Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Tracy

35 P. 537, 19 Colo. 331

• Court: Supreme Court of Colorado
• Decided: January 15, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Goddard

delivered the opinion of the court.

The main contention of apppellant is that the statute under which the action is brought is unconstitutional in that it deprives the railway company of its property without due process of law. This question was disposed of by the decision of this court in the case of the Union Pacific Ry. Co. v. De Busk, 12 Colo. 294, wherein the constitutionality of the statute is upheld.

It is further contended that the court erred in refusing to submit the question of contributory negligence to the jury-If the defense of contributory negligence is available in actions of this character it could not be invoked under the issues in this case. There is no averment in the pleadings upon which this defense could have been based. D. & R. G. Ry. Co. v. Ryan, 17 Colo. 98. And, furthermore, there is no testimony disclosed in the record tending to sustain such a defense, if it had been pleaded. The court below therefore properly refused to submit this question to the jury.

The error predicated upon the overruling of appellant’s challenge of the juror S. D. Shumate for cause, is without merit. The record fails to disclose wherein appellant was prejudiced by the ruling of the court, even if it was erroneous. It does, however, appear that the juror was peremptorily challenged by appellant, but it does not appear that it had exhausted its other peremptory challenges. Upon this state of the record the ruling of the court did not constitute prejudicial error. Minich v. The People, 8 Colo. 440.

Upon a careful examination of the record we can find no error that will justify a reversal. The judgment is accordingly affirmed.

Affirmed.