Ochiltree v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.

68 N.W. 832, 99 Iowa 373
Supreme Court of Iowa·Decided October 20, 1896·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

Granger, J.

This case is before us on re-hearing. This and the case of C. M. Ochiltree versus the same defendant, are based on the same state of facts, the [374] plaintiff in this case being the wife of C: M. Ochiltree, she being injured while driving a team along defendant’s line of road; the action by the husband being for the loss of his-wife’s services, and this case is by the wife, for her personal injuries. The main facts, aided by a diagram, will be found in the opinion of the other case; 93 Iowa, 628 (62 N. W. Rep. 7). In the other case, in the district court, there was a verdict and judgment for the defendant, which we affirmed. In this case, as we have said, the judgment, on a verdict, was for the plaintiff, which, on the former hearing, 94 Iowa, 732 (62 N. W. Rep. 11), we reversed, because of erroneous instructions. Since our former holding in this case, we have again considered the rules announced in the other case, on a petition for a re-hearing, and, in a supplemental opinion, 96 Iowa, 246 (64 N. W. Rep. 788), have adhered to them; and hence, so far as they are applicable, such rules are conclusive in this case. It may be well to state some of the facts in this connection, a better understanding of which can be had by a reference to the diagram. It will be remembered, that on the morning of the accident, the plaintiff, with another lady, and some children, were riding along a public highway, parallel to defendant’s road, and going south. At this time, defendant’s train came from the north, and, being heard by the plaintiff, who was driving, she whipped up her horses, with a view to reach a gate, and turn into the field. It will be seen, that this gate is at a turn in the highway, where it crosses defendant’s road. It appears that the engineer, seeing the team going at a good gait, and supposing that it was trying to make the crossing in advance of the train, sounded the whistle for brakes, to have them set, which was done. When plaintiff reached the gate, she turned into the field, and drove a short distance west, and then turned north, when the horses became unmanageable, and the plaintiff [375] and others were thrown from the carriage,, and the plaintiff was injured’. After the plaintiff had turned into the field, the engineer gave the signal for “Off brakes,” and it is because of these short, sharp blasts from the whistle, that the team was frightened, and caused the injury. This case, as well as the other, was made to turn on the fact of whether there was negligence in giving the signal for “Off brakes!” In the other case, it is definitely settled, that it was not negligence, as a matter of law, for an engineer, in the operation of a train, to whistle for “Off brakes!” when a team is known to be on the public highway, and within hearing of the whistle. This' was the rule adopted by the district court in both cases, and approved on appeal.

In our former consideration of this case we said: “Appellant contends that the court erred in giving the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th instructions, in permitting the jury to find that the engineer was negligent, even if they found that the only whistling done at the crossing was to give the usual signal for ‘Off brakes!’ because there was nothing in the behavior of the plaintiff or her team to indicate that danger might result or her team be frightened by the giving of the signals. We think the complaint is well founded.” In the former consideration we also said that the court, in some of the instructions, stated the correct rule, but that its effect was destroyed by the qualifications attached to it. Wherein the effect of the court rule was destroyed by the qualification we did not consider, but simply referred to the other case because of its similarity. On the application for a re-hearing, we thought, perhaps, the point should be more carefully and definitely considered. It is not essential that we set out all- the instructions referred to. Two of them will be sufficient, as it is the same criticism as to all, and we have italicized the parts spoken of as [376] qualifications. The two instructions are as follows: “If you find from the evidence that, just prior to the time when the plaintiff quit the highway and turned into the adjoining field, the engineer on the defendant’s train gave the usual and ordinary signal for ‘Down brakes!’ with a view to avoid an apprehended collision with plaintiff at the crossing below; and you further find that, in answer to such signal, the other employes on defendant’s train applied the brakes; and you further find that, immediately after the said signal for ‘Down brakes!’ was given, the plaintiff left the highway, and turned into the adjoining field, and was passing away from the defendant’s train, — then it was the right of the defendant to give the usual and ordinary signal for ‘Off brakes!’ and resume the ordinary speed and control over the train in passing that point, unless, under the circumstances, to give such a signal for Off brakes' was not the exercise of proper and ordinary care and diligence in running the train with due regard for the safety of the plaintiff.” “(9) If you find that, just prior to the whistling of which complaint is made, the defendant’s engineer had signaled for ‘Down brakes!’ in order to save plaintiff from apprehended danger, and that in answer thereto the other employes of defendant had set certain brakes, then, as soon as such danger had been reasonably removed, it was proper for the engineer at once to signal for ‘Off brakes!’ and to asume the ordinary speed of the train, unless at the time, in the exercise of ordinary care and prudence, he had reason to anticipate that giving of such signal would frighten plaintiff’s horses, and expose her to danger and injury. The uncontroverted evidence of the case shows that, prior to the giving of the whistling complained of, the plaintiff’s horses had given no indication of being or becoming frightened, and that the plaintiff had them under proper control; and you will determine the question of defendant’s negligence [377] in the light of such evidence and all other facts and circumstances disclosed by the testimony. If the signal was the usual and ordinary signal for ‘Off brakes!’ and was given to remove brakes previously set, then the signal itself and the giving thereof would not constitute negligence, unless the facts and circumstances of the occasion were such as to render the giving thereof negligence, because of the exposure of the plaintiff to danger and injury resulting therefrom.”

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Ochiltree v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co., 68 N.W. 832, 99 Iowa 373 (iowa 1896).

68 N.W. 832 (Ochiltree v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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