Case Name: Christina Wilds, Administrator, &c., v. The Hudson River Railroad Company
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1864-03
Citations: 29 N.Y. 315
Docket Number: 
Parties: Christina Wilds, Administrator, &c., v. The Hudson River Railroad Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 29
Pages: 315–336

Head Matter:
Christina Wilds, Administrator, &c., v. The Hudson River Railroad Company.
A railroad company having the general right to lay a track, and run then-engines and cars across a public street in a city, they must he shown to have committed some fault in the manner of doing it, before they can be made liable for a personal injury sustained by an individual.
It is not enough to point to the injury which ensued, and show that it was attributable to the running of the train across the street; but it must be shown that there was something improper in the manner of running the train, before the company can he made responsible for the consequences.
The law not having fixed the rate of speed at which cars may be run upon a railroad, in and across the streets of a city, it is generally a question • of fact, in each case, whether the actual rate was excessive or dangerous. Whether it is so or not will depend, to some extent, upon the safeguards which are adopted to prevent accidents.
It is not correct to say that in every case where a fault in this respect is alleged, the question must be submitted to the jury. If- it be clearly shown that on the occasion in question the velocity was not greater than that which had been usually practiced before, with the tacit consent of the coinmnnity and without accident, it should not be considered an open question whether running at that rate was negligent and unlawful.
What degree of care and prudence should be observed by persons driving teams across railroad tracks in cities.
If the case is such as to require the person wishing to cross a railroad, to come near the track to make his observation, that circumstance, so far from excusing him from the duty of looking at all to see whether a train is approaching, would only render that duty more imperative, if he would avoid the imputation of negligence.
If one, about to drive his team "across a railroad track, sees a train approaching, and determines to try the speed of his horses against that of the engine, he does it at his peril.
So if he heedlessly drives upon the track without concerning himself to ascertain by observation that it can be done safely.
Where W. drove his horses upon a railroad, where it crossed a street, without giving any heed to the signals made, or to the track, until he came very near it, and then, seeing a train approaching, he attempted to cross the track in front of the engine, whipping his horses for that purpose, which became restive and uncontrollable, and a collision ensued, by-which W. was killed; Held, that no action would lie by his administratrix against the railroad company.
Appeal from the Supreme Court.
The action was brought to recover for. the death of the plaintiff’s intestate, who was- her husband, caused by the alleged negligence of the defendant’s servants. On a former trial the plaintiff had a verdict , but the judgment was reversed by this court and a new trial ordered . The second trial was had before Mr. Justice Hogeboom, who non-suited the plaintiff. That judgment having been affirmed at a general term", the plaintiff brings this appeal. The leading facts are referred to in the opinion.
John K. Porter, for the appellant.
I. The decision on the former appeal furnishes no autho rity for taking the case from the jury, on the questions of fact presented by the additional proof on the new trial. (24;N. Y. R 430.)
II. There was a plain'question of fact for the jury on the defendant’s negligence.
1. The usual speed of the train at that crossing was “ five or six miles per hour.” If the jury believed the evidence of Williams, the street inspector, and O’Laughlin, confirmed by that of Carrol, Gillespie and conductor Squires, they were authorized to find that the train was running at noon day across the streets of a populous city at the rate of twenty miles an hour; and that was' negligence.
2. If the jury believed the evidence of the engineer, that there was but; a single brakeman, and' that the brakes of the rear car were neither manned nor applied, they were authorized to find that the" brakes were not well manned; and that was negligence.
3. If the jury believed the testimony of the conductor ‘and fireman, that they were charged with the duty of look ing ahead for danger—that the view of this crossing was open and unobstructed from the hospital down, and that neither of them saw the team until the engine was within from thirty to fifty feet of it, they were authorized to find that there was gross negligence.
m.'The question, on the proof given at the last trial, whether the plaintiff was guilty of negligence, was one plainly of fact for the jury.
IY. Negligence, when it is to be deduced from a variety of facts as to which the evidence is conflicting, is peculiarly a question of fact for a jury.
1.' What is reasonable and ordinary care, in a sudden exigency of peril like this, is a mixed question, depending on a variety of circumstances—the situation of the party, his opportunities for observation, his control of his horses and vehicle, the notice of danger, the velocity of its approach, the time for decision, the means and space for escape, the noise and confusion, the excitement of an unlooked-for peril, and the tumult of all the faculties in sudden view of instant death; and on such an issue, all men instinctively feel that one is entitled to the verdict of Ms equals. Ad questionem facti non respondent judiees — ad questionem legis non respondent juratores.
