Case Name: Hannah Pearl, Respondent, v. Charles R. Macaulay, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1896
Citations: 6 A.D. 70
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hannah Pearl, Respondent, v. Charles R. Macaulay, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 70–72

Head Matter:
Hannah Pearl, Respondent, v. Charles R. Macaulay, Appellant.
Negligence — a horse and wagon unattended in a street raises a presumption of negligence — defective tie rope — horse struck with a stone.
In an action brought to recover damages resulting from injuries caused by the alleged negligence of the defendant, it appeared that the plaintiff, while crossing a street in the city of Brooklyn, was run over by the horse and wagon of the defendant.
With a view to explaining the accident, evidence was given upon the part of the defendant to the effect that a brother of the defendant and a person named Herman, who was the driver of the wagon, had come with the horse and wagon to the shop of the defendant, where Herman tied the horse, which was quiet and gentle, with a rope to an elevated railroad post, and that while carrying some articles into the shop they heard a cry, found that the tie rope had been broken, and that the horse had run away; another person testified that he saw some boys throw pebbles from slings which struck the horse, and caused it to run away. The rope was produced in court, and was frayed and worn.
The plaintiff's sister testified that the defendant told her that his men had been careless, had left the horse untied, and that that was what made him run away. It was quite dark at the time of the accident.
Neld, that the plaintiff by proving that the horse and wagon were, at the time of the accident, unattended by any person, made out a prima facie case of negligence upon the part of the defendant;
That upon the evidence the defendant had not so clearly established his freedom from fault as to require the court to direct a "verdict for him;
That the court properly refused to charge that if the runaway was caused by the horse being struck by the stones, it was immaterial whether the horse was tied or not, or whether the rope was strong or weak.
Appeal by the defendant, Charles R. Macaulay, from a judgment of the City Court of Brooklyn in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of said court on the 14th day of. December, 1895, upon the verdict of a jury, and also from an order bearing date the 13th day of December, 1895, and entered in said clerk’s office, denying the defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes*
William C. Beecher, for the appellant.
Charles J. Patterson, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Cullen, J.:
This action is to recover for personal injuries. The plaintiff, while crossing a street in the city of Brooklyn, was knocked down and run over by the defendant's horse and wagon. At the time of the accident the horse and wagon were unattended by any person. On proof of these facts the plaintiff presented aprima facie, case of negligence on the part of the defendant. (Unger v. Forty-second St. R. R. Co., 51 N. Y. 497; Doherty v. Sweetser, 82 Hun, 556.) The defendant was, therefore, called upon to explain how it was that the horse was running at large without fault on his part.
In explanation of the occurrence evidence was given by the defendant that he was the occupant of a furniture shop on Fifth avenue, upon which street there is an elevated railroad; that the horse was used by him in his business, and was quiet and gentle, and that he, the defendant, was absent at the time of the accident. Evidence was given by a brother of the defendant that he was working for the defendant, and that one Herman was the driver of the wagon; that he and Herman had come to the shop with the horse and wagon ; that Herman had tied the horse with a rope te an elevated railroad post; that they had unloaded the wagon and were carrying some articles into the shop when they heard a cry, and found that the horse had run away. Evidence was given by another witness that he was across the street when the horse broke away and that he saw some boys fire pebbles from slings, which struck the horse and caused it to bolt. The evidence of the defendant showed that the tie -rope had been broken. This rope was produced in court. The rope was frayed and worn. The defendant testified that it was a " dead " rope, though he said it was strong enough to-use, and that it broke part of the headstall when the horse ran. away. The driver was not produced as a witness. Ho testimony was given contradicting the statements of these witnesses, - except that of a sister of the plaintiff, who testified that the defendant .stated to- her that his men had been careless and had left the horse untied, and that that was what made him run away. The accident Iiappened on the twenty-third day of November, about half-past five o'clock. Evidence was given to show that it ivas entirely dark at the time.
On this evidence the question presented is whether the defendant so clearly established his freedom from fault as to require the court to direct a verdict in his favor? We think not. The story of-the witness who testified to the horse being struck with pebbles flung by the boys, contained improbabilities that required its credibility to be submitted to the jury. The witness stood on the further side of the street and testified that he not only saw the pebbles thrown, but saw them strike the horse. Other witnesses testified that at the time it was absolutely dark. There was also a fair question on the evidence as to the sufficiency of the rope. Added to this is the alleged admission by the defendant that the horse was not tied at all. The case was, therefore, properly one for the jury.
The court was asked to charge that if the running away was caused by the horse being hit by the stones, it was immaterial whether the horse was tied or not, and.in like case it was immaterial whether the rope was strong or weak. Both of these requests were.refused. It was the duty of the defendant's servants to have tied the horse, if he was left unattended in the streets of a populous city. The failure to do so would justify a finding of negligence. (Doherty v. Sweetser, supra; Norris v. Kohler, 41 N. Y. 42.):
Hence, if the jury found that, had the horse been properly secured he would not. have run away, whether from being hit by the pebbles or from other causes, then the failure to secure .the horse was, within all the authorities, a contributing cause of the injury.
The judgment and order appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.
All concurred.
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.