Abbott v. Concord & Montreal Railroad

Supreme Court of New Hampshire
Abbott v. Concord & Montreal Railroad, 44 A. 912 (N.H. 1897)
69 N.H. 176
Pike, Parsons

Abbott v. Concord & Montreal Railroad

Opinion of the Court

Pike, J.

In order that the plaintiff should prevail it was necessary for him to prove that his injury was caused by the negligence of the defendants’ servant.

*177 The plaintiff's evidence tended to prove that the trunks were hurriedly loaded and that so many were placed upoi the forward end of the truck as to cause it to tip and throw those last loaded upon the plaintiff; and that just before the accident Woodlawn was loading trunks upon that end. Conceding the truth of this evidence (Bullard v. Railroad, 64 N. H. 27, 30), the jury could properly find that the plaintiff's injury was caused by the negligence of Woodlawn, and the motion for a nousuit was nronerlv denied.

11he~efendaiits' evidence tended to prove that it was not Woodlawn who loaded tile trunks upon the forward end of the truck, but two of the plaintiff's feliow servants. The evidence upon this point was conflicting and required to be weighed. The duty of weighing it belonged to the jury (Lucier v. Larose, 66 N. H. 141), and the motion to direct a verdict for the defend~ ants was nronerlv denied.

The question whether the verdict should be set aside as against the weight of the evidence was for the trial judge. Fuller v. Bailey, 58 N. H. 71; Merrill v. Perkins, 61 N. H. 262; Little v. Upham, 64 N. H. 279. The exception to his decision raises rio question of law, if there was evidence to justify it. The result on the motions tbr a nonsuit and to direct a verdict shows that there was such evidence.

Exceptions overruled: §udgment for [lie plaintifl

PARSONS, J., did not sit: the others concurred.

Reference

Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published