2. The policy of the law is, to require unanimity on a question of fact, which is not demanded on a question of law. Thus in this case, even as it stood before, Judges Hogeboom and Peckham concurred with the jury on the .questions of fact. Three members of this court concurred with Judge Gould, in holding that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Thus a question of fact is determined by a divided court; and the defendant claims that the fact should finally be thus determined.
3. Thus in the kindred case of a collision by a city horse car, the present chief judge, in delivering the unanimous, opinion of the court, referred to the fact that “one of the plaintiffs’ witnesses thought it was passing at the rate of eight or ten miles, an hour,” and said: “We must assume that the car was being driven at an immoderate and unsafe rate upon this crowded thoroughfare. This is important to be remembered, while we are endeavoring to ascertain whether the plaintiff was culpable or not.” After stating the general rights of the railroad proprietors, he» adds: “But they have no right to drive immoderately, and it is in the highest degree dangerous for them to do so. Still,' if they offend in that respect, and the driver of a common carriage will negligently or wilfully place himself or remain in their path, he has no right to claim damages. It is not, however, unreasonable for the traveller to assume that the railroad car will be driven moderately and prudently. He can calculate distances, and the time requiredzto .effect his own change of position, in order to prevent injury in such cases. But if he encounters a car driven furiously through a crowded street, and makes a mistake as to time in attempting to get out of- the way, culpable negligence is not necessarily to be imputed to him. This was the plaintiff’s case. He had turned his cart at a right angle with the track, and was driving off, but the cart was hit within about six inches of its hinder end. A few seconds more would have placed him out of danger. The defendant was clearly in the wrong. Whether the plaintiff was also in the wrong, by unreasonably delaying to turn out, was a question for the jury. It may be that this collision resulted wholly from the defendant’s rapid driving. We cannot pronounce as matter of law, that the plaintiff was guilty of negligence in not turning out earlier.” (Hagan v. Eighth Av. R. R. Co., 15 N. Y. R. 383, Denio, Ch. J.)
4. In Keller v. N. Y. Central R. R. Co., Mason, J., in delivering the opinion of this court, after citing this exposition of the rule, proceeded to say: “What constitutes negligence in such cases, is determined by an inference of the mind from the facts and circumstances of the case, and as minds are differently constituted, the inference from a given state of facts and circumstances will not always be the same. I admit that the facts may be so clear and decided that this inference of negligence is irresistible, and in every such case it is the duty of the.judge to decide; but when the facts, or the inference to be drawn from them, are in any degree doubtful, the only proper rule is to submit the whole matter to the jury under proper instructions.” (24 Howard, 177.)
5. In that case Judge Ingraham said, in delivering the opinion of the supreme court: “Whether or not, under these circumstances, he was guilty of negligence, would depend upon what notice he had of the approach of the engine. A witness who was near him at the time, testifies that he did not hear the bell ring: and if a person standing there could not hear it, it is not unreasonable to suppose the deceased did not. Ho man, unless for the purpose of self-destruction, will voluntarily place himself where his life may be taken away; and in this case, it seems to .me the facts proven, with the doubt as to the deceased being within hearing of the bell of the engine, if it was rung, would make it proper and necessary to submit the question of the intestate’s negligence to the jury.” (32 Barb. 168.)
6. In the case of Fero v. Buffalo & State Line R. R. Co., this court said: “ It is very possible that, by unusual precaution and watchfulness on the part of the plaintiff, the consequences of the defendant’s wrong might have been less disastrous; yet, if he was guilty of no' culpable negligence, the mere fact that he might have been more vigilant, will not excuse the wrongful act of the defendants, nor deprive the plaintiff of redress for the injury he has suffered.” (22 N. Y. R. 215, 216.)
7. For this purpose “ ordinary care must mean that degree of care which may reasonably be expected from a person in the plaintiff’s situation.” (Lynch v. Nurdin, 41 Eng. Com. Law, 425, Ld. Denman, Ch. J.)
8. “ There must be some wrongful act or culpable negli gence on the part of the plaintiff to. bar him on this principle.” (Cook v. Champlain Transp. Co., 1 Denio, 100, Beardsley, Ch. J.)
