Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. v. Jesse

Opinion op the Court by Judge Nunn Affirming. Appellee, Jesse, was an employee of tbe appellant, Railway Company, as a section hand, in Floyd County, but had, with the other section hands, occasionally served with the crew on the work train. In September, 1912, while in service with the work train, he received the injuries complained of, and brought this suit to recover [451] $3,000, claiming that the injuries were the result of negligence of appellant and its agents and servants in charge of the work train. This work train carried two or three carloads of steel rails which the men were unloading along the track near Prestonsburg. It seems the railroad company was engaged in taking up old rails, and putting down new and larger ones, and the train would move along slowly so that the rails could be lifted over the side of the cars at about the place where they were used in relaying the track. There was a crane and derrick on one car, and with this they would pick up the rails with a steam hoist, and lower them on each side of the car at the places needed. In doing this the work train, of course, occupied the main track, and, in advance of the coming of the regular scheduled trains, the crew would board the work train so that it could take a siding at or near Prestonsburg, and give a clear track. The duties of appellee, Jesse, and another workman named Musick were to guide the rails after they had been lifted by the derrick, and by ropes tied to the end of the derrick, they would pull the rails clear of the car so that they could be lowered to the ground at the right place. From two to three rail lengths, that is, from 60 to 90 feet of where Jesse stood on the ground to lower these rails, there was a mail crane. The purpose of this apparatus was to place mail sacks so that they could be taken by moving trains. At all times except when mail trains were due and when it was intended to use this crane, it was nothing more than a straight post situated about four feet from the track. When it carried mail for delivery to the trains, there were two arms hinged to it, and they were pulled out from the post at right angles to it, so that they extended very close to the track. Between these two arms the mail sack was suspended. When the mail crane was in this position there was not sufficient room for one on the side of a moving car to pass it without injury. The work train had gone into the siding at Prestonsburg, where they learned that the passenger train was about thirty minutes late. At this time there was not a mail sack on the crane, and therefore the arms of it were folded back against, and in line with the post, and in no way interfered with or endangered the workmen who perchance might ride or swing on the outside of the moving work train. Finding that thirty minutes more time [452] could be utilized in unloading rails, tbe conductor arranged with tbe engineer to back tbe train to its place of work. The conductor was to stay on tbe track well in advance of the engine so that be could bear tbe passenger train when it whistled at Cliff, a station several miles away from Prestonsburg. In this way be planned to give tbe signal to tbe engineer, and have ample time to get tbe work train into tbe siding, clearing tbe main track. Some time during this thirty minutes, tbe postman, or some person, pulled down tbe arms of tbe mail crane, and suspended a mail sack between them. Appellee did not know that this bad been done, nor does any other witness testify concerning it. While tbe work train and tbe crew were thus engaged, appellee claims that without any signal or warning from any one to him, tbe train suddenly started, and, pursuant to instructions and tbe custom prevalent, it was bis duty to stay with tbe train. For that reason, be dropped the guide rope ran and caught bold of tbe moving train by band bold, placing bis foot in tbe stirrup on tbe side. All witnesses agree that tbe train was running from four to six miles an hour, and appellee says he was endeavoring to get aboard tbe car. It was tbe ordinary steel “Gondola” or coal car. Before be could get in tbe clear, as be testifies, tbe train ran 60 or 90 feet and beyond tbe mail crane. His bead struck tbe arms of tbe crane or sack. Tbe sack was knocked off, but appellee was able to bold on until be could get off tbe train without further injury. Tom Musick, who was working with him, and using tbe other guide rope, was at tbe other end of tbe ear. As be passed tbe mail crane be noticed tbe mail sack lying on tbe ground. Tbe arms of their own force bad gone back into place against tbe post. He passed without injury, but did not know that appellee bad come in contact with it, or bad been hurt. In a few moments appellee was observed to be off a little ways from tbe track, and the train men came to bis relief. Tbe side.