Hanlon v. Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Co.
Hanlon v. Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff’s farm was bisected by a public road, on one
This action was brought to recover damages for the loss, and a verdict was returned in favor of the plaintiff. The sole assignment of error is to the refusal of the court below to give binding instructions to find for the defendant. There is no material conflict as to the important facts of the case. The accident occurred in broad daylight, in an open country, on a straight track, where the motorman had a clear view of the plaintiff for over 200 yards; saw him waving his arms and brandishing a stick in attempting to restrain the cows, and further, that the plaintiff’s efforts were not successful, as some of the cows escaped him and passed into the feeding lot. There is no evidence of contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff. To demand of him a higher measure of duty than was observed would be practically to prevent his use of the crossing at all. The motorman had not only a full view of all the circumstances but complete control over the directing agencies. He slowed up his car, and voluntarily approached the crossing in such a way as to cause the collision. The degree
It is only in clear cases where neither the facts nor the inferences to be drawn from them are in doubt, that the court is justified in withdrawing the question of negligence from the jury. Kroesen v. Ry. Co., 198 Pa. 26; Cohen v. Phila. & Reading Ry. Co., 211 Pa. 227, The case of Cromley v. Penna. R. R. Co., 211 Pa. 429. Harman v. Traction Co., 200 Pa. 311, on which the appellant relies, is distinctly different from this one. In that one the movement of the mules did not indicate to the motorman that they were uncontrollable, and there was nothing to indicate that he was unable to check them ; therefore there was nothing calling for increased vigilance.” In this case the motorman saw that the plaintiff was doing his best, as he states it, and failing to head off the forty hungry and impatient cows from getting over the track to their morning feed. The whole situation clearly indicated that the cows would not clear the track as the cars approached the crossing, and that reasonable care adapted to the emergency would have avoided the accident. Under the circumstances the case was properly submitted to the jury.
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.