9. “It is sufficient, if he were placed- by the misconduct. of the defendant in such a situation as obliged him to adopt the alternative of a dangerous leap, or to remain at certain peril; if that position was occasioned by the fault of the defendant, the action may be supported.” (Stokes v. Saltonstall, 13 Peters, 193; Jones v. Boyce, 2 Eng. Com. Law, 483, Ld. Ellenborough, Ch. J.)
John H. Reynolds, for the respondent.
I. The decision of this court, in this case, on the former appeal, disposes of every material question which can pro-' perly arise on the present argument. It was held, after due consideration upon substantially the same facts, that the plaintiff ought to be non-suited for want of evidence to show that the defendant was guilty of any negligence, and because the evidence did show that the want of care, or negligence of the plaintiff’s intestate, contributed to the injury. (Wilds v. Hudson River Railroad Co., 24 N. Y. R. 430.)
H. The only additional evidence which can be claimed to bear upon the question of the negligence of the defendant is that of Squires, who gave an opinioñ in respect to the facility with which a train of cars could be stopped by the reversal of the engine and the application of the brakes.
ITT. The plaintiff was properly non-suited, for the reason that the evidence clearly and unquestionably established the fact that the injury to Wilds was caused by his own negligence, inattention, or want of care; and such is the decision of this court.
I. The plaintiff’s intestate was, at least, bound to exercise ordinary care' in approaching this crossing. It may Tbe assumed that he was neither deaf nor blind, and had the ordinary reasoning faculties and instincts common to mankind. If with these faculties, properly and carefully applied, he could have escaped the danger, he was guilty of negligence if he did not escape it. The fact that he drove on when he ought to stop, and turned his horses to the left when he should have turned them to the right, even if it shows a confusion of mind, just as clearly proves want of care:
2. Wilds was driving a smart team, with a light wagon, in open day, along a wide, level and unobstructed street, and approaching a public well known railroad crossing. At a distance of twenty-five feet south of the south railroad track, sitting on his wagon in the centre of Fourth street, he could have seen the train coming six hundred and fifty feet off. The bell rang and the whistle sounded, and this warning was heard by every person at the crossing. A flagman stood in the centre of the street waving a white flag. Men and women hallooed to him to stop, and one or more attempted to stop his horses by seizing them by the head. Wilds, however, kept on, apparently heeding no warning. He heard and saw the train coming before, or just as he was getting on to the south track. He turned his head and looked up, and raised his whip to strike the horses. If he had stood still he would have escaped. He did, in every particular, what he ought not to have done, and what no prudent man would do. He came up to the crossing on a trot. Before he got on to the track, seeing the engine almost at the crossing, instead of stopping where he was, he chose to take the risk of the attempt to cross the track in front of the locomotive, and for this purpose goaded his reluctant horses with the whip. It was either a rash and reckless act, or it was the act of folly, or inattention, or lack of common sense. Under all the circumstances, it cannot be said but that the commonest care and attention on the part of Wilds would have avoided the injury.
3. It is "but common ordinary care for a traveler on the highway to approach a railroad crossing with caution. He must listen and look for the train. This is not a rigid requirement. It is simple and easy, and its omission is in all cases want of ordinary care. If a jury will not so find, the court should, or a railroad corporation can have no protection. It is idle to ring the engine bell or blow the whistle if travelers may pay no attention to the warning. There is no need of a flagman at a crossing, if travelers may drive over him and yet be guilty of no want of care. It is mockery to require a railroad company to sound all their warnings, and when they are all given, to hold them responsible because a traveler has either recklessly or stupidly disregarded them, and lost his life. (O’Brien v. Philadelphia, &c., Railroad Co. 6 Am. Law Reg. 361; Cotton v. Wood, 98 Eng. C. L. 566; Gahagan v. Boston & Lowell Railroad Co. 1 Gray, 187; Fox v. The Town of Glastenbury, 29 Conn. 204.)
4. If Wilds did not hear the warning of the train’s approach, it was because of his inattention, and that was negligence. If he did hear it and still pressed on, that was worse negligence still. If he did not look for the train before getting on to the track, when by looking he might have seen it, that was negligence. If he looked, and saw the train coming, and pressed on, hoping to cross before the engine, that was criminal recklessness. If by inattention to the warnings around him he pressed on, to a point where the danger seemed so imminent that he lost his presence of mind, the company ought not to be responsible for his folly or weakness. If he did not ■ hear the whistle, it is clear that he could and ought to have heard it, because it was heard by every other person at the crossing. He must have seen the flagman, because he stood in the center of the road in plain sight. Even if he was engaged in keeping a woman off the track, he was still visible to the naked eye, and the least attention would have discovered him; and the delay of half a minute would have ensured perfect safety. Even checking the speed of his horses, instead of goading them on, would have preserved him unharmed.
