the air is very .strong and noticeable. At the time Epperson got hurt, I did not notice any electricity in the air, but shortly afterwards I noticed a little cloud hanging in the northwest — not enough to hide the sun — and about 1 or 8 o’clock we had a very, very heavy thunderstorm. Lightning will travel a long way on a telegraph line, and it is a very common thing for it to get on the wires in the time of storms. The wires were all well strung, and I never heard of their being crossed with any of the electric light, trolley, or any other wires we went over. We crossed over them pretty high — from two to ten feet. Electric light wires are not generally alive in the daytime, as the lights generally burn only at night. .It is not customary to cut the wire when a lineman gets his fingers burned, and complains, as Epperson did. I could- have made no better examination than I did. The other boys picked up the wires about the time Epperson did. After I had -examined them, and after he started up the pole, I kept them in my -hands over my head, walking towards the slack puller, and felt nothing, although I held them with my bare hands. The two climbers in the swing — that is, on the poles between Scott and Epperson —did not get any shock. I suppose they were not so fast, and did not get hold of the road wire at the time Scott and Epperson did. I did not have a chance to send -a man back at the time Epperson was hurt, because the boys had already started up the poles with the wires, and were making the tie. I carried the wires over my head, in my hands, after Epperson went up the pole, until I had gone far enough to convince myself there was nothing in them. The wires were not on the ground back of me then (i. -e. towards Chicago), but only in front of me (i. e. towards Indianapolis). I was in the most dangerous position. It was the first ground that any current would strike. An intermittent current is not very [367] long. You catch it sometimes, and then you don’t. A feeling current is intermittent — comes at intervals, off and on.” Defendant’s counsel asked witness whether it was usual, when linemen got their fingers burned a little, and made complaint, such as was made by Epperson to him, to quit work, and call all the hands off, but the court refused to allow the witness to answer, although plaintiff’s witness Bums had expressly testified that that is what he would have done, and is what the foreman necessarily would have been compelled to do to make the investigation Burns testified the foreman could have made by going to the telegraph office, which was seven miles away, and telegraphing Chicago.
Scott testified: “Worked on same line with Epperson, stringing wires, at the time of injury. It is customary to work with live telegraph wires.. I handled same wires that Epperson did. We often got small shocks, but paid mo attention to them. That is nothing unusual. There were six live wires on the poles. I didn’t hear Epperson make any complaint. I made no complaint. Didn’t think it worth while. I felt nothing when I picked up the wires after we came back from the spring. I didn’t feel it until I got to the top of the pole. I was knocked, off same time Epperson was. There was no lightning rod on my pole, but there was one on Epperson’s. Epperson spoke, along in the afternoon — about 2 p. m. — of getting a small shock. I supposed it was from pulling up the wires we were stringing over the live wires on the poles. I was about 200 yards behind Epperson when we fell off. I soon came to. Wasn’t hurt much. The shock that knocked me off made a report like a pistol at the time it struck me. I knew what it was at the time. I always did think it was lightning. It was a clear day, but there was a cloud in the northwest. It was a hot, sultry afternoon, and a big thunderstorm came up two or three hours afterwards, at Haughville, about three miles from where accident occurred. There was severe thunder and lightning. I never felt a shock [368] like that before, and I have bad several shocks from wires. The report I heard was a popping, cracking noise, like that you hear when lightning is coming in on lightning arresters on telegraph instruments. I felt a current on that day several times, but I supposed it was pulling the wires we were stringing up over the live wires on the poles. I did not think it worth while to mention it to. Terwilliger, as it was a common occurrence. And none of the other boys mentioned it to him, so far as I know. Kaiser and I were tying close together, and we were getting light shocks, but not enough to think of muqh. I was with the gang tying wires from the start. There was nothing out of condition,' and from that day to this I have never heard that there was any cross with electric light or trolley wires, or anything wrong, back of us.” .
