Holmes v. Southern Pacific Co.

TEMPLE, J. This action was brought by the administratrix of William E. Holmes, deceased, to recover damages for the death of the decedent, which it is alleged was caused by the negligence of the defendant. — 359 — The defendant denies that it was negligent, and charges contributory negligence on the part of the deceased. The negligence charged against the defendant is alleged to consist in the improper construction of the two cars which deceased was in the act of coupling when he was injured, and in the alleged neglect to repair the same and to keep them in good condition. The defendant contends that there was no proof that either car was defective, and certainly none of negligence in that matter on the part of the defendant. It is admitted that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, and that the mere fact of the accident and consequent injury does not prove negligence, but respondent contends, nevertheless, that the accident and the attendant circumstances do show that one or both of the cars were defective. Respondent states the facts which she claims prove the defective construction of the cars as follows: “1. That William E. Holmes, the plaintiff’s husband, was caught and crushed between the ilat-car and the box-car which he was trying to couple; 2. That he was so caught by the passing of the drawbar of the ilat-car over the top of the drawbar of the box-car, so that the end of the flat-car crushed into the end of the box-car; 3. That the flat-car after the accident was raised off its bearings, and the body of the car was on the truck; 4. That the drawbar of the flat-car passed over the drawbar of the box-car because one was higher than the other.” It is evident that the first three statements have very little bearing upon the matter unless the fourth is also established, and, even admitting all four, it may still be true that neither car was defectively constructed. That is, it may be that the accident would not have happened had not the drawhead upon one car been higher than the other, and yet there may have been no defect in either. It is admitted that the standard elevation of drawheads had been thirty-three inches from the rail to the center of the drawhead, and that the box-car was of that standard. Also that the flat-car was of a new standard, to wit, thirty-four and one-half inches. There is really no evidence of any other difference in the drawheads. There is also testimony that both cars were until the accident in their normal condition; and as to this there was no conflict, unless the condition of the cars after — 360 — the collision may he said to furnish such conflicting evidence. The fact of the collision would seem to be an adequate reason for the condition of the car after it. The box-car heavily loaded was standing with other cars upon one of the numerous tracks at Paralta station, and three flatcars loaded with lumber were kicked in upon this track. That is, having been set in motion, the engine was suddenly detached and the cars moved on by the momentum thus acquired. Deceased was under a foreman assisting in the work, and it was his duty to attach the cars thus “kicked” upon the siding and to couple them to cars already there. The cars were all loaded and waiting their turn to be put in the proper trains. They were coupled so that when wanted the file or line of cars could be easily cut at any desired point without coupling. Of course, they could not be coupled when none were moving. It was in the night-time, and each man had his lantern. The flat-cars were moving at the rate of about two or three miles per hour when the collision occurred. It was the duty of deceased if they were moving too rapidly to mount one of them and check its speed and determine whether it could be safely coupled. In fact, he did not mount the car, but stood at the box-car. Apparently, he set the pin in its drawhead and waited for the moving ear. As they came together, he was seen to signal a stop, and when the men went to his rescue they found him crushed between the cars, his face to the box-car. The link of the flatcar had slipped over the drawhead of the box-car, had run up along the pin and had raised the car from its bearings some ten or twelve inches. The collision was with great force, driving the pin, which had heen set, into the box-car. The engine was then attached, the flat-car drawn back, and the deceased was released. The flat-car settled down upon its truck, when its draw-head was from two to three inches higher than when in its normal condition. In that position it was coupled to the same boxcar. We must conclude, then, that both cars were shown, without conflict, to have been in their normal condition. Was, then, the difference between the drawheads a defect Avhich could render the defendant liable, or was the increased risk, if any, one which ■the servant assumed by his employment? Probably the de — 361 — ceased, without noticing the unusual height, raised the link in the drawhead of the flat-car to the usual level, which caused it to strike the upper lip in the drawhead of the loaded box-car, and the great force of the collision forced the link up over the drawhead of the box-car against the pin up which it was forced, raising the flat-car entirely above the drawhead and deadwood of the box-car, so that the end of the flat-car came against the deceased, causing his death. Perhaps it would not have happened