McCullough v. Oregon Short Line Railroad

STRAUP, J. This action is brought to recover damages for the destruction of plaintiff’s barn by fire alleged to have been caused by defendant’s negligence in permitting sparks of fire to escape from its locomotive operated by it on its track near by. The plaintiff had judgment. The defendant appeals. The chief complaint made is this: The court charged the jury: [339] 1 “You are.further instructed that it is incumbent upon the railroad company to avail itself of the best mechanical contrivances and inventions in known practical use Avhich are effectual in preventing the burning’ of private property by the escaping sparks and coal from its engines. If you find that the defendant company has failed to do so, it is liable for injury to the plaintiff ■caused by the failure of said defendant to use them.” That, the defendant urges, gave the jury a wrong test or measure of duty. We think the complaint is well founded. In defense of the charge the plaintiff cites 2 Rorer on Railroads, pp. 791-795, and cases there cited; 2 Thompson’s Com’s. Neg. (2d Ed.) sections 2231, 2232; Watts v. N. C. Rd. Co., 23 Nev. 154, 44 Pac. 423, 46 Pac. 52, 726, 62 Am. St. Rep. 772; Matzgar v. C., M. & St. P. Ry. Co., 76 Iowa, 387, 41 N. W. 49, 14 Am. St. Rep. 224; C. & A. R. Rd. Co. v. Pennell, 94 Ill. 448. We think the cited authorities and cases do not support the charge. They do not, as does the charge, lay down an absolute duty to furnish “the best mechanical contrivances and inventions in known practical use,” but the dirty to use reasonable and ordinary care to equip locomotives with the most approved known practical appliances in general use. Even the deduction which counsel for the respondent themselves make from the cited cases does not support the charge. They say: “We submit that the' true rule in this respect is that the railroad companies are charged by law with the use of reasonable care and diligence in the construction of its locomotives, with the operation of its road, with the employment of agents, with caring for its right of way, etc., and, as an incident to the use of reasonable care in the operation of its road, it is charged by law with the duty to provide and equip its engines in which fire is impounded with the best' and most approved me-' chanieal appliances in known practical use for the prevention of the escape of unnecessary fire from its engines.” They thus recognize that the duty imposed is to use reasonble •care and diligence to equip locomotives “with the best and most approved mechanical appliances,” etc. Rut that is not [340] what the charge declares. It states “that it is incumbent upon the railroad company to avail itself of the best mechanical contrivances and inventions in known practical use,” and that, if it “fail to do so, it is liable for the injury” caused by such failure. Such a charge in effect makes the defendant an insurer and liable without averment or proof of negligence, which is not the law. The law generally on the subject is that a railroad company is required to use all reasonable care and dilgence to- procure and equip its locomotives with the most approved or effective modem practical appliance in general use for preventing the escape of sparks of fire. 33 Cyc. 1332; 3 Elliott on Railroads (2d Ed.) section 1224; 2 Thomp. Com. Neg. (2d Ed.) section 2232. 2 Another assignment relates to this: A witness called by the defendant testified that he lived near by the fire. When his attention was called to it, he was in bed. He arose, dressed, and went to the first. When he got there, “the main part (the barn) was all on fire, and the fire was well over the lean.” He further testified that there was no. perceptible breeze, and that “the flames would go almost straight up and gradually float off to the north;” and that when he arrived he saw present the plaintiff and three others. Then he was asked by defendant’s counsel: “Q. State whether or not you heard any conversation concerning the fii*e at the time you went over there- and saw Mr. Swenson, Mr. McCullough, and Mr. Eosevear and the man from the ear ? A. Yes, sir. Q. State what it was ?” This was objected to as being incompetent, irrelevant and hearsay. The objection was sustained. The defendant contends it was entitled to the answer under the res gestae rule. We think not. We do not see anything made to appear to bring “the conversation” referred to within the rule, either as to what main and pertinent thing it tended to characterize or explain or as to its spontaneity. Because of the error in the charge the judgment is reversed, and the case remanded for a new trial. Costs to the appellant. McCAETY, C. J., and FEIGN, J., concur.