Richards testified: “Was manager of defendant at Kansas City. In the telegraph business eighteen years. Keep batteries on wires all the time when men are repairing or reconstructing the lines. Business" is not interrupted. When new wires are added to old line, put batteries on, and use them as soon as important towns are reached. Use the new wires as soon as they -are built from town to town. Don’t wait until they get clear through. The same current is turned on them as on the other wires. The current used on telegraph wires is not dangerous, but that on electric light and trolley wires is. It is not customary to cut or snub up live telegraph wires when working with them. Men never think of such a thing. If they did cut them they would have to go hack and repair them. They would have to handle them in cutting and repairing. Cutting would be no protection. Foreign currents get on telegraph wires by wires breaking and falling on dangerous wires which they cross, or dangerous wires may break and fall on them. Lightning also gets on them from storms. Telegraph instruments are supplied with regular devices for protecting them from the lightning. Lightning is often felt in half a dozen offices at same time.”
[369] Eedline testified: “Assistant chief operator Western Union Kansas City for nine years. One of the largest offices in the United States. Generally send out current on new lines when nearing point of completion. This is feeling current, and is customary. We keep wires alive right along when men are handling them. New wires are generally connected up and used -as the work proceeds. Telegraph wires get hot from cross with other wires, and also from lightning. Bothered during stormy weather with lightning on wires to-considerable extent. It travels a great distance on the wires. It is often felt in Kansas City office when there is no appearance of storm here. Our instruments are all provided with lightning arresters. Poles 'have lightning rods on them, but notwithstanding this fact, lightning travels a great distance on the wires, and often comes into the office when the day is clear here.”
Lynch testified: “Foreman telegraph construction- gang.. Telegraph wires are not dangerous. Are regularly handled with current on. Never cut them when current is felt, although sometimes they get pretty hot, because they are known not to be dangerous. If live wire is picked up by man standing on the ground, -he is liable to feel the current, but he is. not liable to feel it if he is on a pole. If a live wire is on the ground, it is certain that -a man on a pole is not in more danger-in handling it than a man would be if handling it on the-ground. Currents from telegraph batteries and dynamos árethe same — each has little current. Handling a wire on the: ground is ordinarily a good test.”
Leabo testified: “Was with the gang between Chicago- and Indianapolis. At time Epperson was hurt, I was -ahead, engaging boarding place. I was about four miles away from the boys at the time of accident. I recollect the weather very distinctly. The -accident impressed it upon my mind. The day was very warm and sultry, but -clear, until -about four or five o’clock in the afternoon, with the exception of those [370] little white tkunderheads which floated across the' sky from southwest to northeast. Then it commenced to cloud up very rapidly. About half past two in the afternoon, I was then about two miles from the gang. I Was standing on a bridge, seven miles north of Indianapolis, and from one of those little white clouds .that was drifting across the country I saw one keen flash of lightning, followed by thunder. And this was before plaintiff was hurt. I saw no more lightning until after Epperson was hurt. Shortly after supper that night there was a very heavy rain, accompanied with wind and lightning. I am not working for the company.. Shortly after the accident, I had some correspondence with the plaintiff’s attorneys, and the statement I made then was the same I make now. I am not a lineman. I am not well posted in electrical matters. I never heard of snubbing up wires when telegraph current was on simply.” Statement made plaintiff’s attorneys March 10, 1892, was produced by them, and was introduced in evidence. It corresponds exactly with witness’s testimony.