if one ear had not been higher than the other, and perhaps not then if the cars in motion had not moved so rapidly. So far as the last-mentioned circumstances may have increased the risk, it was, if negligence at all, the act of a fellow-servant or the consequence of the failure of the deceased to slacken the speed of the cars. This being an uncertain element, the verdict must he held to have negatived it as a cause of the accident. There was evidence, which was not contradicted by adverse testimony, to the effect that switchmen are likely to be called upon to couple cars between which there is a much greater difference than that between the two cars involved here. Cars from other roads having different drawheads are in constant use, and the cars built upon the same plan and on -the same standard often by use are made to vary, as the testimony showed, to the extent of-three inches. True, the inspector puts upon such cars a cripple tag as soon as he detects the defect, and, when possible, they are rectified. But a switchman is hable to have to couple them before the defect is noticed, and must always he on the alert for them. In other words, if the risk of his occupation is thus increased, it is a risk which he assumes by his contract. It is manifest that the coupling could have been safely made if the brakeman had been on the alert—at all events, if the cars had not been moving at a very high speed. I think, therefore, that there was no evidence tending to prove negligence on the part of the defendant in the respects named. There was no evidence tending to prove that either car was out of repair or that the difference in the height of the draw-heads exceeded one and one-half inches, and there is no conflict in the evidence showing that such difference may he expected, and, when due diligence is used, does not materially increase the danger. The burden being upon the plaintiff, the verdict cannot be maintained. — 362 — Ho further discussion is required for the purposes of this appeal, but counsel have argued at considerable length the effect of a certain rule made by defendant and to which the attention of the deceased w&s called at the time of his employment. Rule 215, among other things, provides that “employees are enjoined, before coupling cars or engines to examine and know the kind and condition of the drawhead, drawbar, link and coupling apparatus.....Sufficient time is allowed and may be taken by employees in all cases to make the examination required. Coupling by hand in all cases is strictly forbidden when a stick or proper implement can be used to guide the link,” etc. Upon the trial, plaintiff introduced testimony to the effect that the rule had been not only habitually but universally disregarded, and also the following, brought out on cross-examination: “Q. Do you know anything about the use of a stick to guide the link into the drawbar? A. They say some people use them, but I would laugh at them if I saw them using them. Q. It is used for the purpose of coupling it from between the ears and guiding the link into the place instead of using the hand? A. You might think so, but it is utterly impossible. Q. What is it used for? A. They cannot make a coupling; they might say it in the books, or any book, but they cannot do it. Q. So far as your experience is concerned? A. Yes, or anyone else.” Upon this the defendant asked the court to charge the jury as matter of law: “That the rule ivas reasonable, and that employees have no right to judge of the reasonableness of the rule, but must obey them as long as they remain in the employ of the company, and the fact that the rule may be impracticable and not observed does not excuse the employee who is injured by its nonobservance from negligence. Therefore, if you believe from the evidence that if William E. Holmes had followed the rule of the company and used a stick to make the couplings he would not have been injured, then the mere fact that the rule was impracticable or not observed will not excuse the negligence of Holmes in not following the rule.” The court refused this instruction, and the ruling is assigned as error. If the rule was utterly impracticable, or rendered so by the mode and the conditions under which service was required, and the servant is injured because not following an impracticable — 363 — rule, and cannot, therefore, maintain an action for damages, then the rule is plainly not for the protection of the servant hut of the employer. It is a provision relieving the employer from the obligations imposed upon him by law, to use ordinary diligence in furnishing safe appliances with which to work and safe conditions for the performance of the service. So far as the rule has that effect it is against public policy and void. The employer is conclusive!)' presumed to know how the service is habitually performed. Where the usual mode is departed from the presumption would not prevail; and to make such a rule as this of any avail, even if not otherwise objectionable, the work must be so conducted that the servant may take the precautions prescribed, otherwise it is only a provision against the liability of the employer and not a rule designed for the protection of the servant. The court, therefore, did not err in refusing the instructions asked. The judgment and order are reversed, and a new trial ordered. Harrison, J,. McFarland, J., and Henshaw, J., concurred. Van Fleet, J., concurred in the judgment.