Fritzel v. Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western Railway Co.
Fritzel v. Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
In this action Henry Fritzel sought to recover damages for the loss of a cow killed in the operation of the Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western Railway Company. The action was begun- before a justice of the peace and upon an appeal to the district court it was tried with a jury and a verdict in favor of the plaintiff was returned. The court on the motion of defendant set aside the verdict and gave defendant a judgment for costs. Plaintiff appeals.
It appears that the railway of the defendant runs along the side of plaintiff’s farm and through the farm of his neighbor, Ed Schaake. A herd of cows belonging to plaintiff was kept in a pasture bordering on the railroad. One of his cows escaped from the pasture and wandered down a public road to a private way on the Schaake farm
The fact that the fence of the defendant may have been defective at other places is of no importance, since it was conceded the cow entered the railroad right of way through the opening left by the removal of the gate. In Adams v. A. T. & S. F. Rld. Co., supra, it was said:
“It appears that the fence between plaintiff’s land and Carey’s was defective, and that the mule jumped into Carey’s inclosure in the nighttime, and went through the gate constructed for the use and accommodation of Carey, upon the railroad track, and was killed. As his mule was a trespasser upon the Carey farm, and as the injury and loss occurred through his negligence and wrong, he is entitled to no greater rights than Carey would have, and is not entitled to recover.” (p. 165.)
The ruling was reaffirmed in Bertrand v. Railway Co., supra.
Reference is made by plaintiff to language used in Mo. Pac. Rly. Co. v. Roads, 33 Kan. 640, 7 Pac. 213, but so far as it is inconsistent with the later cases it must be regarded as modified by them.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Henry Fritzel v. The Kansas City, Kaw Valley & Western Railway Company
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- Published