Stephens v. City of Macon

83 Mo. 345

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: October 15, 1884
• Status: Published

Opinion

Ewing, C.

This action was brought by the plaintiff ■against the city of Macon to recover damages alleged to have been sustained by him from falling into an excavation across the sidewalk on Rollins street, in front of block 94, whereby he sustained damages to the amount of $5,000.

The answer is that said plaintiff well knew of said excavation ; that plaintiff was injured by his own negligence ; that one B. F. Stone obtained permission of the defendant to .make said excavation. This map or plat of the ground was offered in evidence, from which the testimony will be more readily understood :

The evidence tended to prove that plaintiff was at the southwest corner of Terrill and Eollins streets on Sunday evening about dusk; that he started to his home on the west side of Eollins street, north of where the ac■cident occurred; that he, as a merchant, occupied three :store-rooms, marked ‘‘ Goldsberry and Stephens” on the map, nearly opposite the excavated cellar of Stone; that plaintiff was frequently at a bank near the southwest •corner of Rollins and Terrill streets, and going from there to his store he usually walked about the red dotted line from the bank to the middle of the street opposite the drug store; and on this occasion he involuntarily started to his store, but when he reached the middle of Rollins street opposite the drug store, he recollected that it was Sunday and he was going home and not to the .store; he thereupon turned towards the left, and approached the sidewalk in front of the cellar excavation .at a point, as shown by the dotted line, where a wagon-way had been left to permit wagons to go down into the •cellar excavation in hauling out the dirt. That Stone’s ■cellar was nine or ten feet deep, and extended from the northwest corner of Terrill and Rollins streets seventy feet north; that at the northwest corner of said streets the excavation was protected as shown on the plat; that there was a ditch, three feet wide, nine feet deep and ten feet long, dug from the cellar to a sewer in the street to •drain the water from the cellar. On the south side of this ditch the dirt was thrown up two or three feet high, and tapered down to within fifteen inches to three feet of the open cellar excavation. The red line represents the plaintiff’s route and the place where he fell into the ditch, whereas the route usually taken, and-which was indicated by a path, was around the end of the pile of dirt, between it and the ditch, to the curbing, which was left untouched, and then across the ditch near the street.

The evidence tends to show that footmen used this walk to such an extent as to have made a plain path along the course above indicated. That the rock and dirt and obstructions, and every evidence of a building being in progress was patent. That the other side of the street was unobstructed, which was the side usually traveled by plaintiff in going to and returning home from his place of business. The evidence tended to show the obstructions and condition of things as represented on the above plat. That the plaintiff had no knowledge of the existence of the ditch until he fell into it. That he was passing along first about dusk and watching the cellar so as not to fall into it, and did not see the ditch until he stepped into it and was hurt.

The answer alleged that the defendant had granted the owner, Stone, permission to cut the ditch across the sidewalk to drain the cellar. The evidence tended to show that the defendant, by its city marshal, examined the ground each night to see that everything was right.

John H. Clayton, sworn on the part of the defendant, testified as follows:

“I was city marshal at the time plaintiff was hurt, and hold that office yet. It was my duty to go and examine the grounds at the new building every night before I went to bed to see that everything was right. I was instructed to do so by the mayor of the city and the city council. I went every night to examine the grounds after the ditch was dug to the time plaintiff was hurt. I think I had commenced this before the ditch was dug. I am sure I did after the ditch was dug. I was to see after the safety of the drain in the street and the cut across the sidewalk, on the part of the city. On the Saturday night before plaintiff was hurt, I went and looked at the works and found them in their usual condition, after work for the day had ended. The guards were up at the southeast corner. The scantling were up around the ditch, as indicated in plat “B,” one on the north and three on the south. This is the manner in which they had been left for about a week before that night. On that Saturday night, before the accident, I also found two wagons on the sidewalk where the wagon road crosses it.- I had noticed these wagons there before, every night, for something like a week, or more. They were drawn across tlie road leading into the cellar. I was there again on Sunday night, the same night plaintiff was said to have been hurt, and I found the situation the same as on Saturday night.”

I. The court below, at the request of the plaintiff, gave the following instruction :

No. 3. “The court instructs the jury that on the 5th day of October, 1879, the defendant was, and for a long time had been, a municipal corporation, having, by the terms of its charter, the exclusive control and management of its sidewalks, and that it was the duty of defendant to keep the same in a condition reasonably safe for persons passing along the same in the day or night; and if the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant neglected its duty, and suffered and permitted the sidewalk to remain in a dangerous condition to persons walking thereon at night, and that plaintiff, on or about said day, while walking on said sidewalk, unaware of danger and using reasonable care, fell into a ditch because of said dangerous condition of said sidewalk, and was hurt and injured, then you are bound to find for the plaintiff.”

