Macy v. St. Paul & Duluth Railroad

DicKinson, J. The plaintiff recovered in this action for injuries alleged to have been received by him while acting as the defendant’s yard-master at Duluth, in September, 1882. The point chiefly urged upon this appeal is that the evidence was not such as to justify the conclusion that the accident or the injury alleged had been suffered, [201] or that the car which is said to have caused it was broken as alleged. The result of the trial as to this depended simply upon the truthfulness of the testimony, and especially of the testimony of the plaintiff, which, if worthy of credit, was unquestionably sufficient to justify the verdict. While there were circumstances of a nature to discredit the plaintiff’s testimony, yet, upon the other hand, it was not opposed in this particular by any direct evidence; and some circumstances, not disputed, tended to confirm his statement of the case. The question was properly submitted to the jury, and the verdict is justified by the evidence. It appearing that the plaintiff remained in the defendant’s service more than a year after the alleged accident and injury, without disclosing the fact, or making complaint to the defendant, it was not error to receive from the plaintiff testimony showing, as the reason for such conduct, that he was afraid of losing his position in the defendant’s service. It was admissible for the purpose of rebutting the inference suggested by the plaintiff’s conduct. Steph. Dig. Ev. c. 2, art. 9. The point that there should be no recovery because, as is said, the defendant’s car inspector at Duluth was a fellow-servant with the plaintiff, for whose negligence the defendant is not responsible, has been settled adversely to the appellant in Tierney v. Minn. & St. L. Ry. Co., 33 Minn. 311, (23 N. W. Rep. 229,) and Fay v. Minn, & St. L. Ry. Co., 30 Minn. 231, (15 N. W. Rep. 241.) The evidence is that this car was one belonging to the defendant; that it had been standing, with other cars, in the yard at Duluth some two or three days at the time of the injury suffered by the plaintiff; that it must have been broken at some time prior to that period; and that the defect was obvious upon ordinary inspection. The refusal by the court to submit to the jury the second instruction as requested by the defendant was not error, for the reason that the evidence did not tend to show any knowledge on the part of the plaintiff of the defect in the car, nor does it show it to have been his duty to make inspection so that he “could have discovered such defects.” The refusal of the fifth request was justified for the same [202] reason. The proposition stated in the requested instruction involves the fact of knowledge on the part of the plaintiff. If the injury was such as the evidence went to establish, — and this was for the jury, — the damages recovered ($2,500) cannot be said to be excessive. We must look upon the case as the jury may have found it to be, — one of serious and permanent injury to the spine, rendering the plaintiff forever incapable of performing ordinary manual labor, and subjecting him to constant pain. Order affirmed.