Patterson v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.

33 N.W. 228, 70 Iowa 593

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: March 2, 1887
• Status: Published

Opinion

Servers, J\

I. No exceptions to the instructions were taken at the time they were given, but they were excepted to in a motion for a new trial filed within three days after verdict. It is provided by statute that this may be done, but in such case the “ exceptions shall specify the part of the charge or instruction objected to, and the ground of the objection.” Code, § 2789. In Miller v. Gardner, 49 Iowa, 234, it was held that-an exception to instructions, taken in a motion for a new trial, that “the same are not applicable and are not the law applicable to the case,” was insufficient, because it was too general. As the ground of exception must be stated, it is obvious that none other than the stated objections can be considered.

The exception to the third instruction is as follows: “The court erred in giving the third instruction in form and man-X» mxcfln?" tiojís to in-struetions: m new'taai'too general. ner it did, without more. It is misleading, (as ^ o \ it instructs to find for plaintiff, if they find the i > d -^re was set out on P^i^iff’s premises by sparks or gre fr0in defendant’s locomotive and by negligence. Now, it might have been set out on the right of way, and communicated to plaintiff’s premises. It might have been set out by employes, and not from sparks or fire from locomotive, and the right of way may have been in bad condition, that without other negligence, the fire was communicated to plaintiff’s premises, etc.)” The brackets are used by counsel, as above, and the words therein inclosed must, we think, have been used by way of argument in support of the exception preceding them. They cannot be regarded as a part of the exceptions. To- say in a motion for a new trial that an instruction is erroneous, without more, and is misleading, is too general, and is clearly insufficient.

It is further said in the motion for a new trial: “The court erred in giving the fourth instruction in form and manner it did, without more, as it is contradictory and misleading, and does not express the full requirements of the law.” This is clearly too general. It should have been stated wherein it is contradictory, misleading, and does not express the full requirements of the law. It is further said in said motion: “ The court erred in giving the fifth instruction, as the same is surplusage and misleading, suggesting to the jury that in this action they are instructed to find for the defendant (it being in no manner liable, having been settled in right of way, etc., without negligence. The jury overlooked the words “ without negligence etc., or fail to comprehend the full meaning in this connection.)” By the use of tbe brackets, and tbe words therein included, we understand tbe same to have been used by way of argument in support of wbat precedes such words. An instruction may be erroneous, but it is difficult to see why it can be regarded as surplusage, but, if it is, tbe reason it is so regarded should be stated. It is not true that tbe instruction suggests to tbe jury that they must find for tbe defendant, nor does it instruct them to do so.

Tbe foregoing are all tbe exceptions to instructions contained in tbe motion for a new trial, and, as their insufficiency under tbe statute is insisted upon by counsel for tbe appellee, we cannot disregard tbe point made, and therefore cannot determine whether tbe instructions are erroneous or not.

II. The plaintiff asked John Granerboltz when on tbe stand a question in these words: “ I will ask you if this offered at' ‘ wrong time: exclusion. same train communicated any other fires that you saw?” This question was objected to on tbe ° ground of immateriality. Tbe court said: “That is in rebuttal,” and plaintiff excepted. It is urged that the evidence sought to be elicited was admissible. Conceding this to be so-, it cannot be said tbe court excluded it. Tbe most that can be said is, the court thought that it was not admissible at that time. Tbe witness was not introduced again, nor was tbe evidence offered in rebuttal. As tbe plaintiff had given evidence at tbe time tbe witness was introduced that the fire bad been set out by tbe engine, and her damages, she bad established her right to recover, unless at least tbe defendant showed that it bad not been negligent, by showing that tbe engine was equipped with tbe best known appliances, and was in good order to prevent the escape of fire. It may be, therefore, tbe evidence was only admissible in rebuttal, and was purely of that character. But, be this as it may, it cannot be said that the evidence was excluded by tbe court except when offered.

III. The defendant introduced one Rapp as a witness, who testified that he had charge of the engines on a part of ?or-fae'tskea given. the railway, and asked him what was the custom *n reference keeping the engines and netting good condition. To this the plaintiff objected because irrelevant, and that a custom instead of facts was sought to be established. In response thereto the court said: “I suppose they will follow it up by what was done. Go on;” and this is what the plaintiff did. The witness, instead of testifying to a custom, stated what the defendant did, and therefore the evidence given in reply to the question was not objectionable. It is said that the defendant failed to establish that the netting on the engine in question, or that the engine in other respects, was .in good condition, but this was a question for the jury. It is urged that the evidence does not sustain the verdict. But there was evidence tending to show that the defendant was not negligent, and, therefore, we cannot interfere. Much was said in argument about the misconduct of the jury, but, as the record fails to disclose any misconduct, we are unable to remedy the wrong if there was one.

Affirmed.