Tift v. Jones

Trippe, Judge. 1. This case may be reduced to a very narrow compass, without going into all the learning growing out of the law as to the general obligations of the proprietor of a toll-bridge, whilst it is used as such, to the public or to passengers. It is unquestionably true that it is the duty of such a proprietor to keep his bridge in a safe condition. For a failure so to do, he would be responsible for any damage resulting therefrom to a passenger. To secure this condition of the bridge, repairs are necessary. To make these repairs, he has the right to take up any portion of the bridge which is required to be removed, in order to discharge his duty. As to the obligations imposed by law upon the owner of toll-bridges, see Code, section 670, paragraph 5, and section 690. There is no complaint made in this case that the defendant took up more of his bridge than was necessary to make the needed repairs. 2. If, then, the proprietor, in the discharge of this duty, so [541] far takes up the flooring of the bridge; and removes the timbers supporting the floor so as to be plainly seen by all persons, and the fact is patent to any observer that the bridge is necessarily in a condition not fit to be crossed, and the collection of toll is discontinued, then the relation of the proprietor to the public, as the keeper of a toll-bridge, is suspended, and continues suspended for such time as may be needed to put the bridge in a safe condition. If, whilst the bridge is in this situation, a passenger attempts to cross the bridge on planks temporarily laid down, several feet apart, for the use of the workmen, and is injured by falling between the planks thus placed, or through an opening caused by the removal of the timbers, he is not entitled to recover damages therefor against the owner as a negligent proprietor of a toll-bridge. The parties are remitted to their rights, as they result from those relations which exist between individuals. It would be a legal mockery to require the proprietor to repair his bridge, and by this, as a matter of course, giving him the power to do whatever is necessary to accomplish the repairs, even if it be the removing of one-half his bridge, and at the same time hold him bound under all the strict rules governing the case of á bridge whilst in active use. The defendant was not responsible for the use of the planks temporarily laid down for one purpose, because the plaintiff sought to use them for another for which they were not designed: Sh. & R. on Neg., sec. 500; and see 42 Maine R., 248, on this point. If one were building a bridge for the public or for himself, it would hardly be held that he Avas responsible to any one Avho might willfully, or even by the owner’s consent attempt to cross on a beam or sill, which had been laid down, and be thereby injured, and when all the hazard was patent, and there were no concealed dangers which it was the builder’s duty to disclose. 3. The question as to the collection of toll by the defendant Avhilst the bridge Avas in the condition described, was an important one, and the testimony somewhat conflicting. To prove that the defendant had charged toll, a Avitness stated, that he had an account in his trunk which was presented by [542] the bridge-keeper, showing a charge for toll on the day of the accident. This evidence was objected to by the defendant and the testimony admitted. Even if the account, if produced, would itself be sufficient to establish such a fact, still we think that the writing should have been offered. The existence or truth of a fact cannot be established by merely stating that it is in writing. It is now declared by statute that the best evidence of the fact sought to be proved must be produced, unless its absence is satisfactorily accounted for: Code, sec. 3760. 4. Section 3863 of the Code provides that, “in all cases, either party has the right to have the witnesses of the other party examined out of the hearing of each other. The court will take proper care to effect this object as far as practicable and convenient, but any mere irregularity shall not exclude the witness.” Where the court, under this provision of the law, directs a separate examination of the witnesses, and the party intends to be a witness for himself, it would be a proper rule that such party should be first examined, unless there be reasons to the contrary, in the absence of his other witnesses. This would preserve his right to be present in the court during the whole trial of his case. There are cases, doubtless, in which the examination of the party would not be first ordered. His testimony might be with reference to some point, or of such a character that it would not be fairly intelligible to the jury unless other evidence with which it was connected had been heard. The particular circumstances of each case must control it, under the discretion of the court; and the words, “the court will take'proper care to effect this object, as far as practicable and convenient,” invests the court with extensive discretion in the matter. That discretion should not be interfered with unless clearly abused, and the courts will doubtless take care that the party proposing to be a witness shall not willfully disregard the rule, nor the other party improperly disable him in the exercise of every right the law gives him. Judgment reversed.