5. Wilds heard the whistle of the train Before he got on to the south track. Instead-then of stopping, he whipped his horses on. He came driving up to the track “on a smart trot.” O’Brien shouted' to him three times to stop, and made an effort to catch the horses and stop them. Wilds, however, whipped them up. “ The flagman went and held the flag before the horses.” He still whipped them on, although he saw the train coming and very near him. Under the circumstances of this case, no jury.would be authorized to find that the injury was occasioned “ solely by the negligence of the defendant,” and they could have no legal right to “be satisfied that the plaintiff’s intestate did not, by any negligence of his own, contribute to the injury,’" and it was the right and duty of the court to non-suit the plaintiff. (Johnson v. The Hudson River Railroad Co. 20 N. Y. 73; Dascomb v. Buffalo and State Line Railroad Co. 27 Barbour, 221; Brooks v. Buffalo & N. F. R. R. Co. 25 Barbour, 600; Cotton v. Wood, 98 Eng. C. L. [8 Com. Bench], 566; Toomey v. The London, Brighton, &c., R. R. Co. 91 Eng. C. L. [3 Com. Bench], 146; Gahagan v. The Boston & Lowell Railroad Co. 1 Gray, 187; Fox v. The Town of Glastenbury, 29 Conn. R. 204; Wilds v. The Hudson River Railroad Co. 24 N. Y. 430.)
6. There was no additional evidence given by the plaintiff on the second trial, which affects the rule to be applied to it under the decision of this court, or required the circuit judge to submit the case to the jury.
7. Martin O’Laughlin says he did not remember of hearing the bell or whistle, nor hear Mrs. Banker call out to Wilds to stop, or see O’Brien or Orr, for the obvious reason that he paid no attention at all. He did, however, see the flagman on the east track as Wilds approached, with a flag in his hands, engaged in keeping a woman and child off the track, and saw Wilds drive his horses on or against him. He saw Wilds whip his horses, and says he drove across the track' at the rate of fifteen or sixteen miles an hour.
8. This evidence does not tend to disprove the fact that the bell was rung and whistle sounded, or that Mrs. Banker did call out to Wilds. But-it does tend to confirm the fact that the flagman was at his post, and that Wilds must have seen him, and that he drove on to him and the track at a reckless rate of speed. He therefore makes more clear the fact that Wilds had every means of avoiding the danger, and recklessly disregarded them.
.) See 33 Barb. 508, S. C.
.) See 24 N. Y. Rep. 430.

Opinion:
Denio, Ch. J.
Two generakquestions were litigated in this case—whether the defendants were shown to have been guilty of negligence, and if they were, whether the conduct of the plaintiff's intestate, on the occasion of the injury, was also negligent in a degree which contributed to produce the fatal result. If the second position is established, it is too well settled to need a reference to authority that the plaintiff cannot recover. The collision occurred in the city of Troy, where the defendant's railroad crosses -Fourth street upon the same grade with the street. Such arrrange ment of thoroughfares renders the travel, at the point where the railroad and the street coincide, especially in a large town, unusually hazardous, and they call for a high degree 5f caution both on the part of the managers of the railroad and of individuals, who, in using the street, have occasion to cross its track; and it may well be doubted whether, as a question of policy, they ought to be permitted by public authority. They are, however, tolerated by law, and our duty, in the cases which are brought before us, is to determine, in view of the nature -of the. subject, and of the special' facts presented, upon whom the culpa bility in the particular instance rests.. The defendants having the general right in this case to run their engines and car» across the street, they must be shown to have commit ted some fault in the manner of doing it. It is not enough to point to the deplorable result which ensued, and show that it was attributable to the running of the train across the street, but it must be shown that there was something improper in the manner of running the train, before the defendants can be made responsible for the consequences. It is suggested that the train was out of time, and the proof certainly is that the regular time for starting was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the collision'is admitted to have occurred about noon, and the distance that had been ran would have required but a few minutes. But it is in proof that between thirty and forty trains pass over the road each day. However perfect the arrangements of a railroad management maybe, they cannot, of course, be entirely