Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad v. Nicholas

Springer, C. J. The appellant alleges errors as follows: (1) Because the verdict of the jury is not sustained by sufficient evidence, and the proof does not correspond with the allegations contained in the complaint. (2) Because the verdict of the jury is contrary to law. (3) Because the court refused to direct the jury to return a verdict in favor of the defendant. (4) Because the court erred in refusing the instructions asked for by the defendant, and excepted to at the time. (5) Because the court — 43 — erred in giving instructions asked for by the plaintiff and excepted to by defendant. '(6) Because the proof shows beyond controversy that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. (7) Because the verdict of the jury is excessive, appearing to have been given under the influence of passion or prejudice. The first, second, and third specifications of error’, above set forth, will be considered together, for, if the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence, the court erred in refusing to direct the j ury to return a verdict in favor of the deféndant. This necessitates a very careful consideration of all the facts and all the evidence in the case. The first allegation of negligence on the part of the defendant company is that the defendant company carelessly and negligently failed and omitted to timber or scaffold that portion of the mine where the accident occurred. The uncontradicted evidence upon this point is to the effect that the roof of the mine at this place was supported, to’prevent its caving iri, by a prop or post; that the prop or post itself was sufficiently strong to support the roof. In the plaintiff’s original complaint it was alleged that the prop or post which was used to support the roof at this place in the mine was too small, and too weak, and by reason of its weakness the said post or -prop did break and fall, and permit the slate and rock to fall upon and crush the plaintiff. This contention was abandoned upon the trial by the plaintiff, he having conceded that the prop itself was sufficiently strong to support the roof. The allegation in question does not involve the sufficiency of the post or prop which was actually used, but that the defendant company failed “to timber or scaffold that portion of the mine where the accident occurred.” It is conceded that the prop was placed there, but it is contended that the defendant failed to timber or scaffold. Plaintiff testifies that he never noticed any precaution taken to timber the place where the accident occurred, except the — 44 — placing of the prop. This fact is conceded by the defendant company. The question then recurs as to whether the prop of itself was such a support that it made the mine reasonably safe at that point. It was the duty of the defendant, as the court below held, and instructed the jury, to exercise care to provide a reasonably safe place in which its employes might perform their work, and the mine owner must use reasonable diligence to keep this place in a reasonably safe condition so that the servant or employe 'may not be exposed to unnecessary risks; and this care and diligence must be commensurate with the character of the service required, and with the dangers that a reasonably prudent man wquld apprehend under the circumstances of each particular case. If it appears, therefore, from the evidence in the case, that the support placed at this portion of the mine was sufficient to render it reasonably safe, the allegation of negligence on the part of the defendant on this account would not be sustained. Wiley Clark, one of the witnesses for the plain" tiff, testified that the roof of the mine at this point was bad; that it was all shattered loose from the sides; but he nowhere states that the prop or post which was placed under it was not sufficient for its support, for he states, “If the car passed the post, it would be all right.” This is substantially all of the testimony of plaintiff upon this point. Taylor Thomas, a witness called by defendant, testified that he was one of the persons who blasted out the slate on the roof of the mine at this point, and that he left the roof in a good condition; that all the material was taken down that could be removed, and that the mine was timbered up. He states as follows: “We timbered two rows of props before we blasted it for protecting the slate from spreading over it to make the shots work down.” And further: “After we got through, we put a prop right in that corner where the dip switch goes down, to make it secure.” He further says: “It was a good prop; the best that could be found. The — 45 — defendant introduced as a witness L. W. Bryan, the mine inspector appointed by the interior department for the Indian Territory. His evidence was in the nature of a deposition, which- was read to the jury. He stated that the entry was fairly well propped all the way through, and that the mine at this point was propped and timbered in a manner that was usual and customary in well-regulated mines; that he considered it very well timbered, and reasonably safe, as much so as any well-regulated mine in the Indian Territory. He was asked his opinion as to the