Spinner v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad — 4 Thomp. & Cook 595

Majority

p. 595

Spinner v. New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, appellant.

Headnote

Railroads—fences and gales—Negligence—of servants of railroad company.

Plaintiff’s cattle strayed from the highway through a farm-gate in a fence huilt by a railroad company alongside its roadway on to the track, and were killed by a passing train. It appeared that one of the hinges of the gate was loose, so that it was somewhat difficult but not impossible to close it, and it was claimed that the railroad company was accustomed to use this gate for its own business. Held, (1) that there was'a substantial compliance with the statutes relating to railroad fences (Laws 1850, chap. 140, § 44; 1854, chap. 282, § 8); and (2) that if it was the fact that the company were accustomed to use the gate, and the gate was left open through the negligence of any of the servants of the company, such negligence would be that of the company, for which it would be responsible.

Appeal from a judgment in favor of plaintiff in an action tried at the circuit. The action was brought in Herkimer county by John D. Spinner against the defendant, to recover for injuries to plaintiff’s cattle while on defendant’s track. The cattle strayed from the public highway in upon the track, through an open, farm-gate. erected by defendant in a fence alongside its track for the use of one Farrington, who owned land adjoining the roadway. The case was tried at the Herkimer circuit before Mr. Justice Morgan and a jury. The court submitted only the question of damages to the jury, and reserved the other questions in the case for further consideration. A ease was settled and brought to argument before the same judge at special term. He subsequently made his decision thereon, ordering judgment for plaintiff upon the verdict, from which judgment defendant appealed. ''

There was evidence given to show that the defendant’s agents and servants were accustomed to use the gate for the purposes of entrance to and exit from one of its freight depots, and that persons having freight business with defendant also used it. It also appeared that one of the hinges of the gate was loose, rendering it somewhat difficult to close such gate. It did not clearly appear by whom the gate had been left open on the night when plaintiff’s cattle strayed through it. The judge, however, held that the neglect of the company to repair the gate was one cause of it being left open, and that

p. 596

it was the duty of the company to keep the gate in repair, and that having failed in that duty they were liable for the consequences of its being left open.

S. W. Jackson, for appellant.

Amos R. Prescott, for respondent.

The statutes of 1850 (chap. 140, § 44) and 1854 (chap. 282, § 8), requiring railroad companies to erect and maintain fences on the side of their road, with openings or gates or bars therein, for the use of the proprietors of the land adjoining their railroad, we think, was sufficiently complied with in this instance. The defendants had erected, constructed and maintained the proper fence and gate at the place where the accident occurred.

The accident was not caused by the omission to erect or maintain the fence or gate, but from the omission to keep shut or closed the gate erected for the use of the proprietor of the adjoining land.

The gate was not out of repair, so far as to furnish any just ground or pretense to hold that the company had failed or omitted to erect and maintain a proper fence and gate.

Whether the defendants were responsible for the killing and injuring the plaintiff’s cattle, depended, we think, entirely upon the question whether the said gate was at the time used by them in their business, or by their agents, or persons doing business with said company, for access to their depot or road from the highway, and was left open at the time when the injury occurred, by or through the carelessness or negligence of the said defendants, or their agents or employees.

If the defendants were accustomed to use the gate in question for their accommodation, or for the accommodation or convenience of persons doing business with them at their depot,'at that point on their railroad, and on the night in question it was left unclosed by or through the carelessness of any of their agents, such negligence would be the negligence of the defendants, and for which they would be duly responsible in this action.

This question, we think, should have been submitted to the jury. There should, therefore, be a new trial, with costs to abide the event.

New trial ordered.