Another thought which seems pertinent in this connection occurs to me, and I will venture its expression. Ordinarilv, it is necessary to plead contributory negligence as a defense, but an exception to this rule takes place where the evidence offered in behalf of plaintiff shows such contributory negli[372] gence as will defeat the action. [Schlereth v. Railway Co., 96 Mo. 509.] I am unable to see why the like rule should not prevail in parallel circumstances in regard to assumption of risk. Proceeding, then, upon that theory, it is found prominently set forth and undisputed in the evidence that plaintiff was an experienced lineman, had had a varied experience in that capacity in cities and towns for over two years, and consequently could not and did mot assert ignorance of the dangers ordinarily incident to the employment in which he had formerly been engaged, and in that in which he was then engaged, and had been for six months. When a man engages in a contract of service, the law implies that he takes the risk ordinarily incident to such “contracts of employment, and whatsoever the law implies in a contract is as much part and parcel thereof as if written therein. [State ex rel. v. Laclede Gaslight Co., 102 Mo. loc. cit. 485; State v. Gilmore, 141 Mo. loc. cit. 512, and cases cited.] There has been much discussion of this subject of the assumption of risk, both by this and other courts, and it may be stated generally that the degree of the risk is proportionable to the degree of the obvious or apparent danger at the time of entering the employment, and also to the degree of greater danger which reveals itself in the subsequent prosecution of the work in which the employee is engaged, and in which he remains, though apprised of such additional danger without protest or remonstrance. Indeed, the doctrine on this subject as announced by the great weight of authority is broader still than that just laid down, for it embraces within its scope not only such risks as are incident, etc., but such risks as should become apparent to the employee by ordinary observation, or are readily discernible by a person of his age and capacity in the exercise of ordinary care, or where his means of knowledge are equally as great as those of his employer, or if he discovers the unusual risks and makes no complaint. In such circumstances even extraordinary risks may assume, in legal effect, the shape and proportions of only [373] ordinary and incidental perils, adding nothing to the liability of the master, and affording the servant no additional grounds for recovery, in the event of injuries received. These positions, it is scarcely necessary to say, are sustained by an abundant array of authorities, both in England and in this country. [Shear. & R. on Neg. (4 Ed.), sec. 185; Hayden v. Manufacturing Co., 29 Conn. 548; Gibson v. Railway Co., 63 N. Y. 449; Wood’s Mast. & Serv., p. 758 et seq.; 2 Thomp. Neg., p. 1008; Hewitt v. Railroad, 31 Am. & Eng. R. R. Cas. 249; Moulton v. Gage, 138 Mass. 390; Ladd v. Railroad, 119 Mass. 412; Lovejoy v. Railroad, 125 Mass. 79; Hulett v. Railroad, 67 Mo. 239; Smith v. Railway Co., 69 Mo. 32; Kean v. Rolling Mills, 66 Mich. 277; McGinnis v. Bridge Co., 49 Mich. 466; Hathaway v. Railroad; 51 Mich. 253; Railroad v. Gildersleeve, 33 Mich. 133; Davis v. Railroad, 20 Mich. 105; Railroad v. Love, 10 Ind. 554; Railroad v. McCormick, 74 Ind. 440; Whittaker’s Smith on Neg., secs. 131, 133; Darracutts v. Railroad, 31 Am. & Eng. R. R. Cas. 157; Beach, Contrib. Neg., secs. 138, 139; Lockwood v. Railway Co., 55 Wis. 50; Hutchinson v. Railroad, 5 Exch. 343; Skipp v. Railroad, 9 Exch. 223; Assop v. Yates, 2 Hurl. & N. 768; Williams v. Clough, 3 Hurl. & N. 258; Gaffney v. Railroad, 15 R. I. 456.] Judge Thompson, as cited above,- states the dominant rule in this class of cases thus: “If the servant, before he enters the service, knows, or if he afterwards discovers, -or if, by the exercise of ordinary observation or reasonable skill and diligence in his department of service, he may discover that the building, premises, machine, appliance, or fellow servant in connection with which or with whom he is to labor is unsafe or unfit in any particular, and if, notwithstanding such knowledge, or means of knowledge, he voluntarily enters into or continues in the employment without objection or complaint, he is deemed to assume the risk of the danger thus known or discoverable; and to waive any claim for damages against the master in ease it shall result in injury to him.” [374] In Railroad v. Love, 10 Ind. 554, it is announced “that, where both parties have equal knowledge, and the servant continues in the service, each party takes the risk.” The Supreme Court of Connecticut, on this subject, thus gives expression to its views: “Every manufacturer has a right to choose the machinery to be used in his business and to conduct that business in the manner most agreeable to himself, provided he does not thereby violate the law of the land. He may