Bigger v. Acree

Hir®, C. J. Aeree ran a hack between Maynard and Pocahontas, arriving each day at Pocahontas about eleven o’clock in the forenoon and departing at about one o’clock in the afternoon. He had two teams and alternated in the use of the same, leaving one in the livery stable of Bigger at Pocahontas while he was using the other. Pittman was hostler for Bigger, and was m charge of the stable. When Aeree came in each day, he tied the horses in the stalls himself or Pittman did so. At the time in question, Aeree brought in his team and tied them in their stalls himself. In the afternoon of that day, Pittman took the team out tr/ water them, and returned them to the stable and tied them in the same manner that Aeree had tied them. In 'the night Pittman heard a noise, and going in the stable found that one of Acree’s horses was loose and standing in another stall. He tied it in that stall with the same rope that it had been previously tied with in the other stall. He did not at that time discover that the horse was injured; but the next morning he discovered that it had been hurt, apparently kicked on the leg, and he felt sure it had been kicked by its mate, as it was the only-other horse in the stable. He and Aeree treated’ the horse for .several days, when it died. Aeree brought suit against Bigger for the value of the horse, alleging that it had been injured, and • died as a result thereof, thrgugh the negligence of Bigger in permitting the horse to run loose in the stable among other horses confined therein, as a result of which it had been kicked and injured, from which injuries it died. Bigger denied negligence, and the case was tried upon this issue, resulting in a verdict for Aeree; and Bigger has appealed. The only testimony as to the care of the animal was that of Pittman, called by the plaintiff. He testified that he tied the mare in the stall with the same rope and in the same manner that the owner had tied it earlier in the same day, and that this was the usual way that it had been tied theretofore; that this mare had been in the habit of breaking loose at. night, and he used a small rope with which 'to tie her, for the reason that if a larger rope had been used she might have broken her neck or choked herself to death. That he had not tied a rope or chain at the rear of the stall to prevent her from backing out for the reason that he did not think it necessary, nor was it customary in the livery business — with which business he testified he was familiar. The rope with which she was tied was either half-inch or three-quarter inch rope, and was sufficient to hold any ordinary animal. A livery stable keeper for hire'is required to use ordinary care of the animals committed to his charge. And he is liable for the injuries to horses placed in his charge when, and only when, such injuries are occasioned by negligence on his part. “The ordinary care required, according 'to the familiar definition, is that degree of care which a person of ordinary prudence would take of the property, under the same circumstances, if it were his own.” 19 Am. & Eng. Enc. 432. See, also, where the same principles were announced: Swann v. Brown, 51 N. C. 150, s. c. 72 Am. Dec. 568; Weick v. Dougherty, 90 S. W. 966, s. c. 3 L. R. A., N. S. 348 and note; Adams v. Cost, 62 Md. 264; Hunter v. Ricke, 127 Ia. 108; 25 Cyc. 1512. In the case of Lockridge v. Fesler, 37 S. W. 65, the Court of Appeals of Kentucky had before it a case quite similar to this one. A horse, entrusted to a livery stable, had slipped his halter and escaped, and was killed. The defense was that the horse was hitched in the usual and customary manner in the stable; that the owner saw 'the manner in which the horse was hitched ■and placed, and did not object thereto; and that the horse was properly hitched, but, being breachy and restless, slipped its halter .and escaped, without any carelessness or negligence on 'the part of the defendant or his employees. It was held that these facts constituted a defense. This case cannot be distinguished from that one, and the principle of it is correct and in consonance with all the authorities on-the subject. Under the undisputed evidence in the case, the horse was cared for in the usual and customary manner of caring for horses in livery stables; and in the same manner that the owner cared for this horse in this stable. To hold the livery keeper liable under this evidence would be to make him an insurer of the safety of animals in his stable, and that is not the law. Judgment reversed and cause remanded. Mr. Justice Wood is also of opinion that the evidence is insufficient to show that the death of the animal resulted from the injury received.