It is insisted by appellant that this is error; that appellant had a right to withdraw that portion of the sidewalk entirely from public use for a reasonable time, for the purpose of making improvements on the adjoining property; and that the evidence shows it was so withdrawn. There is no doubt of the right and power of the defendant, under proper circumstances, to withdraw a sidewalk from public use for the purposes indicated, but in doing so it would be the duty of the city to so withdraw it as to leave no doubt of its intention to wholly exclude the public therefrom. This is a question of fact. Was it so withdrawn as to notify the public of their exclusion therefrom? The evidence is somewhat conflicting ; so that it is necessary for some one to decide whether it was so withdrawn or not; and it is a question properly left to the jury. This third instruction, when taken in connection with the first given for the defendant, fully and fairly presents this question to the jury. That instruction is as follows :

No. 1. “The owners of property adjacent to a street, with the permission of the city, have a right to temporarily obstruct and use such part of a street, and for Such time as is reasonable and necessary in making improvements on such property, and the city cannot be held liable for damages that may occur on such part of a street so used when precautions and guards have been used, sufficient to notify the public, in the exercise of ordinary prudence and care, of danger into which the injured party fell”

These two instructions are harmonious and correct under the evidence. The question is presented to the jury by this instruction whether the precautions and guards used by the city were sufficient to notify the public. If they were, the city was not liable, but if not, then the defendant must suffer for the neglect.

II. The second objection of the defendant is to the action of the court below in giving the fourth and eighth instructions for the plaintiff,-which are as follows: •

No. 4. “The court instructs the jury that plaintiff, in the exercise of ordinary care, was not bound to select the sidewalk that was safest to travel upon, but that he had a right to infer and believe that the sidewalk upon which he was injured was reasonably safe ; if they believe from the evidence that no guards were up at the time the injury occurred, to warn plaintiff of the danger of falling into the ditch across the sidewalk, and that the plaintiff was using ordinary care at the time he fell into the ditch and was injured, and had no knowledge at the time of the existence of said cut or excavation across the sidewalk.”

There is no rule of law that required the plaintiff, while upon the street, to use extra caution to avoid injury from any defects therein. Plaintiff had a right to presume that the sidewalk was in a fit condition to travel. He was not obliged to presume negligence on the part of those whose duty it was to keep the streets and sidewalks in good condition. 2 Thompson on Negligence, pages 1172, 1197, 1198 and 1199 ; Woods v. Boston 121 Mass. 337; Hill v. Seekonk, 119 Mass. 35.

No. 8. “The court instructs the jury that if they believe from the evidence the ditch across said sidewalk rendered the same dangerous, and that no guards were up to warn plaintiff of the danger at the time he was injured, and that plaintiff was using ordinary care and prudence at the time he fell into the ditch and was injured, they must find their verdict for the plaintiff.”

The court, also, gave for the defendant instruction numbered five, as follows, after modifying it by the insertion of the words, “when he fell:”

No. 5. “If the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff knew the condition of the sidewalk (when he fell) at the time he attempted to pass over it, or might have known it by the exercise of ordinary diligence and care, then he cannot recover in this action. And in arriving at the plaintiff’s knowledge of the said sidewalk, or his opportunity to know the same, they should take into consideration all the facts and circumstances shown by the testimony.”

And, also, modified the second instruction as asked by the defendant, by the addition of the last sentence thereto, and then gave it. It is as follows:

No. 2. “If the jury believe from the testimony that the excavation complained of by plaintiff was made by one B. P. Stone, for the sole purpose of erecting a building and to drain his cellar, by the permission of the defendant, then the court instructs you that said Stone had a right, during the time he was so building and improving his lot, to employ and occupy the sidewalk and a reasonable portion of the street adjacent to said lot for a reasonable and necessary time, for the purpose of aiding and facilitating said work. But it was the duty of the city to see that its sidewalk over which the public traveled, was kept in areasonably safe condition during such use and occupancy by B. F. Stone.”

These instructions, all taken together, submitted to the jury various questions of fact to be passed upon. Had the appellant withdrawn its sidewalk from public use, for purposes of improvement ? If so, did it give reasonable notice of such intention? Did respondent use ordinary care and prudence in choosing the sidewalk over which to pass ? Did the plaintiff use ordinary care in observing the evidences of intention to withdraw the sidewalk from public use ? Did the plaintiff know the ■condition of the sidewalk and ditch at the time he attempted to pass over it ? Or might he have known it by ■the exercise of ordinary care ? These are all facts to be found by the jury, under the instructions of the court. If there was evidence tending to prove them, or any of them, then neither this court, nor the circuit court could withdraw the question from the jury. In Buesching v. The St. Louis Gaslight Company, 73 Mo. 219, it is held by this court that “ if it appears, without any conflict of evidence, from.the plaintiff’s own case, or from the cross-examination of his witnesses, that he was guilty of negligence, proximately contributing to produce the injury, it would be the duty of the court to take the case from the jury, by declaring as a matter of law that the plaintiff cannot recover.”