select his appliances, and run his mill with old or new machinery, just as he may ride in an old or new carriage, navigate an old or new vessel, or occupy an old or new house, as he pleases. The employee having knowledge of the circumstances, and entering his service for the stipulated reward, can not complain of the peculiar taste and habits of his employer, nor sue him for damages sustained in and resulting from that peculiar service......Doubtless it is true that no man may, in conducting business, unnecessarily and wantonly disregard the •rights of other people, whether employees or strangers; but such is not the ease before the court. An employee having knowledge can not claim indemnity except under particular circumstances. He is not secretly or involuntarily exposed, and likewise is paid for 'the exact position and hazard he assumes; and so he may terminate his employment when, from unforseen perils, he finds his rewards inadequate or unsatisfactory.” [Hayden v. Manufacturing Co., 29 Conn. loc. cit. 558.] To the same effect, see Skipp. v. Railroad, 9 Exch. 223. In a recent work of merit these rules are laid down as proper deductions from authoritie's previously discussed: “Eirst. The master may conduct his business in his own way, though such method may be more than ordinarily hazardous, thereby increasing the risks and peril. Second. The servant assumes the risk of the extra hazards and perils by continuing in the employment, where he has knowledge of the master’s methods, either actual or presumed. Third. Those extra hazards which thus become known to the employee enter into [375] and become a part of the contract. Fourth. Where the defect is obvious, knowledge is presumed, on the part of such employee, of the dangers which it suggests, and which are apparent. Fifth. The master may rest upon the 'assumption that the servant knows what is generally to be seen, by his observation, suggesting the danger. Sixth. The servant must exercise ordinary care to learn the dangers which he may have to encounter. These considerations control the general rule of the master’s duty to furnish a reasonably safe place to work, and reasonably safe .appliances for the performance of the work, and qualify the legal presumption That the servant may assume that this duty on the part of the master has been performed,’ to the extent that he may not thus assume, where he knows, or ought to know, that such duty has not been done, and was not contemplated in making the contract of service. The contract, therefore, must be that risks and perils obvious to a person of ordinary understanding are embraced therein, and assumed by the servant, when the opportunity has existed for observation.” [Bailey, Mast. Liab., pp. 180, 181.] The Supreme Court, of Maine has said: “It is the duty of the servant to exercise care to avoid injuries to himself. He is under as great obligation to provide for his own safety, from such dangers as are known To him, or are discoverable by ordinary care on his part, as the master is to provide for him......He must take ordinary care to learn the dangers which are likely to beset him in the service. He must not go blindly to his work when there is danger. He must inform himself. Thi's is the law everywhere.” [Wormell v. Railroad, 79 Me. 405.] In Stuart v. Manufacturing Co., 43 N. E. Rep. 962, the appellate court of Indiana, when speaking of the case of a servant injured while obeying the direct orders of the manager to proceed to the place where he was almost immediately injured while doing the work assigned him, said: “Another rule, equally familiar as the one requiring the master to furnish his servant a safe place to work, is that, when a servant of
( [376] mature years and understanding entera into the employment which is necessarily hazardous, he will be presumed to have taken all the ordinary risks incident to such service, and the fact that the service is naturally a dangerous one does not increase the master’s liability if the injury results from the natural and ordinary incidents of the undertaking. If there is a defect in the machinery or appliances that renders the work of the servant more hazardous, and that defect is open and obvious, or can, by the exercise of ordinary care, be discovered by the servant, but is disregarded, the risk becomes one of the assumed risks of the service, and liability therefor is waived. [Myers v. W. C. De Pauw Co., 138 Ind. 590; Salem Lime Co. v. Griffin, 139 Ind. 141; Railroad v. Henderson (Ind. Sup.), 42 N. E. Rep. 216; Salem Stone Co. v. Hobbs, 11 Ind. App. 27; City of Lebanon v. McCoy, 12 Ind. App. 500].” This case arose in New Jersey: The plaintiff while in the service of the defendant company was called upon to ascend one of the poles for the purpose of trimming a lamp. One of the steps used for climbing the pole was broken off, which the plaintiff saw. He ascended safely, but in descending his foot slipped when he reached the broken step, causing him to fall, by reason of which he was