Indianapolis Street Railway Co. v. Dawson

68 N.E. 909, 31 Ind. App. 605, 1903 Ind. App. LEXIS 180
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 17, 1903
DocketNo. 4,529
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 68 N.E. 909 (Indianapolis Street Railway Co. v. Dawson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Indianapolis Street Railway Co. v. Dawson, 68 N.E. 909, 31 Ind. App. 605, 1903 Ind. App. LEXIS 180 (Ind. Ct. App. 1903).

Opinion

Roby, J.

Action by appellee. Yerdict and judgment for $500. Demurrers to first and second paragraphs of complaint overruled. Motion for a new trial overruled.

It is averred in the first paragraph of complaint, in substance, as -extracted from a multitude of words, that appellant was on August 25, 1901, a corporation operating a street railway system in Indianapolis and was a common carrier for hire; that it owned a park near said city, and maintained certain attractions therein to induce persons to ride on its cars, inviting them to said park; that on [606]*606the clay named k gave a free band concert therein, the same having been extensively advertised prior thereto; that on said day appellee, accompanied by a lady, took passage upon one of its regular ears, and was conveyed to said park; that a large number of persons were daily transported thereto, among them a large number of lawless persons who were hostile to colored people, of whom appellee was one, their names being unknown to plaintiff, and who had long before said day entered into a conspiracy “to suppress, molest, assault, and insult colored people generally who might visit said park;” that in pursuance of such conspiracy said persons assaulted and beat appellee, and drove him from the park; that he and his companion demeaned themselves in a lady-like and gentlemanly manner, but upon arriving at the park were set upon by a large number of white boys and young men, appellee being assaulted and beaten by them; that appellant had, and had had for a long time prior to said day, full notice and knowledge of said conditions, and of the unlawful purposes aforesaid, and of acts of violence committed thereunder, but took n,o steps.tqjKevent sucln_candnct: that early in the afternoon of said day said lawless men and boys began marching and drilling openly in said park preparatory to an attack upon any colored male person who should be found there later, appellant taking no steps to prevent such conduct or to notify colored people of the danger, although, it had knowledge .thereof: thS^eklíer“appellant nor its officers made any objection to the open and notorious gathering of white men and boys for the unlawful purpose stated; that it was negligent and indifferent in not employing and using a sufficient number of guards and policemen to maintain the peace; that two of its guards or policemen aided and abetted the wrong done appellee by standing by while he was being unmercifully beaten by said crowd of lawless white men and boys, ■ and offering him no assistance, although they were able to do so, and could have prevented injury to [607]*607him. “Wherefore, by reason of the matters therein stated, the plaintiff has been damaged,” etc. The second paragraph of complaint is somewhat more extended than the first one, but for the purpose of this opinion the statement made is sufficient.

The pleading charges appellant with notice of the alleged conspiracy, with acquiescence therein, and, by its guards or policemen, with passive participation in the actual assault made upon appellee. “When one expressly or by implication invites others to come upon his premises, whether for business or any other purpose, it is his duty to be reasonably sure that he is not inviting them into danger, and to that end he must exercise ordinary care and prudence to render the place reasonably safe for the visit.” Cooley, Torts (2d ed.), 718; Howe v. Ohmart, 7 Ind. App. 32, 38; Richmond, etc., R. Co. v. Moore, 94 Va. 493, 37 L. R. A. 258; North Manchester, etc., Assn. v. Wilcox, 4 Ind. App. 141; Penso v. McCormick, 125 Ind. 116, 21 Am. St. 211.

No case has been cited or found where the premises upon which the injury complained of occurred, and to which the complainant came by invitation, were made unsafe through a conspiracy of the nature set up herein. Danger usually has been attributed to some defect in the premises themselves. But as a matter of principle it is quite as reprehensible to invite one knowing that an enemy is awaiting him with intent to assault and beat him as it would be to invite him without having made the floor or the stairway secure. One attending an agricultural fair in response to a general invitation extended to the public has been awarded .damages against the association where his horse was killed by target shooting upon a part of the ground allowed for such purpose. Conradt v. Clauve, 93 Ind. 476, 47 Am. Rep. 388.

Eecoveries have also^ been sustained: When spectators rushed upon a race-track, causing a collision between horses [608]*608being driven thereon. North Manchester, etc., Assn. v. Wilcox, 4 Ind. App. 141. When an opening was left in a fence surrounding a race-track, through which one of the horses, running, went among the spectators. Windeler v. Rush County Fair Assn., 27 Ind. App. 92. Where horses were started on a race-track in opposite directions at the same -time, causing collision. Fairmount, etc., Assn. v. Downey, 146 Ind. 503. Where a horse with a vicious habit of track bolting was permitted to run in a race, such horse bolting the track, causing injury. Lane v. Minnesota, etc., Soc., 62 Minn. 175, 29 L. R. A. 708. Recognizing the rule of reasonable care to make the premises safe, a recovery was denied in the absence of any evidence of the immediate cause of a horse running through the crowds. Hart v. Washington Park Club, 157 Ill. 9, 29 L. R. A. 492. Where a street car company maintained a park as a place of attraction for passengers over its line, the falling of a pole used by one making a balloon ascension, under a contract, injuring a bystander, recovery was allowed, the rule being announced that the company must use proper care to protect its patrons from danger while on its grounds. Richmond, etc., R. Co. v. Moore, 94 Va. 493, 37 L. R. A. 258. Where a street car company maintained a large stage for exhibitions, in a pleasure resort owned by it, and made a written contract with a manager, by which the latter furnished various entertainments, among which Was target shooting, one injured by a split bullet was allowed to recover, it being held that he might safely rely on those who provided the exhibition and invited his attendance to take due care to make the place safe from such injury as he received. The question of due care being one for the jury. Thompson v. Lowell, etc., St. R. Co., 170 Mass. 577, 40 L. R. A. 345; Curtis v. Kiley, 153 Mass. 123.

The duty of common carriers to protect their passengers from injury on account of unlawful violence by persons not connected with their service has frequently furnished [609]*609material for judicial consideration. The New Jersey court of errors and appeals approved an exhaustive and carefully considered opinion delivered by the supreme court of that state to the effect that a passenger who, while attempting to have her baggage checked, was knocked down and injured by cabmen, in no sense servants of the carrier, scuffling on a passageway under its control, might recover against it. Exton v. Central R. Co., 63 N. J. L. 356, 56 L. R. A. 508. In what seems to.have been a pioneer case, it was held by the supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1866, that it was the duty of the trainmen on a passenger-train to exert the forces at their disposal to prevent injury to passengers by others fighting in the car. Pittsburgh, etc., R. Co. v. Hinds, 53 Pa. St. 512.

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Bluebook (online)
68 N.E. 909, 31 Ind. App. 605, 1903 Ind. App. LEXIS 180, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/indianapolis-street-railway-co-v-dawson-indctapp-1903.