Shields v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad
Shields v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad
Opinion of the Court
—James Murphy, the plaintiff’s testator, had been in the employment of the defendant for many years, in its depot yard at Poughkeepsie. His general duties were those of brakeman and switchman in the management of the coal cars on and about the coal shute and in the yard at that place. He and others were engaged in gathering up the coal under the shute which fell upon the ground while engines were taking coal. The coal thus falling upon the ground was loaded upon cars and taken upon the shute and dumped. There was a trap in the bottom of each car to which a chain was attached, which by means of a crank could be wound up and then hold the trap in its place ; and when a car was to be emptied of coal this crank was turned and the trap let down and the coal thus discharged. In January,
It appeared that about two weeks before the accident one of the links in the chain was broken and the chain was mended, by employees of the defendant engaged in and about the same business with the deceased, by means of wires wound around the two links where the chain broke and thus fastening them together; and in that condition the car was subsequently used. About two days before the accident it was discovered that the trap could not be drawn up flush with the bottom of the car, and thus the coal would drop out, and then the employees of the defendant in the presence of the deceased put boards over the trap to prevent the coal from running out, and thus the car was being used at the time of the= accident. Ho one saw the deceased at the precise time of the accident, and it is only an inference that he went upon the top of the car in the discharge of his duties at the time the chain gave way and he fell through.
It is claimed on the part of the plaintiff that the chain was imperfectly repaired by the wire wound around the links, and that because of its imperfect condition it gave way, causing the testator’s death; and the defendant was held liable for a breach of its duty to furnish the deceased with a safe car for his use.
We think that upon the undisputed evidence the plaintiff should have been non-suited. It is undisputed in the evidence that the deceased had the immediate charge of the movement of the cars with which he was engaged. There were cars in perfect condition always in the yard ready for use, and he had the selection of the cars to be used. He was not bound to use an imperfect car, but could at any time select one in proper condition for his use, and it was his busi
He was cautioned not to use any cars that were damaged in any way, and it was made his especial duty to examine the cars, and not to use any that were imperfect, if he found any such, but to send them to the shop for repairs. These instructions to the deceased were repeated from time to time, and thus it was made his business to examine the cars, and see that imperfect cars were not used. Another witness called on the part of the defendant, who was its agent having charge of all its business at Poughkeepsie, testified that he
The judgment should, therefore, be reversed, and a new trial granted, costs to abide event.
All concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.