injured. He recovered judgment in the lower court. In passing on the case thus presented, the court said: “If ’the servant knows of the defect, and it is of such a nature that a prudent person will not abandon the service on account of it, then no negligence can be charged to the master for permitting the defect to continue. If the plaintiff was justified in concluding that he could ascend the pole and return with safety by using extra care, the defendant had the right to draw the same conclusion; and in that event the defendant was in no fault. If the peril was of such imminent character that it was imprudent on the part of the plaintiff to attempt to ascend the pole, then, under the rule laid down by the trial judge, the verdict is wrong. If the plaintiff acted as a prudent man in undertaking to ascend the pole, the injury must be [377] ascribed to mere accident......In that case neither be nor his employer is to be held guilty of a want of care. The servant and the master had equal means of forming a correct judgment. Therefore whatever want of prudence in taking the risk is chargeable to the one must be imputed to the other.... The immunity of the master rests upon the contract of hiring......The master says to the servant, ‘You understand fully the nature of the employment, and the danger attending it. Will you enter upon it?’ The servant says, ‘I accept it;’ and the law implies that he accepts it with all the risk incident to it, without regard to -the magnitude of the danger.” [Foley v. Light Co., 24 Atl. Rep. 487.] The Supreme Court of Wisconsin was called upon to decide the following case: “The proof showed that the plaintiff was a man thirty-seven years of age, and of ordinary intelligence; that he had been employed laying and calking pipe for waterworks contractors, ‘off and on,’ for several years and in several cities; that when not engaged in this business he worked as a common laborer; that he had noticed trenches cave in a number of times in other places, and three times at Rice Lake, tk'e last time being about ten minutes before he was hurt; that he knew trenches not braced were liable to cave in, from experience; that the soil where the trench caved in was a clay soil, about eighteen inches in thickness, with sand and gravel beneath; and that the digging crew was about three rods ahead of plaintiff and Simmons, and a few minutes before the accident some sand fell from the side of the trench where the diggers were at work. When this happened, the digging crew left the trench, and plaintiff and Simmons also got out, because they were afraid it would cave in. The superintendent, Elder, and a foreman, were on the ground when the plaintiff got out of the ditch. The foreman said he would not be afraid to lie down in the ditch all night, and would do so for a dollar and a half. Mr. Elder said: ‘Boys, go back to the ditch, and lay up to where the shovels are, about three or four lengths. The ditch is perfectly safe. Go back and go to work. I will go [378] right down, to the office, 'buy lumber and have it braced and curbed up.’ Upon this, plaintiff 'and Simmons went back to work, because as plaintiff says: T took Mr. Elder’s word. I thought he had more experience than I had, and I felt the bank was perfectly safe. I took Mr. Elder’s word.’ After they had been at work, about ten minute®, the trench caved in, inflicting the injuries of which plaintiff complain®. Upon these facts we are clearly of the opinion that the plaintiff must be held to have assumed the risk. He was of ordinary intelligence. He knew that trenches of this depth were liable to cave in. He knew that this very trench had just partially caved in at a distance of a few feet. He came out of the ditch because of that very fact. He knew all the facts which the superintendent knew, and had fully as much experience as the superintendent. No expert engineer could have given him any additional information as to the probability of the ditch caving in. In fact, he was fully informed of the peril and chose to continue his work. No principle is better established than that under such circumstances the risk is assumed. [Naylor v. Railway Co., 53 Wis. 661, 11 N. W. Rep. 24; Johnson v. Water Co., 77 Wis. 51, 45 N. W. Rep. 807; Paule v. Mining Co., 80 Wis. 350, 50 N. W. Rep. 189.] But is said that the assurance of safety given by the superintendent, and the command to return to work, relieved the plaintiff of the consequences of the assumption of risk. This is not the case where the employee is of full age and capacity, and knows the danger as fully as the superintendent. [Toomey v. Steel Work (Mich.), 50 N. W. Rep. 850; Lynch v. Manufacturing Co., 143 Mass. 206, 9 N. E. Rep. 728; Kean v. Rolling Mills (Mich.), 33 N. W. Rep. 395; Bradshaw’s Adm’r v. Railroad (Ky.), 21 S. W. Rep. 346.] Plaintiff had the right to refuse to obey the order, and, if he chose to obey, he took the risk, of which he had full knowledge.” [Showalter v. Fairbanks, Morse & Co., 60 N. W. Rep. loc. cit 257.]