independent of accidental circumstances, which may prescribe the period of setting out and arriving. Ho person can reckon with any sort of safety upon the point of time when a train will pass over a particular place; and where the trains are so numerous as on this • road, it would be impracticable for a traveler on an intersecting street to protect himself by learning the times of arrival and departure of the several trains, and there is no pretence that anything of the kind was attempted by the deceased in the present instance. Ho one can be secure against being met by an engine except by ascertaining by his own senses that no train is approaching in either direction within a-distance which will endanger his safety. There is no ground for attributing any negligence to the defendants in respect to the flagman. I will assume that it was their duty to place a person at the point of intersection to warn persons against crossing when trains were approaching; and this was done in the present instance. The evidence is clear beyond contradiction, that such a person was stationed between the two tracks with a flag, when the train and the deceased were approaching the spot where the collision happened. That he did his whole duty by displaying his flag and warning passengers off by remaining as long as he possibly could, consistently with his own safety, is sufficiently apparent from the evidence, and from the fact of .his being knoóked down by the horse of the deceased and his barely escaping being run over by the engine, But the allegation of negligence principally relied , on is that the train was being ran at an unusual and dangerous rate of speed, This involves the question, in the first place, as to the rapidity at which the train may be run in a city where the intersecting streets are upon the same level. As the law has not fixed the speed at which they may be run, it is generally a question of fact in each case whether the actual rate was excessive or dangerous. Whether it is so or not, will depend, to some extent, upon the safeguards which are adopted to prevent accidents, It is not .correct to say that in every case where a fault in this respect is alleged, the question must be submitted to the, jury. If it be clearly shown, that on the occasion in question the velocity was not greater than that which had been usually practiced for a considerable period, with the tacit consent of the community and without accident, it should not be considered an open question whether running at that rate was negligent and unlawful.
The other question, as to the actual speed at which the train was run, is yet more difficult. The persons concerned in the management^ of the train, as engineers, conductor, firemen, and the like, have the best opportunity of judging, on account of their situation, the nature of their duties, and the experience which their employment must give them. But they are subject to a natural bias in favor of a determination which shall- exempt them from censure. A passenger, if his attention is attracted to the subject at the proper time, has some advantages over a bystander, and the latter is legally competent to speak upon the question, but his evidence is entitled to but little weight, unless some special circumstance led him to think of the question at the time the transit was taking place; nor then, unless he had been in the habit of observing the passing of trains and estimating "their speed. In- this case the servants of the defendant,, five in number, unite substantially in declaring that the speed did not exceed that which was usual, namely, about five or six miles per hour. On the other hand, a passenger, who thinks his attention was at the time directed to the subject, and three other of the plaintiff's witnesses who were standing in the street, testify more or less strongly that the running was unreasonably and unnecessarily rapid, and reaching, according to some of them, to twenty miles an hour. Some criticisms may 'be justly applicable to one or more of these witnesses, but I think there was a sufficient conflict of evidence to render it improper to take the question from the jury, if the determination of the case depended upon it- I am far,- however, from 'saying that, as a juryman, I should have found, as the just result of the whole evidence, that the allegation of negligence in this respect was established. The great danger of immoderate running in such a locality, whatever collateral safeguards may be provided, should admonish the governing authority of these companies to take extraordinary care—not only that it should not be indulged in, but that unimpeachable evidence .should be at hand to demonstrate—that excess in this respect had never occurred.
