Source: https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/25-s-w-943-619267202
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 00:11:49+00:00

Document:
Attorney: John T. Cochran and H. S. Priest for appellant. Z. J. Mitchell for respondent.
Judge Panel: Burgess, J. Sherwood, J., does not concur in the first paragraph of the opinion, and is of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed without remanding the cause.
Appeal from St. Louis City Circuit Court. -- Hon. D. D. Fisher, Judge.
John T. Cochran and H. S. Priest for appellant.
(1) A verdict upon the pleadings and the evidence should have been directed for the defendant upon the grounds: First, of his contributory negligence; second, of the failure to associate in causal relation the speed of the train, and the plaintiff's injury. (a) Plaintiff admits that it was his positive duty to watch for and keep out of the way of this train as well as all others; that it was plain to be seen, at least, one hundred and twenty feet away; that he only saw it because its presence was forced upon him, and that he stepped upon the track when it was immediately upon him. This, coupled with the evidence of Carey, his own witness, to the fact that he stepped upon the track within ten or fifteen feet of the approaching train, is conclusive of his disregard of the duty which he recognizes himself, and his concurring negligence. Bluedorn v. Railroad, 108 Mo. 439; Taylor v. Railroad, 86 Mo. 458; Yancy v. Railroad, 93 Mo. 433. (b) If the plaintiff stepped upon the track so closely in front of the engine as, if running at a rate of speed of six miles per hour, it could not have been stopped, or so checked as to avoid the injury, then the excess of speed above that rate was not a cause. The evidence, beyond controversy, shows this to be the fact. Jennings v. Railroad, 99 Mo. 399; Hanlon v. Railroad, 104 Mo. 387; Wharton on Neg., secs. 302, 303, 323, 324. (2) The court erred in giving instruction number 1, of the plaintiff's series. Whether the court intended the presumption specified in the instruction to have the effect of a legal presumption or an inference of fact, is not disclosed by anything in the context. In either aspect, it is wrong. It would not be an incontrovertible legal presumption. If an inference from facts proved, it falls entirely within the province of the jury. Lynch v. Railroad, 20 S.W. 642; Moberly v. Railroad, 98 Mo. 183; Wharton on Crim. Ev. [9 Ed.], sec. 207; Ins. Co. v. Weide, 11 Wall. 440. (3) The court erred in refusing to give instruction number 3 asked by the defendant. There was abundant evidence upon which to predicate it, and it contains sound legal propositions. Abbott v. McCadden, 51 N.W. 1079; Bengston v. Railroad, 50 N.W. 531; Roddy v. Railroad, 104 Mo. 234. (4) Instructions numbers 2 and 4 given and number 3 given, as modified by the court, assumed uncontradicted facts, and the action of the jury in returning a verdict against their direction, is such a palpable outrage as to indicate either gross imbecility, corruption or a blind and ungovernable prejudice against corporations, and for this reason, the verdict should be reversed. (5) The court erred in giving the pleadings to the jury to take with them when they retired to consider their verdict. The jury have nothing on earth to do with the pleadings. Bryan v. Railroad, 63 Iowa 464; Butcher v. Death, 15 Mo. 270; Harrison v. Hance, 37 Mo. 187; Flishman v. Miller, 38 Mo.App. 181; Proctor v. Loomis, 35 Mo.App. 488; Grant v. Railroad, 25 Mo.App. 232; Crocker v. Crocker, 2 Mo.App. 458; Hollis v. Ins. Co., 21 N.W. 774; Willis v. Forest, 2 Duer, 310; Drew v. Andrews, 8 How. 23; Garfield v. Knight, 14 Cal. 35. (6) The damages awarded by the jury are grossly excessive. (7) The court erred in refusing defendant's offer to prove that the business of its yards could not be done if it was required to conform to a maximum speed of six miles per hour.
Z. J. Mitchell for respondent.
(1) The instructions given in the case fairly presented the law to the jury and the latter is the sole judge of the weight and import of the evidence. Burger v. Railroad, 112 Mo. 250; Roddy v. Railroad, 104 Mo. 234. (2) All the questions raised by appellant were passed on in the former appeal and are res judicata.
Burgess, J. Sherwood, J., does not concur in the first paragraph of the opinion, and is of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed without remanding the cause.
"This is an appeal prosecuted by the defendant from a judgment in favor of plaintiff in a personal damage suit. The plaintiff was injured by a passenger train, while in the employ of the defendant as a night switchman, so that it became necessary to amputate his leg between the knee and ankle. He founds his action on the violation of an ordinance of the city of St. Louis, which limits the rate of speed of trains to six miles per hour.

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