Case Name: Bernard P. Cowley and Robert L. Lott v. George L. Colwell
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1892-05-13
Citations: 91 Mich. 537
Docket Number: 
Parties: Bernard P. Cowley and Robert L. Lott v. George L. Colwell.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 91
Pages: 537–538

Head Matter:
Bernard P. Cowley and Robert L. Lott v. George L. Colwell.
Negligence — Accidental fires.
This case is ruled by McNally v. Colwell, ante, 527.
Error to Alcona. (Simpson, J.)
Argued February 11, 1892.
Decided May 13, 1892.
Negligence case. Defendant brings error.
Reversed.
The facts are stated in the opinion, and in McNally v. Colwell, ante, 527.
R. J. Kelley, for appellant.
W. E. Depew (Franh Emerick, for counsel), for plaintiffs.

Opinion:
Morse, C. J.
This case differs but little from McNally v. Colwell, ante, 521, and must be governed by it. The question of the intoxication of the engineer and fireman, and their use of liquor, was practically eliminated from the case by the circuit judge. Fault is found that he did not expressly instruct the jury that they should not consider the testimony, in making up their verdict, as to the use of liquor by these men; but the jury were clearly told that they only had one question to consider, and that was as to the appliances kept in the mill to prevent fires.
For the reasons stated in McNally v. Colwell the judgment in this ease must be reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs of this Court to defendant.
The other Justices concurred.