Erhart v. Wabash Railroad

BEOADDUS, P. J. This action is to recover damages for the burning of plaintiff’s houses, furniture and trees on her premises. The trial resulted in a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $1,600, from which defendant appealed. The appellant’s first contention is that under the pleadings and testimony the plaintiff did not make out a case for recovery. The fire occurred on the 16th day of September, 1907, in Centralia at about the hour of noon. The fire was communicated to plaintiff’s house from sparks from a burning building near the tracks of the defendant’s railroad, which plaintiff claims was set afire by sparks emitted by defendant’s engines. The burning building, which set fire to plaintiff’s house, was what was known as the Priebe-Simetar poultry house and was situated about one hundred feet north of defendant’s main track and about seventy-five feet north of defendant’s switch tracks. The poultry house was a frame structure with a shingle roof, was sixty feet long by twenty feet wide, with an ell twenty feet by thirty-two feet joined onto the north side. At the time it was occupied by Swift & Co., -,who were engaged in the egg and poultry business. The main part of the building was two stories high without any ceiling between the upper floor and the roof. This upper story was occupied as a place of storage for lum [620] ber for egg cases and empty barrels. It was shown that a short time before the fire, which burned the building and which occurred at about 10:30 o’clock a. m. of the day, two of the. defendant’s engines were engaged in switching nearby. There was evidence that the engines of the defendant while in operation threw out sparks, but no one seemed to have noticed that they did so on the occasion in question. There was a brisk and somewhat variable wind blowing from the south and southwest at the time. Plaintiff introduced evidence tending to show that the fire was first discovered in the roof and near the southwest corner. There was evidence to the effect that engines attached to passing trains sometimes threw out cinders as far as the poultry house in question. A witness testified that the roof was dry and much dilapidated with holes in it sufficient to admit the light. The defendant’s evidence tends to prove that the fire started inside under the roof, which must have been communicated by some one of the employees of Swift & Co., who were shown to have been habitual smokers while at their work. It was also shown that the engines that had been switching moved slowly — not over the rate of two miles an hour; and defendant’s engineers testified that under such conditions they did not throw out sparks. We believe there was ample evidence on the part of the plaintiff tending to show that the fire caught in the roof of the building. It then remains to be seen if there was any evidence tending to show that the fire was communicated by sparks from defendant’s engines. There being no direct proof of that fact, the matter must rest upon inference to be drawn from the circumstances and surroundings. It may be inferred that, going at the rate of two miles an hour, an engine would not ordinarily throw out sparks so as to set fire to a building seventy-five or one hundred feet away. But we must take into consideration that the engines while switching at times [621] were still and that in starting up they do sometimes throw out sparks, as it requires more power to start them than it does to.continue a slow movement after-wards. This, we believe, to he common observation and experience. With a brisk wind blowing from the south from defendant’s tracks, sparks from an engine could be carried north to the roof of the building, which in its condition was very susceptible of being ignited. And, if the fire started in the roof, there is no other reasonable, manner in which to account for its origin except by sparks from one of defendant’s engines. [Gibbs v. Railroad, 104 Mo. App. 276.] The evidence left it as a question for the jury. It is contended that it was not shown by competent evidence that plaintiff was the owner of the building— that title to land cannot be shown by oral evidence. The only evidence introduced was that of plaintiff that she owned and occupied it as her place of residence, and that! she had about ten years previously caused its construction at a cost of $1,600. The defendant objected to the manner of proving ownership. In Bank of Aurora v. Linzee, 166 Mo. 496, which was a suit in ejectment, it is held that oral evidence is not the best evidence of title. And, in Turner v. Williams, 76 Mo. 617, where title was involved, it is held that title to land cannot be established by mere oral statements of witnesses. It cannot be doubted but such is the universal rule, in such cases. But, “Possession of land under claim of title is, as against a stranger, prima-facie evidence of title.” [Kansas City Suburban Belt Railway Co. v. Norcross, 137 Mo. 415.] The plaintiff admitted that her property had been insured and that the insurance company had paid her $1,011 for her loss, $11 of which was for goods destroyed. The defendant contends that the estimated value of the building at $1,600, less depreciation of five per cent a year, would fix its value at the time of the fire at $960, [622] an amount less than the insurance received by plaintiff. But defendant has misconstrued the evidence. The witness, who estimated the value of the building, placed it at $1,600 after allowing for the depreciation. However, as to that matter, it could make no difference how much or how little the plaintiff received by way of indemnity from the insurance company for her loss; her damages cannot be reduced thereby, the defendant not being a party to the insurance contract and having no interest therein. [Matthews v. Railway, 112 Mo. 615.] We believe every point raised by the defendant on the appeal has been determined. The case was well tried and, finding no error, it is affirmed. All concur.