Fugler v. Bothe, 117 Mo. 475, was certified to this court [379] from the St. Louis Court of Appeals. In that case the deceased, an experienced carpenter, had been working for three weeks boarding air shafts. He had finished three of them, standing on a gutter on the inside of the shaft. Before commencing on the first shaft, the deceased and another carpenter (Schmidt) under the orders of defendants’ foreman, began to erect a scaffold for the purpose of doing the work. One of the defendants forbade the construction of the scaffold, and told the workmen they “co-uld either do 'the work by standing on the gutter or they could quit.” The deceased, while at work on the fourth shaft, and while standing on the gutter, lost his balance, and fell to the floor below, and received injuries which caused his death. Held that, the danger being obvious and continuous, the deceased assumed the risk, and the master was not liable. Tbe court adopted the dissenting opinion of Rombauer, L, filed in the St. Louis Court of Appeals. JudgeRombauer reviewed most of the cases decided by this court up to that time, and distinguished some of them from that case by the following observation, which is pertinent to the case at bar. He says (page 500,117 Mo.): “The great difference between all of these causes and the case at bar is, that here the unavoidable inference arises from the uncontrovertible facts that the servant not only knew the defect, if such it may be called, but also knew tbe attendant and continuous danger arising from it to him, much better than the master could possibly know it. It was the servant and not the master who continually moved on the plank and knew whether he could safely handle his body upon it without losing his balance.” A case nearly approaching tbe present one in some of its features is that of Junior v. Power Co., 127 Mo. loc. cit. 82. In that case it is said, in the opinion delivered per Gantt, P. J.: “The negligence of which plaintiff complains here is the failure of defer dant’s foreman, in charge of 'the squad of men who were to make the connection of defendant’s electric, plant with the butcher shop on the Manchester road, to caution plaintiff’s [380] husband in regard to the exposed condition of the ends of these two wires. The evidence shows beyond cavil that the plaintiff's husband was an experienced lineman; that he had worked for defendant in this capacity for several years; that he bad also worked for other electric companies; the evidence shows that deceased ascended the pole alone that day to make the connection; that it was broad daylight; that two live, wires’ of the defendant were devoid of insulating material at their extreme ends for the space of one-eighth or one-sixteenth of an inch; and that deceased sat upon a cross-arm of the pole, preparing to connect a wire for the butcher shop with these ends; that the fact that these two ends of the wires were not insulated was open and obvious, and could not only be seen by one in the close proximity thereto of the deceased at that time, but both Baldwin and Baurman testify 'that they saw the two exposed ends from their position on the ground, thirty feet distant; Baldwin was a brother-in-law of the deceased. It appeared that deceased was an experienced lineman, understood his business, and that the lineman were the only employees of defendant who went on the poles and handled, connected, and repaired the wires thereon 'and the only employees who had an opportunity to inspect and know the condition of the wires; the testimony of the brother-in-law, the foreman of the squad, was that he did not caution the deceased that the ends of the wires were exposed that day because it was not only open and obvious, but it was the peculiar business of deceased to see and know that, and the connection was to be made with these wires........There were six arms on the pole upon which he had climbed, on which were strung the wires of the telephone and telegraph companies and of the fire alarm service, all charged with electricity, and all uninsulated. .......The facts of this case bring it within the familiar principle that if a servant, capable of contracting for himself, and with full notice of the risk he may run, voluntarily undertakes a hazardous employment, or to place- himself in a haz[381] ardous position, or to work -with defective tools or appliances, the master is not liable for injuries received from these known risks. It often happens that both natural and artificial persons are engaged in exceedingly dangerous business, and, if it is not unlawful, may employ servants to perform dangerous duties, and yet not be liable to its servants for injuries received therein, if the servants are capable of contracting, and know the risks attending the business. The handling of live wires is a most dangerous business, but plaintiff’s husband knew that when he entered into the employment. He was not a minor, nor an inexperienced workman, to whom the dangers of the business were unknown. The danger to which he was exposed was open and obvious. He was as cognizant of the danger, if not more so, than the foreman, and the failure to caution him can not avail where he is as well acquainted with the hazard as his employer.” See, also, Steinhauser v. Spraul, 127 Mo. 511.
