Court Opinion

ID: 6120530
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-04 18:42:31.356568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:10.858791
License: Public Domain

Boardman, J.:
By the verdict of the jury it is established that the plaintiff had once paid his fare when it was a second time demanded, and that, as a consequence, his ejection from the cars was wrongful. It is also determined that the action of the conductor was within his authority, and in the line of his duty, as he claimed the facts to be. The amount of damages is also fixed by the verdict. None of these questions can properly come before us upon this motion for a new trial. Nothing but the exceptions taken upon the trial is. here for review. (3 Wait’s Pr., 433, and cases cited.)
*684The exceptions may be briefly disposed of. Defendant offered to show that plaintiff, on other occasions, had done things which would justify the jury in imputing to him a motive to avoid payment of fare. If, on this occasion, he had paid his fare, he was entitled to his passage, whatever his past conduct may have been.
Martin’s evidence as to plaintiff’s character was admissible for what it was worth. The distance Martin lived from plaintiff, the degree of acquaintance with plaintiff, and with the community in which plaintiff lived, were elements in the value of Martin’s estimate of character, but do not affect its admissibility.
There was no error in the charge that plaintiff had the right to resist the conductor’s attempt to remove him from the car, if rightfully there. The conductor was in the wrong, and plaintiff had a right to resist such wrong. Whatever consequences followed such resistance, are chargeable to defendant, so long as the conductor was engaged in putting plaintiff off the cars. Especially is this true when the attempt to put him off was while the cars were still in motion. Self preservation was a sufficient justification of extreme resistance. (Sanford v. Eighth Av. R. R., 23 N. Y., 343; Hamilton v. Third Av. R. R., 35 Supr. Ct. R., 118.)
The charge of the learned judge was eminently fair, and as favorable to defendant as could be properly demanded.
The facts have been determined by the jury, and cannot be reviewed upon this motion. No error appears in the rulings or charge of the court.
The motion for a new trial must therefore be denied, and judgment ordered for the plaintiff on the verdict, with costs.
James, J., concurred.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.