Pieper v. Krutzfeldt

Ladd, J. The plaintiff turned twenty-eight head of cattle into defendant’s field of cornstalks about November 14, 1909. They were transferred to another field about December 1st following, and some three weeks later into still another. All of them, though in good condition when taken to defendant’s premises, became very poor before being moved, some on December 25, 1909, and others in Pebruary, 1910. Pour of them died. Plaintiff prayed damages and these were conclusively proven; the only issue being whether defendant was responsible therefor. i. Animals: negligent care: conflicting evidence: submission of issue. The evidence on the part of plaintiff tended to show that about October 24, 1909, he met defendant in Minden, when the latter said, ' “Henry, do you want to rent a cornfield to put cattle in?” and added, “There is clover plenty of water To this plaintiff threshed, and hay and and another big stack.” responded: “If I rent it, I can not take care of it, because I am going in the hotel the first of the month.” Defendant said: “You needn’t bother your head about that. I will take care of [718] them just like I will my own.” Subsequently plaintiff explained that defendant had said there were sixty or sixty-five acres of cornstalks' and this was good pasture, that there was threshed clover hay and clover hay lying in windrows and a big straw pile to run to. On the other hand, defendant testified that he rented plaintiff one hundred acres of ground with forty-five acres of cornstalk and “some straw pile and some clover left that wasn’t worth threshing,” and, as soon as he got other com gathered, he would take his cattle out, and plaintiff could put his cattle in. “I told him when his cattle were out I would drive them in. I didn’t tell him I would put them in any shelter.” On cross-examination he admitted having said he “would look after” the cattle, but, on redirect examination, testified he never told plaintiff he would provide a straw stack for the cattle, and that “I didn’t promise to do anything else with Pieper’s cattle except to bring them, back if they got away.” Enough of the record has been stated to indicate that the evidence was in conflict as to whether defendant undertook to do more than bring back any of plaintiffs cattle should they escape from the field rented, and that that issue was for the jury. 2. Same: evidence: harmless II. 'The plaintiff testified to the value of the cattle when put in defendant’s field and when taken therefrom. On cross-examination he testified that, after pasturing them during the summer of 1910, he had ten left, and had sold the other fourteen head. lie was then asked what he got for them, and, over objection, answered: “Three seventy-five in South Omaha; that is, with some others.” The evidence should have been excluded, but it, as other evidence tending to show they had increased in weight less than one hundred pounds each, was without prejudice, for, as it conclusively appeared that four had died and [719] all others had nearly starved while in defendant’s fields, the jury in returning a verdict in his favor necessarily found that he had not undertaken' to care for the cattle. Indeed, no other defense was interposed, and the court instructed the jury that, in event he had agreed-to care for them, “the plaintiff will be entitled to recover the amount of damages which he has sustained by reason of the’failure of the defendant to comply with the terms of the agreement.” The objectionable evidence had no bearing save on the measure of damages, and, as the jury did not reach that matter, the error as said was without prejudice. 3 EvidencecommunfcatI0n‘ III. Mrs. Krutzfeldt testified to a conversation with the plaintiff over the telephone. On cross-examination she explained that her daughter did the talking, and that she did n0^ -^ear plaintiff’s voice, and only knew he was at the other end of the line from what her daughter, who was at the telephone, had said. Thereupon defendant moved that “the witness’ testimony as to telephone conversation of the daughter” be stricken, stating the grounds. The motion was overruled and rightly so, for the plaintiff in his testimony admitted having talked over the telephone with a woman who might have been defendant’s daughter at about that time. No other conversation over the telephone was alluded to during the trial, and both witnesses say the subject-matter was a sick or dying cow. The jury might have inferred that the conversation spoken of by plaintiff was that of which Mrs. Krutzfeldt testified, and, if so, her account of what her daughter said over the telephone was competent evidence, and could not properly have been stricken on motion. Had this motion been limited to her testimony of what defendant had said, it must have been sustained. There was no error. [720] 4 Animals-statutorycare: reguiations. [719] IV. Exception is taken to the omission of -the court to submit the issues raised in the second count of the peti [720] tion to the jury. The allegations with respect to the agreement to rent the field and care for the cattle and negligent failure to comply therewith were the same as in the first count, and, in addition thereto, That said defendant willfully or negligently did deprive said cattle of necessary sustenance, and did willfully or negligently unnecessarily fail to provide the same with proper food and shelter, and did willfully, or negligently unnecessarily fail to protect said cattle from the weather during the month of December, 1909, and that, by reason of the acts and omissions of the defendant as above stated in relation to said cattle, they were caused unjustifiable pain, distress, and suffering, and that four of said cattle during the time that the same were in the possession of said defendant were thereby injured and caused to die on account of such acts and omissions of the defendant in relation to said cattle; that the acts and omissions of the defendant in relation to said cattle consisted in defendant keeping them in certain fields or parts of his stalk field during said time which had been pastured to such an extent, and which was in such a condition that said cattle could not get enough sustenance therein to sustain life; that said defendant did not furnish any shelter or allow them to run to said straw pile or clover stack during said time. Plainly enough, if defendant, had undertaken to care for the cattle, he must have been responsible under the allegations of negligence for any injuries resulting from the acts or omissions alleged in the second count, and there was no error in so directing the jury unless, independent of any agreement to care for plaintiff’s cattle, defendant was bound to furnish said cattle food and shelter. Assuming then, as the jury must have found, that defendant merely rented his field to plaintiff conditioned only that he would turn in any cattle which might escape therefrom and that he knew the cattle were weak, without shelter or straw to lay on and with insufficient food and [721] did not furnish shelter and food for them, was he liable? Of course, he was under ho obligation to supply either under his agreement. Was he by virtue of section 4969, Code Supplement, which declares that if any person deprive of necessary sustenance or unnecessarily fail to provide the same with proper food, drdnlc, shelter or protection from the weather, or shall commit any other act or omission by which unjustifiable pain, distress, suffering or death is caused or permitted to any animal or animals, whether the acts or omissions herein contemplated be committed either maliciously, willfully or negligently, and. if any person shall knowingly permit such act or omission or shall cause or procure same to be done, he- shall be punished accordingly. If defendant did not undertake to care for the cattle, he was unde» no affirmative obligation to feed or shelter them, and therefore in allowing them to continue in the fields as their owner had placed them he can not be said to have deprived them of food or shelter. Nor do we think this statute imposes the duty to feed or shelter animals, though in need of either or both, on a stranger, even though he may be able to provide these. Only those owning or having the care or control thereof are required to provide “with proper food, drink, shelter or protection from weather,” and it was not intended to impose on others who may learn of an animal’s lack of proper care the duty to supply these at the peril of being punished by the criminal laws of the state. There was no prejudicial error, and the judgment is affirmed.