These authorities, and the principles they declare, when applied to the facts of the case at bar, only conduce to but one result, and that result unfavorable to plaintiff. He, too, was an experienced lineman, and could not help being apprised of the dangers of the situation, either from experience gleaned in another field, or from his present and more recent' labors. There seems to be no doubt that' he was more experienced that Terwilliger, the foreman; but, under the rule heretofore quoted, if his knowledge only equaled that of the foreman, then plaintiff took his own risk. Besides, all that the foreman assured him was as to an existing state of facts. There was no assurance of the future. Indeed, the petition itself states: “Said foreman.......thereupon told the plaintiff that he did not feel anything in the wire at that time.” Having made this statement in his petition, it was out of plaintiff’s power to gainsay that allegation by any evidence that could be adduced, and so any evidence offered for that purpose must be held for naught. This has been the rule in this State [382] ever since Bruce to use v. Sims, 34 Mo. 246; Bank v. Armstrong, 62 Mo. 59; Chapman v. Callahan, 66 Mo. loc. cit. 312; Lenox v. Harrison, 88 Mo. loc. cit. 495; Weil v. Posten, 77 Mo. loc. cit. 287; Wilson v. Albert, 89 Mo. loc. cit. 546. And it is impossible to suppose that plaintiff could have relied on what the foreman said, because he felt the current again before he took the wires out of his belt, and therefore knew that the current had reappeared. Yet, notwithstanding this, he took the 'wires out of his belt, and, disregarding all the ordinary dictates of former experience and present prudence, he proceeded to tie the wires, and received the injury complained of. In such circumstances, being fully apprised of the danger himself, he will not be permitted to say that he relied on the previous assurances of the foreman. Moreover, the evidence does not show what it was that caused the current of the electricity to be on the wire — whether it resulted because the wires being strung were crossed with others, or whether from lightning. Much of -the testimony tended to show that it was the latter, and there was no dispute -that all the conditions were favorable to the theory that it was lightning that caused the injury. In such circumstances we are confronted by the rule which declares that, where an action is brought for damages which are occasioned by one of two causes, for one of which defendant is responsible and for the other not, the plaintiff is fated to failure if -his evidence fails to show that the damages were produced by the former, or if, from the evidence, the probabilities are equally strong that the damages were caused by the one as by the other. [Searles v. Railway Co., 101 N. Y. 661.] This principle finds recognition in Priest v. Nichols, 116 Mass. 401; Smith v. Bank, 99 Mass. 605; Breen v. Cooperage Co., 50 Mo. App. 202; Marble v. Worcester, 4 Gray 395; Fuchs v. St. Louis, 133 Mo. loc. cit. 196, 197. This 'action being for negligence, the affirmative is on plaintiff to establish it. In the language of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin: “Judicial determinations [383] must rest upon facts, and legal liability must be determined by the law, in -application to the facts. These rules will not exclude circumstantial evidence, for such -evidence is often the strongest, but such 'evidence, -after all, must establish facts. "When liability depends upon carelessness or fault of a person or his agents, the right of recovery depends upon the same being clearly shown by competent evidence; and it is incumbent upon such a plaintiff to furnish such evidence to show how and why the accident occurred — some fact or facts by which it can be determined by the jury, and not left entirely to conjecture, guess, or random judgment, upon mere supposition, without a single known fact.” [Sorenson v. Pulp Co., 56 Wis. 338.] Eor these -reason's it must be held that defendant’s demurrer t-o the evidence was well taken, that the facts in the record established no cause of action, and that the judgment should be reversed.
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