Nelson v. Oregon Railway & Navigation Co.

Thayer, J. This appeal comes here upon the question as to whether the general verdict of the jury is consistent with their special findings. After finding a verdict in favor of the respondent for the sum of $6,000, the jury, under directions of the court, returned the following special findings: “ Did the conductor, at the time the train reached The Dalles, use any force or insulting language in expelling [142] the plaintiff from the train? Answer. No. Did the conductor, prior to reaching The Dalles, at any place between Umatilla and that place, assault the plaintiff by taking him out on the platform, and threatening to put him off if he did not pay his fare, or assault or use force upon or insulting language to the plaintiff? A. Yes. Did the conductor collect from the plaintiff the sum of one dollar at any place between Umatilla and The Dalles?' A. Yes. Did the plaintiff, at the time of his expulsion from the train of the defendant at The Dalles, have in his possession a mutilated ticket, which, notwithstanding mutilation, could be identified by the conductor as a through-ticket used by the defendant for the passage of one person on its said passenger train from Meacham’s station to Portland? Did he offer that ticket as payment for his'fare between Umatilla and Portland? and did the conductor refuse to accept it as payment of such fare? A. Yes. Was it a regulation of the defendant that a through-ticket from Meacham’s station to Portland should he taken up, from the passengers traveling on such ticket, by the conductor on its train immediately after-leaving Umatilla, and returned to the auditor of the-defendant at Portland? A. Yes. These findings were relevant to the issues made in the pleadings, but the appellant’s counsel contended on the argument that they did not justify the amount of' the recovery. This may be so as a matter of fact, but we could not so find as a matter of law. This court would hardly be authorized to find that the verdict was-too large, unless it could determine, as a matter of law,, the precise amount, or limit, to which it should have-been restricted. We have nothing to do with the facts-of the case, and yet I cannot see how we can interfere-with the judgment unless we review the facts. Where the verdict of a jury is excessive, it is the duty of the nisi-' [143] prius court to set it aside, but its refusal to do so cannot-be reviewed by this court. Nothing but questions of law appearing upon the transcript can be reviewed here. The verdict herein may have been much larger than this court would have allowed under the evidence in the case, or in view of the facts found by the jury. Still we have no right to set it aside, or reverse or modify the judgment entered thereon. The jury are judges of the facts,, and however widely our view might disagree with theirs matters nothing. We have no right to invade their province, however sanguine we may be that they have committed error. The errors assigned by the appellant are not well taken, and the judgment must be affirmed. The respondent’s counsel claimed upon the argument that the appeal was intended as a delay, and that he was entitled to a per centum as damages therefor. This court has never, to my knowledge, allowed damages in such cases, except where the appellant has abandoned- his-appeal, and I do not think it should depart from that rule, unless the purpose of delay is very apparent. I dodo not think there is much question in this appeal, but still I am not willing to say there was not probable cause-for taking it. No damages will therefore be allowed.