The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-05-21
Law Points for Railroad Travellers.

There are many points in legal way
connected with railroad travel that the
public are not cognizant of. An ex-
change says:
Who knows, for instance, how far
sleeping-car companies are responsible
for the property of the passengers they
accommodate The New York Sleep
ing Car Company was recently sued by
passenger for the loss of part of his
personal baggage, and he recovered a
verdict. The court held that the com
pany was bound to use reasonable care
and supply sufficient watch to protect
passengers in their persons and property
while asleep.
Everybody knows how persistent gen
tlemen often are to press their way into
the ladies' car A recent decision in
Wisconsin admits the right of railway
company to set aside car III train for
ladies, and that no passenger, not inclu-
ded in the terms of such regulation, is
entitled to enter it, except by permission
of the companys officers III charge of
the train.
Another important regulation of our
railroad companies, and one which pas
sengers very often disregard, is that re-
curing them to buy tickets before enter
ing Il car. An Ohio court has decided
that q railway company has right to
make and enforce regulations compelling
passengers to buy tickets before entering
their cars, and in case they are elected
for refusing to pay the extra sum de-
manded i'll such cases by the con-
ductor, there can be no recovery for dam
agss.
On the other hand, railroad compa-
MES are bound to afford sufficient pro-
lection to their passengers for assaults
or losses sustained by passengers while
i'll their care. A gentleman while re-
Gently riding in car of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford railroad
through the city of New York, was
pushed about roughly by gang of men,
who boarded the car and robbed him of
satchel containing bonds valued at
$4,000. He sued the company to re-
cover the value of the bonds, and the
jury rendered verdict III his favor, with
interest from the date of the robbery,
making in all $26, 1924.
In suit brought by married woman
against the New York and Harlem Rail
road Company, to recover damages for
the death of her husband, an employee of
the company, which, it was claimed, re-
suited from the carelessness of another
employee, the court decided against the
plaintiff, on the ground that when rea-
sonaple efforts and precautions to pro-
cure safe and skillful servants are used,
the master is not liable.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
decided Jan. 4, 1875, in the case of
Kirby against the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad Company, that persons engaged
about the premises of railroad compa-
MES, although not employed by the com
pany, should only have the same right
to recover against the company for an
injury as one of its employees.
In Oregon the Supreme Court of that
State decided that contract between
railroad company and another party, to
cause the line of their railroad to be To-
Gated on certain route, and depot to
be erected at certain place, in consid-
Grafton of the payment of certain sum
of money, was contrary to public policy; |
that the public have an interest in the |
location of the line of a railroad and its !
depots, and an agreement which tends !
to lead persons to violate or betray the |
trusts reposed in them will not be en-
forced.
From these decisions of the high |
courts of law in the several States of the |
Union, it will be observed that the rail
road corporations are not alone held to a
strict accountability, but that passengers
using these public roads are required to
obey all useful and needful regulations
instituted by companies for the better
of their roads and the con-
of the travelling public.