Hess v. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Hess v. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This action was brought by John E. Hess for the injuries he received in the fire described in the case of Trexler v. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, ante, pp. 198 and 207. All of the questions raised upon the defendant’s appeal in that case are raised in this case; but in this case there is the additional question whether the court ought to have charged the jury that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in not leaving the car before his injuries were inflicted. We are of opinion that this was properly a question for the jury and not for the court. The plaintiff testified that if help had come when he called he could have put out the fire and saved the horse and himself too. Until the engine was attached to the car he was actively engaged in that effort. He testified that he had no notice that the car was to be hauled away and that while this was being done he was trying to get the blanket, which was on fife, off the horse. He testified further that the car was being moved at such a rapid rate it was unsafe for him to
But for the error in the submission to the jury of the testimony relative to the remark of the unknown bystander this case was well tried. We have discussed that question in the Trexler case. The remarks apply with equal force in this case.
.Judgment reversed and a venire facias de novo awarded.
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- Negligence — Railroads—Drover—Fire—Contributory negligence — Position of sudden danger. In an action against a railroad company to recover damages for personal injuries, it appeared that plaintiff was injured in the burning of a cattle car in which he was riding with a stallion. He testified that when he discovered the fire he called for help, and that if help had come when he called he could have put out the fire and saved the horse and himself too; that he had no notice that the car was to be hauled away from the place where it was standing, and that while it was being moved he was trying to get the blanket, which was on fire, off the horse. He testified further that the car was being moved at such a rapid rate, that it was unsafe for him to jump. There was evidence that the fire was due to the negligence of the defendants' servants. Held, that the question of plaintiff's contributory negligence was for the jury. Where a person, without fault on his part, is placed in a position of danger or embarrassment through the negligence of another, he will not be held guilty of contributory negligence for failure to use all possible means for his safety; if he acts in good faith and his conduct under all the circumstances is that of a man of ordinary prudence, he is not chargeable with negligence, and whether he did so act is a question for the jury.