Court Opinion

ID: 5184389
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 04:46:25.922406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:26:41.271855
License: Public Domain

Landon, J.:
The facts are, in some details, different from what they were on on the former appeal.. Four standard gauge tracks lie'side by side, numbered from the east 1,2,3,4, and two narrow gauge tracks next them, all extending northerly and southerly. The intestate was crossing these tracks fi’Om the east towards the west on or near Tyler street,-in-the ■ city of Troy., to reach-his work. He had - long been accustomed tó do so. . Upon standard track No. 3 stood some freight cars with an open space of some feet between them through which plaintiff’s -intestate came and entered upon the fourth track. Upon the fourth track an engine was then backing from the north, south, towards the' intestate, who was walking .south between the rails of track No. 4.. The engineer blew his whistle, reversed his engine, rang his bell and slowed down. The intestate stepped off the fourth track toward the .east and next to the freight ears on track 3,-and turned and looked north toward the engine. Thereupon the. engineer, whose engine had nearly stopped, reversed it and started it ahead' more rapidly. At- this moment the deceased stepped back- again upon track 4, and was almost instantly struck. "The -engineer testifies that he saw him step back, and that he instantly- reversed. A brakemán upon the car next north of 'the backing engine testifies that -the engine- -was not then reversed. Assuming a conflict in this respect, we do- not think that á verdict, excusing the plaintiff’s intestate from contributory negligence coiild stand. - We have no explanation, consistent with reasonable care, of the intestate’s act. in stepping directly in frpnt of the moving engine. It is possible that he thought "the .engine would come to á full stop, *155but that is a conjecture —not an inference deducible from the facts proven; but if so deducible,. it would not excuse his stepping in front of the engine before he knew whether it would stop or not. The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
All concurred, except Putnam, J., not sittitig. ■
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.