Neddo v. Village of Ticonderoga

The sidewalk on Lake George avenue, a street in-the village of Ticonderoga, was a plank walk about 4 feet wide; and, at the point where the accident happened which gives rise to-this action, a section of said plank walk, some 13 or 14 feet in length, had been taken up, to 'enable wagons to cross, carrying-stone and building materials for the erection of a building upon a lot in front of which the said plank walk had . been removed. From the top of the sidewalk to the earth where the plank walk had been removed was a space of some eight or ten inches. The grade of the street at that point was descending, and it also sloped from the sidewalk towards the street. The soil was clay. The crossing of loaded wagons over the sidewalk where the planks had bgen removed cut it into ruts. Upon the day of the accident, it Had been raining, and the .clay was wet and slippery. The plaintiff had passed back and forth several times a day fora number of days prior to the accident, over the sidewalk where the planks had been removed. On the afternoon of the 15th of August tlfé plaintiff, in company with several other females, was returning to her home from the place where she was employed, by way of the sidewalk in question. She stepped from the plank sidewalk onto that portion of the sidewalk from which the plank had been removed, took one or two steps,, slipped in the clay, and fell to the ground, and sustained injuries for which she seeks to-recover damages in this action. At the close of the testimony the court granted a motion for a nonsuit, and from the judgment entered thereon the plaintiff appeals to this court.

To maintain her action, it is necessary for the plaintiff to show the absence of contributory negligence on her part. Weston v. City of Troy, 139 N. Y. 281 ; 54 St. Rep. 493 . The burden of proof was upon her, and she is not entitled to the benefit of any presumption to establish lack of negligence on her part; and, where the circumstances point as much to negligence as to its absence, she is not entitled to recover. Wiwirowski v. L. S. & M. S. Railroad Co., 124 N. Y. 420 ; 36 St. Rep. 405 ; McDonald v. L. I.

Q. How were you walking ? A. We were walking single file when she fell. Q. At what rate were you walking ? A. We wasn’t walking very fast. Q. An ordinary walk ? A. Yes, sir. Q. Describe how you were walking? A. We were walking just as we naturally walk. We were coming home from our work, and we were walking as we would naturally walk. That is all.”

And again, upon the cross-examination: “Q. What discussion did you and the girls have, if any, in reference to this place, in going across it? A. We knew the mud was slippery, and we went across very carefully. Q. Was that talk between you and Miss Heddo and the girls ? A. Ho, sir; it was not talked, but I had it in my mind.”

The plaintiff, upon her examination, testified as follows •„ Q. How were you walking ? A. Single file. Q. How fast were you walking? A, Hot very fast; as usual. Q. An ordinary walk ? A. Yes, sir.

From this testimony, I fail to see that there is any evidence showing a lack of contributory negligence, or any fact disclosed from which tliQ jury could infer a lack of contributory negligence, on the part of the plaintiff, and a lack of such evidence is fatal to the plaintiff’s cause of action. What the witness Moses “had in her mind,” as she expressed it, had nothing to do with the plaintiff, and has no bearing upon the question of plaintiff’s conduct.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

All concur.