Friess v. New York Central & H. R. Railroad

22 N.Y.S. 104, 67 Hun 205, 74 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 205, 51 N.Y. St. Rep. 391
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 15, 1893
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 22 N.Y.S. 104 (Friess v. New York Central & H. R. Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Friess v. New York Central & H. R. Railroad, 22 N.Y.S. 104, 67 Hun 205, 74 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 205, 51 N.Y. St. Rep. 391 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1893).

Opinion

MARTIN, J.

The accident which was the subject of investigation on the trial of this action occurred on the 24th day of May, 1889. It happened at a point where the tracks of the defendant’s railroad cross Williams street, which is one of the public streets of the city of Syracuse, and extensively used for the passage of teams and foot passengers. At this place the tracks of the defendant extend in an easterly and westerly direction, crossing Williams street at nearly right angles. There was a plank sidewalk on the west side of the street which crossed the railroad track. In this sidewalk, and within the bounds of the street, the defendant bad placed a frog to connect the main track with a side track which deflected from. the main track at that point. The frog was an open one, and so constructed that the foot of a person passing over the sidewalk was liable to be caught therein. It was used and operated by the defendant without being blocked, or the opening in any manner filled, or any other means being adopted to render it safe for persons crossing its tracks on the sidewalk. The plaintiff at the time of the accident was 12 years of age. He resided with his parents on Williams street, a little north of the crossing. He had resided there only about 10 days. Before that he lived in Schoharie county. The evidence [106]*106tended, to show that the plaintiff was not familiar with this crossing, nor with the operation of the defendant’s trains at this point, and that he was unacquainted with the purposes and construction of a frog, and was not aware of any danger to be apprehended from passing over it. At the time of the accident the defendant was backing a tender and engine easterly, moving a train of about 21 cars, from the soda ash works, which was located about a mile westerly from Williams street. The evidence introduced by the plaintiff was also to the effect that while passing along the sidewalk on Williams street, over defendant’s track, he caught his foot in this frog, and was unable to remove it; that while in this situation the tender of the defendant’s train struck him, knocked him down between the rails, and under the train, and that he was dragged along the tracks from this point easterly a distance of about 1,000 feet, where the last car of the train passed over his leg, so crushing it that it became necessary to amputate it above the knee; and that he also sustained other injuries. In going this distance the train passed two other streets where the crossings were planked, so that the planking was even with the surface of the rails. This action was for negligence. The negligence charged was the maintenance in the sidewalk of this frog, and the rails and appliances connected therewith, in a manner which rendered them dangerous to persons passing. How this accident happened was the question chiefly litigated on the trial. The plaintiff claimed that it occurred as already stated. This frog was not blocked, or so constructed as to provide against accidents of this kind, although the evidence disclosed not only that blocks were extensively used for that purpose, but that there were other means by which such a-n accident could have been easily prevented, if adopted by the defendant. On the other hand, the defendant contended, and introduced evidence which tended to show, that the plaintiff was engaged in stealing a ride at the time of the accident, and that his injury resulted from his falling from the train, and being run over by the cars.

The jury found for the plaintiff. The evidence was conflicting. If the jury believed the evidence given in support of the plaintiff’s theory, it was sufficient to justify it in finding that the accident occurred in the manner claimed by the plaintiff. It may perhaps be said that if it occurred in that manner it was unusual. Still, we think we would not be justified in holding that it was either impossible, or so improbable as to justify us in determining, as a matter of law, that it could not have occurred. in the manner claimed. The question whether it occurred as claimed by the plaintiff, or whether as claimed by the defendant, was for the jury; and its finding should not, we think, be disturbed by us, especially in view of the fact that two juries have alreadjr arrived at the same conclusion. A careful study of the evidence contained in the appeal book has led us to the conclusion that the question of the defendant’s negligence was a question of fact for the jury. This case is clearly distinguishable from the case of Spencer v. Railroad Co., 22 N. Y. Supp. 100, (decided by this court at this term,) as in that case there was no evidence to show that blocks were in general use or proper for the purpose of preventing injury1 to persons passing over the frogs in a railroad [107]*107track, or that there were any other means, that were in general use or proper, which could have been adopted to prevent such an accident. Moreover, in that case the question arose between the defendant and one of its employes, who, upon entering the defendant’s employment, assumed the usual risks of the service, and those which were apparent to ordinary observation. In that case the frog was in the defendant’s yard, while in the case at bar it was in a public street.

This leads us to the consideration of the question whether the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. A passenger upon a street has a right to use its sidewalk, although knowing it is in an unsafe condition, and, if injured, it is a question for the jury whether he was guilty of any carelessness which contributed to the injury. Bullock v. Mayor, etc., 99 N. Y. 654, 2 N. E. Rep. 1; Pomfrey v. Village of Sara-toga Springs, 104 N. Y. 459, 11 N. E. Rep. 43. Contributory negligence is a question of fact, and should be left to the jury, unless it so clearly appears from the circumstances or uncontradicted evidence as to leave no inference of fact in doubt. It is only in very exceptional cases that it can be adjudged as a necessary legal conclusion from the facts found. Thurber v. Railroad Co., 60 N. Y. 326; Massoth v. Canal Co., 64 N. Y. 529. Under the evidence in this case, we think the question whether the plaintiff was guilty of any negligence which contributed to his injury was a question of fact, and properly submitted to the jury. Nor are we disposed to interfere with the order made by the trial court denying the defendant’s motion for a new trial. The trial court heard the evidence, saw the witnesses upon the stand, observed their demeanor and manner of giving their testimony, and was satisfied with the verdict. As the evidence was conflicting, and entirely sufficient to justify the verdict, we are not inclined to disturb this order.

Neither do we think that it can be said that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. We think it was not. We are of the opinion that the question of the defendant’s negligence, and the plaintiff’s freedom from contributory negligence, were questions for the jury, were properly submitted to it, and the evidence justified the verdict and judgment entered thereon. It follows, therefore, that, unless some of the exceptions taken by the defendant require a reversal of the judgment, it should be affirmed. This leads us to an examination of the various exceptions taken by the defendant to the admission and rejection of evidence, and to the charge.

The defendant claims that the court erred in admitting evidence that no bell was rung or whistle blown as the train which ran over the plaintiff approached the crossing where he was injured. We think this evidence was admissible. Notwithstanding the repeal of the statute1 requiring the sounding of the whistle or the ringing of the bell when a

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Genud v. Tauber
67 Misc. 2d 682 (New York Supreme Court, 1971)
Nehrbass v. Home Indemnity Co.
37 F. Supp. 123 (W.D. Louisiana, 1941)
King v. Terwilliger
259 A.D. 437 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1940)
City of Chicago v. Didier
131 Ill. App. 406 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1907)
McGovern v. Standard Oil Co.
42 N.Y.S. 595 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1896)
Rutherford v. Krause
8 Misc. 547 (New York Supreme Court, 1894)
In re Taylor
8 Misc. 159 (New York Supreme Court, 1894)
In re Taylor
60 N.Y. St. Rep. 136 (Court Of Oyer And Terminer New York, 1894)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
22 N.Y.S. 104, 67 Hun 205, 74 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 205, 51 N.Y. St. Rep. 391, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/friess-v-new-york-central-h-r-railroad-nysupct-1893.