Iln the case at bar there is conflict of evidence. The plaintiff ’ s own statement tends to show that he did not know of the existence of the ditch -across the sidewalk ; and the testimony of himself and other witnesses tended to show that the sidewalk had been and was being used by persons passing back and forth. On the other hand, the evidence tended to show the existence of piles of dirt on the sidewalk, and obstructions, in the way of scantlings, etc., which would probably put one on his guard, and indicate the existence of an intention to withdraw the sidewalk from use, etc. But the case certainly does not come within the rule in 73 Mo., supra. Hence we think the question of negligence was properly submitted to the jury. 73 Mo. 219 ; 74 Mo. 480 ; 77 Mo. 431.

In White v. City of Boston, 122 Mass. 491, it is said: “It is undoubtedly true that the authorities of a city or town may temporarily close a highway against use, for the purpose of making repairs in the way, and escape liability to any person who may attempt to use the same as a way, with knowledge that it is closed * * But, in order to relieve the municipality from liability to a person sustaining- injury, by reason of his attempt to use it, it must be closed. What is sufficient to show that it is thus closed, is a question of fact.”

III. The appellant complains of the court below for refusing the seventh instruction asked on behalf of the city, which was as follows :

No. 7. “The jury are instructed that for the purpose to make improvements the city had a right to take any sidewalk, part of a sidewalk or street, out of public use, and give permission to any person making such improvements to use the same for such purpose, and make all necessary excavations in any street or sidewalk for the same, and continue them for a reasonable and necessary time, and before plaintiff can recover it devolves upon him to show that the excavation complained of, into which plaintiff fell, was unreasonably continued, or that at the time of the injury the said excavation was exposed beyond what was necessary for building purposes, and also that the city had notice of that identical instance of exposure, and carelessly neglected it, and that plaintiff fell into the same and got injured without any negligence on his part.”

This instruction was very properly refused, for one sufficient reason at least: Because it told the jury that plaintiff could not recover unless he showed that he fell into the excavation, “without any negligence on his part.” In Buesching v. The St. Louis Gas Light Co., 73 Mo. 219, it is said: “It has been repeatedly decided by this court that it is not incumbent upon the plaintiff, in the first instance, to show that he was free from negligence, or in the exercise of ordinary care, at the time of receiving the injury complained of, but that the concurring negligence of the plaintiff is a matter of defence, and the burden of showing it is, therefore, upon the defendant.”

As to the question of notice to the city, presented by this instruction; the answer alleges permission of the city to Stone to use the street, etc., for building purposes, and of course, therefore, needed no notice of the fact that Stone was using it for the purpose indicated, and had excavated a cellar, ditch, etc., in furtherance of his design of building. The act of Stone, by permission of the city, was the act of the city, and it makes no difference in such case whether the excavation was made by the city or by Stone, with its permission. The city would be equally liable. Bassett v. St. Joseph, 53 Mo. 298; Russell v. Inhabitants of Columbia, 74 Mo. 480.

On the trial, the city, by its marshal, introduced evidence tending to show that certain obstructions were placed across the wagon road leading into the cellar excavation, for the purpose of protecting persons from damage or injury. There was no evidence, except by inference, to the effect that the alleged barriers had been removed on the night of the accident, after being once in place, as testified to by the city marshal. If it be true that they were so placed on the night of the accident, as sworn to by the city’s officer, then in the absence of proof of their removal by some unauthorized agency, no notice to the city would seem to be necessary. There was nothing of which to notify the city. It had notice of the excavations, and the placing of the barriers, such as had been nightly placed, and there was nothing to show they had been removed. The jury may have concluded that the testimony of the city marshal was not true, or more probably, that the barriers were not such as were necessary and sufficient, under the circumstances, to protect the cellar excavation and the ditch from the approach of the plaintiff, or to notify him of the danger. The evidence in relation to the alleged barriers was conflicting, and presented a question solely for the consideration of the jury, and in our opinion the refusal of this seventh instruction was not error.

IY. The appellant insists that the circuit court committed error in refusing to grant a new trial because of newly discovered evidence. ' We have carefully examined the affidavits setting out the newly discovered evidence, and have reached the conclusion that this court would not be justified to interfere in this case for two reasons: “The granting of new trials, because of evidence subsequently discovered, rests, for the most part, with the trial court; and any doubt as to whether the discretion vested in this regard in that tribunal has been soundly exercised is to be resolved in favor of its ruling. It is only in a case entirely free from any element of uncertainty as to the impropriety of such ruling, that appellate courts feel themselves called upon to interfere.” Cook v. St. L. & K. R. R., 56 Mo. 880; People v. Superior Court of New York, 5 Wend. 114. And, secondly, a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence should not be granted unless the newly discovered evidence would probably have changed the result. Shaw v. Besch, 58 Mo. 107. In this case it is not probable in our opinion that the newly discovered evidence would have changed the result, and we will not reverse this case for failure to grant a new trial on the grounds set up.

Upon the whole case, as presented by the evidence and instructions, we are of the opinion the questions were fairly presented to the jury, and with whose finding we will not interfere. The judgment is affirmed.

All concurring.