ability of a mining company to absolutely guard against'the falling of slate or rock, to which he stated that, it could not be done. He said that slate and rock were liable to fall from the roof of a mine at any time, even in the best regulated mines; that it could not absolutely be guarded against; that the mine in question was well taken care of; that the percentage of accidents there has been as light as one could expect; that what happened in this case was liable to occur at any time;" that it. was one of the risks of the business. S. Guerrier, a witness called for the defendant, testified that he was an attorney at law, and special agent for the Missouri Pacific Coal Mines, and that he had had considerable experience in the operation of coal mines; that he was well acquainted with Mr. Bryan, the government mine inspector of this territory, and that he considered Mr. Bryan as an expert in the operation and construction of mines, timbering, etc. Joseph Murphy, a witness called for the defense, testified that he was the coalmine inspector, and that he had had experience in mining for 35 years. He stated that the prop or support to the mine was put up under his direction, and that he considered it safe, and that it was put up in a workmanlike manner. A. W. Breckinridge, a witness called on behalf of the defendant, testified that he was the mine foreman; and had worked in mines for about 23 years; that the prop which supported the roof had a good solid cap piece, about nine — 46 — inches long, which was wedged in; that he inspected the mine at this point, after the work was completed, and, in his judgment, it was a reasonably safe place for men to work after it was completed; that he did not see anything to keep it from being safe; that every thing was in good shape. G. B. Wheeler, a witness called by the defense, testified that he was the gas inspector of the mine; that he remembered distinctly the prop in question, and that he saw it just before the accident, and, that it looked all right. The foregoing is substantially all the testimony in reference to the first allegation of negligence on the part of the defendant company. There is no conflict in this testimony, and it clearly establishes the fact that the mine was properly timbered or scaffolded at the place where the accident occuri’ed, and that no negligence can be imputed to the defendant company on this account. The other allegation of negligence on the part of the defendant company is to the effect that the defendant carelessly and negligently placed a prop or post too near the track used by the plaintiff and other employes of the defendant in hauling and removing coal from the mine, so near that passing cars struck it, and that the car which was being operated by the plaintiff in this case struck this post, knocking it down, and thus precipitated a portion of slate roof upon plaintiff, causing his injury. The question to be determined on this point is, was the prop placed at a safe distance from the track? All the testimony set forth in reference to the first allegation of negligence is also applicable to the point in question, and need not be repeated. The same witnesses testified in reference to the second allegation of negligence. Scott Nicholas, the plaintiff, testified, that a nut on the end of the car struck the post, and knocked it out. He was asked. ‘ 'How came this car to strike the post?” His answer was, “It must have been a car which was out of gauge;” that is, he explained, a car which was — 47 — too wide. ■ He further testified that he had not made any ex-animation of the place where the post was setting, and that he did not know about this loose rock before it fell; that he had no idea of its falling; and that he had not seen any crack or break in the slate. His only statement in reference to the proximity of the post to the track was: ’ “That the post must have been close enough for the nut on the side of the car to strike it, and that the car was on the track when it struck the post.” Wiley Clark, a witness for the- plaintiff, testified that the post that was struck was about 12 or 13 inches from the dip switch track, and about 18 inches from the track on the main entry. He also stated that the nut did not stick out from the side of the car over 1£ or 2 inches, and he stated that a good car would not strike the post at all; and further he testified that the post had a board placed over the top of it 6 or 8 inches or a foot long, and'that it was put there in order to hold the top in its place, and also to hold the weight, — to give it surface. This was all of the testimony of plaintiff upon this point. Taylor Thomas, a witness for the defense, whose testimony on the first allegation of negligence has been referred to, testified that the post or prop was placed from 18 inches to 2 feet from the track in the entry, and that it was placed about 18 inches from the track in the dip switch; that it was a good prop,— the best that could be found, — and larger than the ordinary size used; that it was perfectly sound; that a cap was placed over it and driven tight, — wedged in; that the sides of the entry were protected by short rows of props on each side all the way down, put in about 18 inches apart, and that the