Magner v. Truesdale

Gilfillan, C. J. Action for negligently injuring, and causing the death of, plaintiff’s decedent, Edmund Magner. The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway, of which defendant was receiver, and in the management, runs nearly north and south upon and along Mill street, a public street in the city of Waseca, and crosses Elm street, also a public street in said city. From some distance south of Elm street the track is upon a slightly descending grade to and across that street, and to the north of it there is a switch track. Those in charge of the railway switched cars from the south side of the street by running them across to and upon the switch track, or ran them along the main track' north of the street, while the engine doing the switching ran upon the switch track to let them pass. At the time of the injury the railway employes were making, from the south to the north side of Elm street, what is called a “flying switch,” that is, one made by attaching to the car to be switched an engine giving the car a sufficient impetus, and then detaching the engine, running it ahead, out of the way, and allowing the car, with the impetus thus imparted, to run to the place desired. The engine had been detached, had run ahead, had passed deceased; and he being on the track, or very near it, the car being switched, and following the engine, struck him, and threw him down, so that [438] he was caught by the running gear, and injured so that he died. The evidence was largely devoted to the question whether, when struck, he was on, or just south of, Elm street, and whether, if within the limits of that street, he was walking along the track, or was attempting to cross it diagonally, towards the northwest. Whichever was the fact, he was, when struck, either on the track, or dangerously near to it, with his back to the approaching car. The fact is indisputable, on the evidence, that, had he looked back before he stepped on or so near' the track, he must have seen the approaching car in time to avoid it. One or two of plaintiff’s witnesses indicate that there was some fog, and that the engine threw some smoke down upon the track; but even those witnesses testify that they saw, not only the car, but the man, when they must have been at a considerable distance. There is no. evidence that he made any effort to learn if there was danger. The only evidence on the point was that he was walking along with his head down, apparently paying no attention to anything. He had lived in the city about five months; was a railroad man; section boss on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, the track of which crossed that of the Minneapolis & St. Louis within five or six hundred feet south of Elm street, — the two roads using the same depot at that place; and he must be presumed to have known the situation and danger of the Elm street crossing. The rule being that one approaching, and about to cross at, a railroad crossing, must use his senses, his sight and hearing, unless he is in some way, through no fault of his, prevented, to learn if he can make the crossing safely, and that it is negligence per se to place himself upon the track without looking and listening, when he can look or listen, and doing so would inform him of the approaching danger in time to avert it, the deceased Avas clearly guilty of such contributory negligence as must prevent a recovery. A verdict for the plaintiff could not have been sustained, and defendant was entitled to a direction to return a verdict for him. Whether the instructions which plaintiff assigns as error were strictly accurate is, in view of the evidence, merely an abstract question. No instructions of the court could change the situation, that defendant was entitled to a verdict, and as the jury rendered the [439] verdict they were bound, by the evidence, to render, any error in the instructions could have done no harm. Order affirmed. Yanderbur&h, J., took no part in the decision. (Opinion published 55 N. W. Kep. 607.)