Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-05
KEEP OFF GRASS
Navigators of Air Must Be
Careful as to Places Where
They Land.
DAMAGE suit PRECEDENT
Balloonist Who Forced Crowd 10
Damage Garden in 1922 Forced
to Pay Owner.

A new and legal line OF thought has
been awakened by the unexpected de-
scents of aviators, and trespass and
damage cases are likely to follow in
view Of a precedent nearly 100 years
old.
For instance, a new altitude record,
Sab feet. was established by the avi-
ator Morane at Deauville, France, on
Sept. 8. According to the cable dis
patches. when he landed in a meadow
about two miles from the starting
place and narrowly missed hitting
farmer, there was q wild rush Of ex.
cited spectators to greet him." and Eau.
tomobiles and carriages crowded the
roads. and hundreds ran across the
fields"
On the same day. which was the
first day Of the prize flights near Bos-
ton. Amateur Aviator Harmon went up
In the rain. In a few seconds smash
ed downward into a ditch in a Squan-
tum marsh. and mechanics from his
own and other camps came running
across the meadows to lend a hand"
Precedent Established Early.
Reading these paragraphs reminded
many lawyers of the familiar case of
an action OF trespass against an aero
naut for descending on a mans land
and thereby attracting q crowd who
trampled on his roots and vegetables.
The case is Guile versus Swan, 10
Johns. On. y, 3S1, decided in 1922.
The facts are there stated as follows:
Guile assembled in a balloon In the Vi
cinity Of Swans garden and descended
into his garden. When he descended his
body was hanging out of the car Of the
balloon In a very perilous situation. and
ne called to a person at work In Swans
field to help him in a voice audible to the
pursuing crowd. After the balloon de-
scended 1t dragged along over potatoes
and radlshes about thirty feet, when
Guile was taken out. The balloon was
carried 10 q barn at the farther end OF
the premises.
When the balloon descended more than
100 persons broke into Swans garden
through the fences and came on his prem
iBes beating down his vegetables and
flowers. The damage done by Guile with
his balloon was about SIS. but the crowd
did much more The plaintiffs damages
In all amounted to so.
It was commended before the Justice that
Guile was answerabie only for the dam
age done by himself ana not for the dam
age done by the crowd. The Justice was
OF the opinion, and so instructed the jury,
the damage done to the plaintiff. The
jury accordingly found verdict for him
for $50, on which the judgment was given.
and for costs.
Supreme Court Affirms.
In error on certiorari the judgment
OF the justice of the peace was affirmed
by the New York supreme court Chief
Justice Spencer. writing the opinion.
hnk 1afa
causRns OF the injury and liable on the
principle which ruled the decision in
the celebrated Squib case, so called
Scott versus Sheperd, William
Black, 1922.
whether the crowd heard him call
for help or not Is immaterlal." said the
chief justice; ''he had put himself in
q situation to invite help. and they
rushed forward. impelled perhaps by
the double motive OF rendering aid and
gratifying a curiosity which he had
excited.
Can it be doubted that If the plain
tiff in error had beckoned to the crowd
to come to his assistance he WOULD
be liable for their trespass in entering
the Enclosure? I think not. In that
case they would have been cotrespass
ers. and we must consider the situa-
ton in which he placed himself volun
tarily and designedly as equivalent to
a direct request TO the crowd to follow
him. In the present case he did call
for help and may have been heard
by the crowd; he is therefore I'M
doubtedly liable for all the injury sus-
tanned"
All the news all the time-The
Argus.