prop that was put in there was put in as an extra precaution, because there was a very wide space between the two ribs and the upper row; that the prop was put in in the usual and customary manner of well-regulated mines. He states, “I put it in the best I could. ” The testimony of L. W. Bryan, quoted above, on the first allegation of negligence, is direct — 48 — ly in point upon this second allegation of negligence. Griff West testified that the post or prop in the roof of the dip switch was outside of the ties, — cleared the ties. John Murphy testified that the prop, in his judgment, was 18, or 20 inches from the right-hand rail of the dip switch, and that he considered the prop safe, and put in in a workmanlike manner; that he considered that this prop, in connection with other props there, made this place reasonably safe for men to travel and do work in. He said further that, if it had not been so regarded by him, he would have changed it; that it was his business to see that it was safe, as far as practicable. A. W. Breckinridge testified that a solid cap piece about 9 inches long was placed above the prop, and wedged in; that he inspected the work after it was completed, and that it was a reasonably safe place for men to work in; and, further, that he concluded that it was safe; that he did not see anything to keep it from being safe; that everything was in good shape; that the prop was about 18 inches from the right hand rail of the dip switch. The foregoing is substantially all the testimony on this point. It will be seen that there is no conflict in the evidence. It is conclusively established that the post was placed outside of the ties upon which the track rested, and that it was not less than 12 inches from the track of the dip switch; that all of the persons engaged in its construction, together with 'Mr, Bryan, the government mine inspector, were of the opinion that the prop was so placed as to render the mine reasonably safe at that point. There is nothing in the evidence quoted, or in the record, which tends to show negligence on the part of the defendant company in the placing of this post or prop. It is true that there is considerable conflict in the testimony, as appears in the record, on other and collateral propositions. The material issues in the case seem to have been lost sight of on the trial. The witnesses for the plaintiff asserted very positively that the dip-switch entry had been — 49 — opened and in operation for two or three months, while the witnesses for the defendant insisted with equal earnestness that the entry had only been built the morning before the accident happened. The testimony in rebuttal on both sides was confined to this point, and the witnesses, upon being recalled, were all positive as to the statements previously made by them. If this were a material issue in the case, this conflict' of testimony would make it necessary to submit the case to the jury; but it is wholly immaterial whether the switch entry had been built a day or a month or a year. Time was not of the essence of this contention. The questions were whether the roof had been properly protected, and whether the post was set at a proper distance from the track to render the safe passage of cars, and not when the entry was opened for the operation of the mines. There is also a conflict of evidence in the case as to whether the car struck the post while it was on the track, or whether it jumped the track previously to striking the post. If the car struck the post while it was on the track, the defect was in the car in spreading too wide, and not in the location of the post. But there is no allegation in the complaint, or contention on the part of the plaintiff, that the car was improperly constructed. Hence, if there were negligence on the part of the defendant in this matter, such negligence has neither been alleged nor proven. If the car jumped the track before the post was struck — which theory is supported by the physical facts which existed after the accident took place, — the defect was either in the manner in which the track was laid, or the accident was caused by the negligence of the plaintiff; in either of which events the plaintiff could not recover, for the reason that no allegation is made in the complaint of improper construction of the track. And, if the accident was caused by the plaintiff’s negligence, he could not recover. It is well settled by all — 50 — the authorities that where there is not sufficient evidence of the facts essential to the plaintiff’s case, or the defendant’s affirmative defense, a verdict should be directed. See 6 Enc. Pl. & Pr. (N. S.) p. 686, and numerous authorities there cited. There having been no sufficient evidence in the case at bar to support the essential allegations of the plaintiff’s case, it was the duty of the court, when requested >by the defendant, to direct a verdict. It was error to refuse this motion. Railway Co. vs Driggers, 1 Ind. Ter. Rep. 412; (45 S. W. 128.) It appearing from the evidence in this case that the defendant has .not been guilty of any negligence which was the proximate cause of the injury complained of, the judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded. Thomas and Townsend, JJ., concur.