Upon the other general question, I am of opinion that the uncontradicted evidence was such as not-to present anything for the jury to deliberate upon. If one will heedlessly or rashly drive upon the track of a railroad where trains are constantly or frequently passing, without taking pains to ascertain whether one is actually approaching or not, it will strike every one intuitively that he is running a great and unnecessary risk. A crossing can rarely, if ever, be so situated as to render it impossible or difficult for a traveler to observe the track on each side for a sufficient distance to determine whether it is safe to proceed. If such localities exist, they should not be crossed at all; and it would be equally imprudent in the company to tolerate them, and in the passenger to use the crossing. If the case is such as to require the person wishing to cross to come near the track to make his observation, that cir cumstance, so far from excusing him from the duty of looking at all, would only render that duty more imperative, if he would avoid the imputation of negligence. Tho evidence in this case shows that the track, of the railroad, east of the Fourth street crossing, was upon a straight course for the'' distance of at least six hundred and fifty feet from that crossing. Although there were buildings on the east side of Fourth street, yet the whole distance I have mentioned could be seen by a person approaching, as the deceased did, on Fourth street, from the south, before entering upon' the track. If the train had been beyond the range of his vision, when he came near the crossing, there would have been ample time for him to drive leisurely across both tracks, which were, together, including the space between them, only seventeen feet wide. But if he saw the train coming towards the crossing, and determined to try the speed of his horses against that of the approaching engine, he did it, I think, at his peril. And the case would be the same if he heedlessly drove upon it without concerning himself to ascertain that it could be safely done. That he had an opportunity to see the train, if he had looked, in -time quite sufficient to avoid all danger, either by stopping or by turning to the sidewalk, is certain, upon the testimony of every witness who has spoken on the subject. That he did in fact see it at some time before the collision is evident from the testimony of all the wit-, nesses to the principal fact; for they swear that he whipped his horses in order to get across before the engine should reach him. It may be, as one of the plaintiff's witnesses testified, that when this took place he had advanced too far to stop or turn. But I can perceive no possible reason why he did not, when sufficiently near to observe the track in the direction from which the train was approaching, use that natural and indispensable precaution. I have thus far omitted any mention of the other warnings that were shown to have been given. There was no material contradiction of the evidence showing that the whistle was sounded and the bell rung in sufficient season to warn any person who was at or near the Fourth street crossing. It was sworn to by seven witnesses, embracing the defendants' servants on • the cars, and other persons who were at Fourth street. It did not raise any question for the jury for two or three other persons to swear that they did not hear, or did not remember to have heard these signals until immediately after the collision. It is matter of common observation that persons who are habitually in a situation to hear the passing of railroad trains fail to notice the noises which accompany them. If a jury could be permitted to find, against the 'evidence which was given in this case, that these warnings were not given until it was too late for them to be useful, there could be no longer any truth in human testimony. The evidence of personal warning to the deceased was very strong, and was substantially uncontradicted. The flagman heard the whistle and bell, and after so hearing them he went from his flag-house, got his flag and stationed himself on the track at the crossing and waved the flag. At that time there was no person crossing the track, though there were teams on the south side of the railroad which were stopped. A woman with a child attempted to cross from the other side, and while he was engaged in keeping her off he was struck by the team and knocked down and barely escaped from being run over by the engine. A Mrs. Banker lived in a house at the northeast corner formed by the intersection of the railroad with Fourth street, and was at the time sitting at a window in the second story fronting the track. According to her testimony she heard the whistle and bell and looked out before the cars came, and then saw the deceased approaching on a fast trot, and hallooed to him twice to stop. He looked around, raised his whip and struck his horses. She saw the flagman hold his flag and saw, him knocked down, and his flag fall. She is supposed to be contradicted by Martin O'Laughlin, one of the plaintiff's witnesses who swore he was standing on the threshold of the front door of the same house. This would be some evidence that her exclamation was not sufficiently loud to be heard in the street, but it does not1 draw in question the fact that she saw the deceased approaching towards apparent danger before the cars were in sight, and when it was in time for him to have stopped his horses. Two other witnesses for the defendants, Orr and O'Brien, testified that they were standing in Fourth street, on the south side of the railroad, and about three feet from the track. Orr said O'Brien shouted to the deceased three times, and they united in saying that O'Brien stepped forward to grasp the horses. Witnesses were examined as to the character of both these persons, and their testimony was unfavorable to their character. In examining a judgment of non-suit we can only, rely upon evidence which is substantially uncontradicted and unimpeached, and I have therefore formed my conclusion in' this case from the evidence other than that given by Orr and O'Brien. Laying aside their testimony, I find it established beyond contradiction that the deceased drove, his horses on to the defendant's road, without giving any attention to the track, with a view to see whether a train was approaching, when such attention as a man having ordinary discretion and prudence would have bestowed, would have disclosed the advance of the train and would have effectually preserved, him from danger. The truth plainly was that he gave no heed to the railroad before him until he came very near it, and then chose to try the experiment of endeavoring to cross it in front of the engine, for that purpose applying the whip to. his horses. But they became restive and uucontrollable, partially stopped upon the track, and the wagon was hit, and the deceased was fatally injured. Several such cases have come into the courts. In Spencer v. The Utica & Schenectady Railroad Co. (5 Barb. 337), the person injured, who was the driver of the wagon, was in a condition to see the train, and either suffered his attention to be directed'to another object, so as not to observe it, oi* seeing it, thought he could drive across the track before it would strike him, and erred in his reckoning. He miscalculated and was struck. The court set aside the report of referees in his favor, though the judges admitted that negligence on the part of the defendant was established. In Steves v. The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad Co., in this court (18 N. Y. R. 422), there was sufficient evidence in the view of a majority of the judges to submit the question of the negligence of the defendants to the jury, and yet a non-suit was sustained on the ground that the plaintiff drove on to the track without looking up and down to see if a train was approaching, it being evident that such observation would have disclosed the advance of the train. The same principle was affirmed when the present case was before this court on a former occasion. The plaintiff gave some additional evidence on the second trial, but it was not of a character to change the opinion which I then formed upon this point of the case.
