Daley v. Port Jervis, Monticello & New York Railroad

Majority

p. 1011

DALEY v. PORT JERVIS, M. & N. Y. R. CO.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department

July 14, 1894.)

Headnote

Carriers—Injuries to Passengers Entering Car.

Where a person, while entering defendant’s railroad car, which was standing at its customary place to receive passengers, was injured by the sudden jerking of the car, the question of defendant’s negligence was properly submitted to the jury.

Appeal from circuit court, Sullivan county.

Action by James Daley, as administrator of William H. Daley, deceased, against the Port Jervis, Monticello & New York Railroad Company. There was a judgment in favor of plaintiff, and defendant appeals.

Affirmed.

Argued before MAYHAM, P. J., and PUTNAM and HERRICK, JJ.

Howell, Parshall & Schofield (Wm. A. Parshall, of counsel), for appellant.

John W. Lyon, for respondent.

The plaintiff, with his wife and infant child, went to the depot of the defendant, and purchased a ticket for his wife, shortly before 6 o’clock in the evening, the train which they were to take being scheduled to start at 6 o’clock. After purchasing the ticket, they proceeded to the platform, and there found a car standing with doors open, apparently ready to receive passengers. -He and his wife were both accustomed to riding upon the train in question. It was about the time that it was scheduled to start, and the car stood at the usual place. Other passengers were there, taking the car. The wife entered the car; following her was another lady, not a member of plaintiff’s party; then came the plaintiff, with a basket and his infant child; he lifted the child upon the platform of the car, and started to get upon it himself, when the car was jerked forward, and the child thrown off, sustaining injuries from which it died. It seems to me that the defendant was clearly guilty of negligence, for, the car being in its accustomed position at the platform, open, apparently ready to receive passengers, it was an invitation to the plaintiff to board the train. The judgment should be affirmed. There is no special principle of law involved which calls for an opinion; the facts are such as to clearly require a submission to a jury, and their finding should not be disturbed. All concur.