Thomas v. Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway Co.

40 N.W. 463, 72 Mich. 355, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 542
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 1, 1888
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 40 N.W. 463 (Thomas v. Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thomas v. Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway Co., 40 N.W. 463, 72 Mich. 355, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 542 (Mich. 1888).

Opinion

Long, J.

This action was brought in the Genesee circuit court by plaintiff to recover damages claimed to have been sustained by him by being put off defendant’s freight train, just east of the city of Flint, on September 3, 1887. On the tzúal the plaintiff recovered judgment for §100. Defendazit brings error.

Plaintiff’s claim in his declaration is that on September 3, 1887, about half-past 10 o’clock in the foz’enoon, he purchased from the authorized agent of said defendant at Flint, and paid the price demanded therefoz*, a ticket called a “ Week’s-end ’’ return ticket, which by its terms entitled him to ride upon azzy train he might elect, running from Flint to Port Huron upon said road on said day, on which ticket is indorsed, with a mark calling special attention thereto, “Good going on aziy train Saturday,’’ said day being Saturday, as aforesaid; and said plaintiff was directed by said ticket agent of said company to get aboard a train which would be at said station at Flint in about 10 minutes, and going, as said plaintiff was informed by said agent, to the' city of Port Huron, as aforesaid.

That said plaintiff got aboard of said train, and sat down. When about a mile and one-half or two miles from said station at Flint, the conductor of said train asked plaintiff for his fare, and was tendered plaintiff’s said ticket. The conductor then demanded a permit from plaintiff, aizd was informed that he had none, and that he needed none, as his ticket gave him .especial permission to ride ozz all trains running from Flint to Port Huron on that day. The conductor then became abusive, and, checking the speed of the train, he wrongfully, unlawfully, and uproariously ordered plaintiff off said train. Plaintiff refused to get off, and became greatly excited, fearing a conflict with said conductor and trainmen, employés of said railway company, and there[357]*357upon said’ conductor -wrongfully, unlawfully, outrageously, and blasphemously ordered plaintiff to get off said train immediately, while it was still in motion; and said plaintiff was finally compelled to get off said train while it was still in motion, doing so only to avoid a conflict with the conductor and other employés of said company; and said plaintiff, being sick and unable to walk, was compelled, •on account of his unlawful expulsion from said train, to carry his baggage back to said city of Flint; and plaintiff was greatly injured in his mind, his body, and his general health by said wrongful expulsion, etc.

Plaintiff testified in his own behalf upon the trial, and his claim there made was that on September 3, 1887, he went to the ticket office of defendant in the city of Flint, and inquired if there was a train going to Port Huron before 7:55 on that evening. Being advised by the station agent that there was, he called for and purchased a weekVend return ticket to Port Huron. This was on Saturday. After purchasing and paying for said ■ticket, the station agent then said to him:

“All I have to do is to give the conductor of this freight train a permit, and make her a passenger train. * * * I am going to give the conductor a permit."

Plaintiff testified further that he then left the depot, went outside, and waited about three-quarters of an hour, when the train came along; that another commercial traveling man was with him; that they then saw the conductor, boarded the train, left their baggage, went out for a lunch, and on their return the conductor, standing on the back of the car, beckoned them to hurry up; that they then got into the car, and the train started.

After the train had got under way, the conductor came and demanded their tickets, which were given him, and he then asked for the permits. They then told the conductor the station agent said he would give the conductor [358]*358permits for them to ride on this train. The conductor said they could not ride. Plaintiff then testified:

“I told him I would ride with him. I had bought that ticket, and paid for it, and was going to Port Huron. The conductor said we could not ride, checked the train down, and ordered us off. * * * We got. off about one mile from the station.”

Upon his cross-examination the plaintiff was asked:

“ Q. Why didn’t you ask the conductor if the agent had given him a permit?
“A. Because it was not my place to.
Q. Didn’t you want to know?
“A. I bought my ticket from the official of the road, from the agent, and he told me, — I had a right to rely upon what the agent told me, — that the ticket was a first-class ticket on that train; that I could ride on that train. The agent told me he would give the conductor a permit. I told the conductor what the agent told me about giving him a permit. The conductor told me he could not carry me if I didn’t have a permit. He told me I would have to get off that train. * * *
“ Q. Did he not tell you, according to the rules and regulations of the company; no man could ride on these-through freights without a permit?
“A. Yes, sir.”

It further appeared from the plaintiff’s testimony that-after being put off this train, and returning to the depot, he saw the operator, who told him another through freight, would be along in a few minutes, when a permit would be got for him, and he could ride upon that to Port. Huron. Plaintiff refused this offer, and demanded that he be given a permit, and put on a yard-engine standing there, and carried over the road till the train from which he had been ejected was overtaken, and then put aboard that train, and permitted to ride to Port Huron.

It will be seen the claim made in the declaration is that the conductor wrongfully and unlawfully ejected him from the train upon which he lawfully might ride, for the reason that he had a ticket good on any train; charg[359]*359ing the defendant with the misconduct of the conductor in unlawfully ejecting him while he was in possession of a ticket which entitled him to ride on that train. His declaration is formed upon the theory that his ticket entitled him to ride on the through ' freight train without a permit, and that the conductor'wrongfully compelled him to get off. The ticket was produced on the trial, and reads as follows:

“Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway. Week’s-end Excursion Ticket. Mr. J. B. Thomas. From Port Huron to Flint. Only for one continuous trip each way, and is not transferable. Good going on any train Saturday, September 3, 1887, and return not later than Monday, September 5, 1887. It will not be good to return on date of issue. This ticket will not be good for return passage unless presented by the person whose signature appears below, and unless the purchaser’s signature is reproduced in the presence of the conductor in space provided on back hereof. No stopover allowed.
“W. J. Spicer, General Manager.
“I fully understand and agree to the above contract.
[Signed] J. B. Thomas.
“Form C — X—20.
“Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway. Week’s-end Excursion Ticket. From Flint to Port Huron, on conditions named in the contract. Not good if detached.
“ Form C — X—20.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
40 N.W. 463, 72 Mich. 355, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 542, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thomas-v-chicago-grand-trunk-railway-co-mich-1888.