Hatzenbuehler v. Illinois Central Railroad

Mr. Presiding Justice McBride delivered the opinion of the court. 3. Appeal and error, § 1410*—when findings not disturbed on appeal. Where the evidence was conflicting, but sufficient to warrant the findings, and such findings were not against the manifest weight of the evidence, held that the findings should not be disturbed. 4. Negligence, § 90*—necessity of lack of contributory negligence. The exercise of due care by a decedent for his own safety at the time he sustained the injuries from which his death resulted is vitally important to a recovery of damages for such death. 5. Death, § 41*—when presumed that deceased was exercising due care at time of receiving injuries. Evidence by two witnesses who had known plaintiffs intestate for some time, and had associated with him, that he was a careful man, valued his life highly, and was accustomed to look out for trains before crossing railroad tracks, held to create a presumption that he was in the exercise of due care for his own safety at the time he sustained the injuries complained of. 6. Railroads, § 667*—what is duty of person attempting to go upon track. It is the duty of a person attempting to pass upon a railroad track to ascertain if there are any trains approaching. 7. Railroads, § 738*—when evidence shows lack of excuse for not looking before passing upon railroad track. Evidence held to show nothing to excuse plaintiffs intestate from looking and listening before passing upon defendant’s railroad track where he was injured by a passing train. 8. Railroads, § 678*—when person attempting to cross track is guilty of contributory negligence. Where there was nothing to excuse a person who was attempting to cross a railroad track from looking and listening for approaching trains, and had he looked and listened he could undoubtedly have, seen and heard the approach of the train which struck him, held that his failure to look and listen was contributory negligence. 9. Death, § 41*—when presumption as to exercise of due care is overcome. Where the only evidence that plaintiffs intestate was in the exercise of due care for his own safety at the time he sustained the injuries complained of was as to his habits, and the facts and circumstances proven showed he could have seen and heard the approach of the train which injured him and did not, held that the presumption created by the evidence as to his habits that he was in the exercise of due care was overcome.