Boyles v. Monongahela Street Railway Co.
Boyles v. Monongahela Street Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This case and the eases of Rieber v. Monongahela St. Ry. Co. and Wagner v. Same, Nos. 138 and 139, April term, 1902, arise out of the same accident, were tried together in the court below and argued together here. They involve a single question, which is precisely the same in each case, — was defendant entitled to binding instructions ? This question was raised by a prayer for instruction to the jury which was refused and which refusal constitutes the only alleged error.
The plaintiffs were all pleasure riders in a grocery delivery wagon belonging to Mr. Boyles, of Braddock, in whose family they were visitors. The wagon was driven by W. H. H. Esler, on the right-hand track of defendant’s street railway on Woodstock avenue going toward Pittsburg. The testimony of the witnesses of the plaintiffs presented for the consideration of the jury the following allegations: The wagon in which the plaintiffs were riding was followed by a car of defendant going in the same direction, on the same track. The gong of the follow, ing car was sounded, indicating the desire of the motorman for a clear track. The avenue at the right of the track was depressed and had loose stones and other débris, so that it was difficult, if not practically impossible, to turn in that direction. The driver of the wagon wished to enter Elsmere avenue, which was opposite and to the left of the point Avhere he then was. A car \vas coming on the left-hand track 250 to 275 feet distant, by actual measurement, subsequently made. It was at the time ascending a slight grade which changed in a short distance to a descending grade. The driver said in his testimony, in ref
The testimony of plaintiff’s witnesses was contradicted by those of the defendant as to all material points relating to defendant’s negligence, but the court below could not say, nor can we say, that the contradiction was conclusive. There was undoubtedly room for the jury to exercise its prerogative as to two questions of fact: 1. Was the speed of the car which caused the accident excessive? 2. Was the motorman alert and attentive and did he have his car under proper control ?
This is a much stronger case than Gress v. Braddock, etc., St. Railway Co., 14 Pa. Superior Ct. 87, and its submission to the jury, under all our cases in Pennsylvania, fully justified.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.