Court Opinion

ID: 6999105
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:38:44.879497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:52.131992
License: Public Domain

Mr. Presiding Justice Harker delivered the opinion of the Court. This is an appeal from a judgment renderéd by appellee in an action against appellant for the killing of a mare and colt by a train upon the right of way where the law required appellant to fence. A reversal is sought because appellant was exempted from fencing its right of ivay at the place where the stock ivent upon the track, and because the court improperly instructed the jury. West Newell is a station on appellant’s railroad. The only buildings there are the store, residence and stable of appellee, located on the west side of the railroad track, Avhich at that point extends north and south. A public high way crosses the railroad at right angles, so that appellee’s store is at the southwest intersection of the highway and right of Avay. On the east side of the main tracks and at the southeast intersection Avith the highway is a passenger platform. On the west side of the main tracks is a side track, by Avhich and south of the highway are located stock pens, corncribs and scales, Avhich are used by the public in transacting business with appellant. The right of way is open for 800 feet south and for 930 north of the highAvay. There are no structures on the north side of the highAvay, but the evidence shows there was a team track leading along the side track and occasionally used by the public for unloading coal and for loading ties and other timber. The chief loading and unloading done by the public was south of the highAvay, hoAvever. Appellee’s mare and colt escaped from his barn in the night time and entered the right of Avay south of the highway. Wandering from there to the north, they were killed at a point nearly 800 feet north of the highway. The evidence clearly shows that at the point where the stock first Avent upon the track appellant was exempt from fencing. It was at a place used by the public in receiving and loading freight. That fact would not exempt appellant from liability, however, if they were killed at a point not excepted, and had reached there because of appellant’s failure to protect by suitable fence and cattle guard. This court has held that where stock enters a railroad right of way at a place excepted from the operation of the statute and wanders along the track to the place not excepted, because of failure to erect a suitable cattle guard, and is there killed by a train, the company is liable. The Wabash Railroad Company v. Pickrell, 72 Ill. App. 601. Taking the most favorable view of the testimony from appellant’s standpoint, it was not necessary to the use of the side track by the public that the right of way be open for more than 500 feet north of the highway. Between that point and the cattle guard was a distance of over 400 feet where the statute imposed the duty of erecting fences and cattle guards suitable to keep out stock. Had appellant performed its duty in that regard, appellee’s mare and colt would not have gone to the point where they were killed. The court erred in instructing the jury, as it did for appellee, that a legal obligation rested upon appellant to fence and maintain cattle guards along its entire line of road, except at highway crossings and within incorporated cities, towns and villages. In construing the statute on which this action is based, our Supreme Court has held that such part of the depot grounds necessary for the use of the road by the public is excepted from the operation of the statute even though not within an incorporated city or village. But the court correctly gave the jury the law and fully covered this point in instructions for appellant. And had such instructions not been given for appellant, we should refuse to disturb the judgment because, on the facts, it is right. Judgment affirmed.