Haynes v. Wabash Railroad

Ellison, J. — Plaintiff recovered a judgment in the court below against defendant for an injury to his horse, the injury occurred' by reason, as alleged by plaintiff, of a defective car in which the animal was shipped from Grallatin to St. Louis. The statement of plaintiff’s cause of action is objected to for the reason that it makes a general allegation of negligence without specifying any particular act of negligence. The case was begun before a justice of the peace. The statement is quite sufficient to bar another action for the same cause, and being so, we hold it good; the negligence mentioned in the statement was a defective car with defective slats. Witting v. Railroad, 101 Mo. 631. [585] The fact that a witness was permitted to state his opinion as to how long the horses must have been down in the car could have resulted in no possible harm to defendant. The damage done to the horse far exceeded the amount of the verdict, as shown by the undisputed testimony. . The only question that has given us any trouble is that in regard to the sufficiency of the evidence to establish negligence against defendant. The horse was received by defendant, with others, at Grallatin in good condition. He was shown to have remained uninjured until within a -few miles of St. Louis, when he was found lying in the car on his back with one hind foot sticking through or between the slats of the car. These slats were shown to be from three to four inches apart. There is no question but what the primary cause of the injury to the horse was his getting his foot between the slats. Defendant’s witnesses gave evidence tending strongly to show that the ear was of standard make and that it was in first-class repair, and that the horse could not have gotten his foot between the slats as it was, except by a violent kick. On the other hand, the evidence for plaintiff tended to show that the car was old and much out of repair; though as to the slats, which, as before stated, %oere the cause of the injury, the evidence is slight; yet we have concluded to' hold it sufficient, since "it has resulted in a verdict which the trial court has, in its discretion, refused to set aside. Proof of negligence need not be by direct testimony. It may be inferred by the jury from facts and circumstances in evidence. Plaintiff himself testified that the car had been used so long that it was worn — that ‘ fit was a bad car, and that the slats were badly worn.” He also stated that “the frame part was all right.” But by this expression he evidently did not intend to say that the slats were in good condition, for the [586] expression immediately follows his statement that the-slats were had. Defendant’s conductor testified that-the slats were in good condition and were not broken-where the horse’s foot was fastened. He also stated that “it would have almost been impossible for the horse to have gotten his foot through the opening; it could only have been done by violent force as kicking.” He further said that ‘ U saw no evidence of this horse kicking; 1 did not see any such marks on the slats.” The jury might very well infer from this statement that the horse’s foot went between the slats without resistance. For, if the foot had been forced through from the vicious propensity of the horse in kicking, it would reasonably have - left some mark. It is true the witness further stated. that he had to saw or chip away a part of the slat in order to release the foot. But it will be readily seen. that this might become necessary by reason of the-horse’s position in lying upon his back with his hind-foot sticking out between the slats. The carrier must furnish vehicles to safely carry on his business of transportation. His calling implies that he will do business for the public with reasonable safety and security to the property of those who patronize him. It is so much his duty to do so that public-policy will not permit him to make a contract exonerating him for a failure to do so. Potts v. Railroad, 17 Mo. App. 394; Brown v. Railroad, 18 Mo. App. 568. “The utmost effect which can be given to a general notice, or special contract, although as broad and absolute in its terms as it can be, will not discharge a common carrier from liability for negligence, malfeasance, or want of ordinary care, either in the seaworthiness of' the vessel, or her proper equipments and furniture; nor is it allowed to exempt the carrier from accountability for losses occasioned by a defect in a vehicle, or mode-, [587] of conveyance used in the transportation.” Welsh v. Railroad, 10 Ohio St. 65. In our opinion,' granting the contract in evidence-made with the Rock Island road would cover the shipment over defendant’s road, it does not relieve defendant from the negligence which the jury have found in this case. The instruction given for plaintiff would ordinarily be too general in its terms as to the defective car. But as the evidence as to the injury went only to one defect as causing the injury, we think it was not erroneous.as applied to the facts. ."We will affirm the-judgment. All concur.