Wilson v. Detroit United Railway

132 N.W. 762, 167 Mich. 107, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 602
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 2, 1911
DocketDocket No. 40
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 132 N.W. 762 (Wilson v. Detroit United Railway) 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
Wilson v. Detroit United Railway, 132 N.W. 762, 167 Mich. 107, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 602 (Mich. 1911).

Opinion

Stone, J.

This is an action on the case for damages which the plaintiff sustained by being injured, on September 7, 1907, at the crossing of the Trumbull avenue street car line with the Grand River avenue line of defendant’s road, in the city of Detroit.

It is the claim of the plaintiff that he was, at the time of the injury, and had been for a number of years, totally blind. At the time of the trial, he testified that he was 47 years of age; that he was a piano tuner, and had carried on that business for 18 years in the city of Detroit. On the evening of the day in question, and about 5:45 p. m., the plaintiff testified that he took the Trumbull avenue car at the corner of Mt. Elliott and Congress streets, in the city of Detroit, to go to the northwestern part of the city; that he paid his fare to the conductor; and that at the time of so doing he stated that he wanted a Grand River avenue transfer. We append here a plat of the location where the plaintiff was injured, which is found in defendant’s brief, and the accuracy of which is not questioned.

[109]*109A transfer in the usual form was furnished to the plaintiff ; and after arriving at the place of transfer, and at the time of alighting from the Trumbull avenue car, the plaintiff asked the conductor if the way was clear for his

crossing the track. The conductor said, "Yes; everything is alrighttake the Grand River avenue car going west. The place where he alighted was a paved street, much traveled and [110]*110frequented at that hour of the day. It was necessary for him to go in a northerly direction some 50 or 60 feet across Grand River avenue toward the Grand River avenue track, and as he was about to cross the track he was struck by an east-bound car upon said last-named track. He sustained an injury, breaking two bones of his left leg above the ankle. He testified that he heard no gong sounded, and that he thought everything was clear.

The negligence complained of is that of the conductor of the Trumbull avenue car in having stated to plaintiff that everything was all right, and of the servant in charge of the east-bound car upon the Grand River avenue track in running his car upon the plaintiff and injuring him. Plaintiff testified that he knew and was familiar with the location; that he knew of the tracks in Myrtle street, and knew of the double tracks on Trumbull avenue and Grand River avenue; that he had before made transfers at this point, going both east and west; that it had been raining; that he carried his umbrella, which was not raised, in his left hand, with his tool case, and had a cane in his right hand; that the talk which he had with the conductor of the Trumbull avenue ear was as he was getting off the platform of that car; that he walked in the usual gait and manner; that he knew the cars went in both directions on Grand River avenue, and that they would be moving in both directions at this time of day, and that automobiles and other vehicles were passing and repassing at this point, and that the only things he was listening for were automobiles and the west-bound car, which he desired to take; that he walked on the pavement all the way, and claimed that he had in his mind a fairly good map of the place and location, by having frequently walked there and knowing the points of the compass, and how the streets run, and that he understood the plan of the corner; that he knew where the Grand River avenue car made its ordinary stop in going east before crossing, the Myrtle street line. He testified that he did not observe the circle track appearing upon the plat, and that [111]*111lie must have been north of it in crossing. He frequently stated in his testimony: “I relied on the assurance that the way was clear.” It was a lowery, cloudy evening, and the lamps were lighted at the street crossing.

On his direct examination, the plaintiff testified that he had lived on the west side of the city all his life. After describing the taking of the car, about 5:45 p. m., going westward, he stated that he paid his fare to the conductor and asked him for a Grand River transfer; that as he arose from the car, from the second seat back, he inquired of the conductor if the way was clear for his crossing the tracks; that the conductor said, “Yes, everything was all right,” and to go ahead; that the car in which he then was was stationary; that he left the car and proceeded to the Grand River tracks, to get in a position for the car going west; that he had his cane with him, and stepping in the triangle on the pavement he walked as carefully and hastily as he could with safety to cross; that as he stepped evidently over the tracks upon which the car would go toward the east he was struck by the east-bound car, resulting in the breaking of two bones in his left leg above the ankle; that the car came to a stop, and that he knew nothing of the approach of the car, hearing no gong rung; that he thought everything was clear for safe crossing; that after breaking the bones he immediately took hold of the iron holding the fender to the car, and sat down on the fender, instead of being thrown; that the motorman and conductor came down, and took him from the car to a grocery on the corner near by, and set him in a chair, from whence he was removed to the hospital; that for about 18 years he had been in the piano tuning business; that he worked from place to place in the city; that during all this time he had been going around doing his work by himself, always alone, and up to this time had got along without any injury; that during all this time he had made use of the cars as other people might.

On cross-examination he testified:

[112]*112“Q. You have frequently ridden on that car line?
_ “A. Very frequently. It was a closed, car that I was riding on that day, and I got off and got on the rear entrance.
UQ. When you had occasion to use that line and transfer, it was usually at Grand River F
“A. Very often at Grand River. I live on Fourteenth avenue, three streets from Grand River, and three streets from Myrtle. I am about midway; either Myrtle or Grand River cars would take me very closely to my destination — one almost as closely as the other.
‘Q. You had frequently had occasion to go further north on Trumbull or Grand River on the cars ?
“A. Yes, sir. I also at the time of the accident knew that there was a car line running out on Myrtle from Grand River at that point.
“Q. Just half a block below Trumbull. You knew that there was a double track on Trumbull avenue ?
C‘A. Yes, sir.
“Q. In any case, you knew that the Myrtle track intersected the Trumbull track at that point ?
“A. I am very familiar with it; yes, sir. I also knew that the Trumbull track proceeded further north on Trumbull beyond Grand River, and I had had occasion to ride on that line previous to the injury.
“Q. Had you ever had any occasion to transfer from the Trumbull line north of Grand River on to the Crosstown ?
“.4. Yes, sir; I have made that transfer in going in both directions, both east and west. * * *
“Q.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
132 N.W. 762, 167 Mich. 107, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-v-detroit-united-railway-mich-1911.