I am in favor of affirming the judgment of the supreme court.
All the judges concurred excent Hogeboom, J.
Hogeboom, J.
I do not see that the reversal by this court of the former judgment in this case settled any prin ciples cf law, which are in any way decisive of the present appeal Five judges concurred in the judgment of rever sal. Judge Gould wrote an opinion for reversal, from which it would appear that the trial (not the transaction), was a tragedy of errors. Judges Davies and Smith are stated to have concurred—perhaps in the opinion, perhaps in the result. Judges Dentó and Allen were also for reversal—the latter on the ground of the plaintiff's negligence. Judge Sutherland wrote a dissenting opinion. Judges Selden and Wright were absent. I conclude that a majority of the judges did not express their concurrence in the views — certainly not in all of them — advanced by the learned judge who penned the leading opinion. I regard the case as open to the application of the principles which have been heretofore supposed pertinent to cases of this description; at all events as open to the consideration of the question, whether the facts, or the evidence of the facts, was so far varied on the trial now under review as to require the submission of those facts or that evidence to the jury.
There being no doubt that Wilds' death was occasioned by the defendants' locomotive engine, the two leading questions arose, as in nearly all eases of similar casualties. 1. Was such death occasioned by the defendant's negligence; and if so, 2. Did Wilds' own negligence, in part, contribute to the fatal result?
The particular aspect in which those questions were presented tin this trial was: Was there sufficient evidence to go to the jury on these questions? If so, as the judge refused to submit the same to the jury, notwithstanding a request to that effect, there should be a new trial granted.
1. Was there evidence sufficient to go to the jury on the question of the negligence of the defendant's agents and servants? The principal facts relied upon for this purpose, in the present case, I understand to be four. 1st. The excessive speed of the-train. 2d. The failure to wave a flag at the crossing. 3d. The want of a.sufficient number of brakemen on the train. 4th. The failure on the part of the officers and men managing the train to discover the danger in season to have prevented the accident.
Without reciting the evidence in detail, on all these points, I am of opinion, as I was on both of these trials at which 1 presided, that there was sufficient evidence to submit to the jury on the two leading points, to wit: Whether the defendants kept up a proper look out, and whether the rate of speed was not excessive and dangerous. On the first of these propositions there was much and I think preponderating evidence that the defendant's agents might, with proper watchfulness, have observed the danger at a much farther point from the point of collision than they did; and if so, the casualty would not probably have occurred. The crossing was in view for a considerable distance, and yet both the engineer and the fireman swear that they did not observe the deceased or his team until they were nearly upon them.
Upon the other point—the speed of the train—the evidence was conflicting, and such as, I think, would have required its submission to the jury, if that were the controlling point in the case. Two witnesses sworn on both trials for the plaintiff, Carroll and Gillespie, say, the one that the train was coming fast, which was not usual there, and the other that they were running very rapidly. Two other witnesses, O'Laughlin and Williams, not sworn on the first trial, testified on the second, the one that the train was running as fast as twenty miles an hour, the other between twenty and twenty-five miles an hour. There were other witnesses whose testimony tended to show a rapid rate of speed.. Some five witnesses for the defendant testified in substance to their opinion that the train was running the usual speed—some five or six miles an hour. I do not think a verdict would have been set aside finding the higher rate of speed; and I do not hesitate to say that such a rate of speed across the crowded thoroughfares of so large a city is, in my opinion, indefensible. It is quite clear that such a rate of speed, if it was maintained in the present case, caused the collision, and that the usual rate of speed would have prevented it.
