Simmons v. Poughkeepsie & Eastern Railway Co.

This action was brought to recover damages for negligence in producing the death of a horse, which had strayed upon defendant’s tracks, and was there run down by a train operated by defendant. The recovery is sought to be sustained upon two theories: First, that defendant was guilty of negligence in opening a gate leading from plaintiff’s premises to defendant’s tracks; second, that defendant was guilty of negligence in not acting with ordinary care and prudence after it discovered that the horse was upon its tracks. The case was submitted to the jury by the learned court upon both theories, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff.

Substantial obstacles stand in the way of supporting the verdict thus rendered. The case established no more than these facts: Plaintiff’s farm lay on each side of the railroad track, which ran north and south through it. A crossing was maintained over the tracks, and provision made for gates in the fence on either side. On the east side was a barn, where the horse was fed and kept during the winter. This side was separated from the tracks by a fence, with a gate therein, erected and maintained by the defendant. On the west side there was an opening for a gate, but none had been put up, respecting which there was dispute as to whether defendant had discharged its duty in this regard. Plaintiff testified : That the horse was fed on the east side, at the barn. That at the time of the accident the gate on this side was open. Who opened it, or when it was opened, there is no proof, and plaintiff stated that he did not know how the gate came to be open. He fed the horses, had no men working for him, and did not notice about the gate this morning. The fence had been built something over a year, and the gate had been used by defendant’s men, who went through it, sometimes,' to the barn, for shelter from storms, and to eat their dinner. But plaintiff was not able to state that he had seen any of defendant’s employes go through the gate within a

As we have seen, there was no proof that defendant opened the gate, and, consequently, no basis for charging it with negligence in this regard. So far as the case shows, defendant had discharged its obligation by building a suitable fence, and there was no proof that the fence and gate erected were not in all respects sufficient 'The case is therefore brought within the decision in Diamond Brick Co. v. New York Cent. & H. R. R. Co., 58 Hun, 396 ; 34 St. Rep. 637 . The theory of the submission was error, and defendant was entitled to the charge requested. The proximate cause of the accident was leaving the gate open on the east side, and for this it was not shown that defendant was responsible. This view renders unnecessary of consideration the obligation of defendant respecting the opening on the west side.

If we could see our way clear to upholding the recovery upon the first theory, there is a fatal obstacle in the second. The measure of defendant’s obligation in this regard was defined by the court to be usual and ordinary care. Such is not the rule. On the contrary, assuming that defendant was not responsible for the open gate through which the horse strayed, it could only be made liable by the reckless, wanton, or malicious conduct of its agents in running the horse down. Boyle v. Railroad Co., 39 Hun, 171 ; id. 115 N. Y. 636 ; 23 St. Rep. 731 . The facts of the present case, in this regard, are in all respects weaker than were presented in the case cited, where a recovery based on this ground was refused. Tins point was presented by the motion for a nonsuit,— not exactly and with precision, yet sufficient to raise it.

It follows that the judgment and order appealed from should be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to abide the event

All concur.