-,of bis bead was bruised, and a bole cut in tbe lobe of'bis ear. These external injuries were of minor importance, and soon .healed. Appellee claims that it has affected bis bearing, .and in that way given him a permanent injury. Tbe instructions of tbe lower court submitted tbe case to tbe jury on tbe question as to whether those in charge of tbe train gave any signal or warning that tbe train was about to start, or whether appellee received any notice [453] thereof. The jury returned a verdict in- his favor for $500. Some of the witnesses swear that the conductor and section foreman notified the crew to throw in the lines, secure the derrick, and get aboard. Appellee denies that he heard any such warning, and no witness attempts to bring the notice home to him. In fact, we think the weight of the evidence supports the idea that such warning was not given. Those in charge of the train were trying to utilize every minute of spare time for work, and the conductor, from his own evidence, was taking a chance of hearing the on-coming passenger train’s whistle at the next station. As soon as he heard it or became aware that the passenger train was nearby, he signaled the engineer, and the train immediately started without taking time to let the employes get aboard safely. Appellee admits that he knew the position and use of the mail crane, but he did not know that the mail sack had been put upon it, or that the arms of it had been extended toward the track. Appellant insists that a peremptory instruction should have been given, but we are of the opinion that the evidence was sufficient to take the case to the jury on the question as to whether those in charge of the train negligently failed to give the employes notice or warning in time for them to get aboard. Appellant complains that the damages allowed are excessive, and we are informed by its brief, that since the trial, and very soon after it, appellee recovered his hearing, and has been able to do his accustomed amount of work. If this was a trial de novo, we could consider the facts which the brief disclose. On the trial below, appellee’s statement with reference to his. injury, and the permanency of it went uncontradicted. Another objection is that one of the jurors on his voir dire examination concealed the fact of liis relationship with appellee, aind did not tell that he and appellee were guests at the same house, George Smith’s, -the night before. An affidavit by appellant’s counsel is made a part of his motion for a new trial, and- from it we discover that Mart Smith, one of the jurors, in answer to appellant’s counsel, stated that he was not related to appellee. The affidavit shows that Mart Smith is a brother of one George Smith, and that George Smith is the husband of a sister of appellee’s wife. We think the jury [454] man was well within the range of truth when he gave a negative answer to the inquiry. No inquiry was made as to his whereabouts the night before. C. R. & B. Co. v. Roberts, 18 S. E., 315. Appellant also insists that there is a fatal variance between the pleading and proof. The negligence set up in the petition is, that while appellee was engaged as a workman on the train, and while holding to a line busily engaged in unloading steel rails, and without notice or warning of any kind, the engineer in charge of the train “recklessly, negligently and without regard to the safety or welfare of this plaintiff, and without signal, notice or warning of any kind, caused the train to jerk backward from the position in which this plaintiff was standing, and so carelessly and wantonly jerked and moved said train, that it caused plaintiff’s head and neck to be violently crushed against a mail crane standing near the track, etc.” This would be a serious objection, but it is apparent from the answer that the appellant was not mislead, for it corrects appellee’s error in stating his case, and explains that instead of plaintiff being at work on the train, he “wilfully jumped from the ground onto the side of a moving car by putting his feet in an iron stirrup, and holding on to the side of the car while it was in motion, and nearby the mail crane, and exposed himself to the danger of being struck by same while the car was in motion, when by getting up into the car he could hqve placed himself beyond all danger.” The answer then charges that plaintiff’s injury was due to his carelessly riding outside of the car instead of getting into it, and thereby necessarily exposing himself to the mail crane. Plaintiff by reply accepts the correction, other than the negligence which defendant alleged, and he further says “that he was not given time sufficient or any opportunity to get into the car, that the car was moved suddenly and without notice to this plaintiff.” From this state of the pleadings it will readily be seen that appellant had no misconception of the character of negligence relied upon for recovery, and issue was joined and the proof heard upon the question as to whether warning was given that the train would start in order that appellee and the train crew could safely get aboard. Perceiving no reversible error, the judgment is affirmed.