The more important and difficult question is whether Wilds was guilty of negligence contributory to the accident. He is charged to have been guilty of negligence in . several particulars: 1st. In want of attention to the usual signals—the bell, the whistle and the flag. 2d. In not observing, or wilfully disregarding, shouts and warnings of danger. 3d. In driving at an improper rate of speed, and manifesting a reckless determination to cross the track in the face of known and impending danger.
In reference to the signals of danger proper to be given by the defendants, it would appear that the bell was seasonably rung. Wilds may or may not have heard it. We cannot say that he did; others near him did not. We can scarcely say that it was negligence not to have done so. The whistle was sounded only just before the collision, and probably not in season to have given any useful warning to him. The flagman was at his post, and had been waving his flag, but was not in the1 act of doing so when Wilds approached the crossing. He appears to have been momentarily engaged in the praiseworthy act of warning away a woman who was approaching the crossing, and yet it may be that' the absence of the usual flag signal may have induced Wilds to approach the crossing with less hesitation and care than he would otherwise have done. In none of these things does it appear to me was there such marked carelessness on his part as to have justified a refusal to submit the question to the jury.
He does not appear to have approached the crossing at an improper rate of speed, though there is some conflict of evidence on that point; but he is supposed to have been inattentive or recklessly indifferent to shouts of warning and danger. The question is, on the evidence given on the second trial, whether these warnings were in fact given. Mrs. Banker swears that she gave them, but some doubt is thrown .on her testimony by that of McLaughlin, a witness not sworn on the first trial, who was in a situation to hear, and did not hear the warning professed to have been given by Mrs. Banker. She is also contradicted or differed from by other witnesses. Orr swears that O'Brien gave the warning, but O'Brien does not say so himself, and both O'Brien and Orr are to some extent impeached by general evidence attacking their credibility as witnesses. And they are not supported by counter evidence. The question is whether, on this material part of the case, there was not sufficient doubt thrown upon the testimony of Banker, O'Brien and Orr, or contradiction given to it, to raise a question of credibility for the jury and not for the court. I incline to think, on the whole, that there was.
The remaining question is whether Wilds' approach to the place of collision, and attempt to cross the track, were marked by such evidences of carelessness or recklessness as should defeat the recovery. It is upon this part of the case that I have felt the greatest doubt. I should certainly have supposed it a more prudent act not to have attempted to cross the track, but that is not quite the question to be determined. It is whether, on the whole, it was a question for the jury—whether mis-judgment was such carelessness as should defeat the action—whether a man of ordinary prudence might not have doubted whether it were not probable the crossing could be safely effected and safer to attempt it than to run the hazard of the engine and train coming up directly in the face of the horses in close proximity to the track—whether the sudden and impending-danger would not excuse an error of judgment or the fail'ure to manifest that coolness and self-possession which, under ordinary circumstances, might be expected or demanded; and whether, on the whole, these were not more properly considerations to be addressed to the sound sense and temperate discretion of .a jury, under cautious instruc tians from the court, than such as should influence the court to take the matter into its own keeping and dispose of it upon its own responsibility, without the intervention of a jury. It is a case for doubt and hesitation, I think, as to which was the more proper course. And yet I am inclined to think it more consistent with the theory on which the -right of trial' by jury rests, and safer for the general interests of parties, to resolve such doubts in favor of the submission of such questions to the jury than the withdrawal of them from their consideration.
In arriving at this conclusion, I have done so upon the idea that it is ordinary care and prudence and not the highest and most extraordinary manifestations of those qualities which are exacted of persons circumstanced as Wilds was upon that occasion. The learned justice who pronounced the prevailing opinion in this court when- the case was here formerly for review, supposes that all distinctions as to the different degrees of care requisite under such circumstances were intended to be obliterated by the judgment of this court; but I do not so regard it, and shall not come to such a conclusion until I see more conclusive evidence of such a determination than a careful review of the results arrived at in that case has led me to make.
In granting the non-suit at the circuit, I was governed by a wish to conform to what, on a hasty examination, I. supposed to be the authoritative judgment of this court as declared in the opinion referred to; but a more careful revision of it, in the light of the facts of this case as compared with those then presented, has satisfied me that in arriving at the conclusion just expressed on this appeal, I am in no degree departing from the principles of the judgment then pronounced.
I am in favor of reversing the judgment of the supreme court, and ordering a new trial, with costs to' abide the event. Judgment affirmed.