Jackson v. Philadelphia Traction Co.
Jackson v. Philadelphia Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The body of Mrs. Jackson was found lying on the street at the intersection of Sansom and Twenty-second streets, Phila delphia, where the accident occurred, and it was there that she fell from the car. This was testified to by her husband who was riding in an express wagon on Sansom street west of Twenty-second, and about seventy-five feet distant, when, as the car passed up on Twenty-second, crossing Sansom, he saw a woman fall from the car. • This is what he said: “ I saw the car coming at full speed and about the center, as near as I could judge, of Sansom street, I saw a lady go out the side, and Mr.
On the part of the defendant, however, there were two witnesses, both of them passengers, who saw her after the collision and before the fall, and at the instant before the fall. One of them, Thomas Smith, was asked: “ Q. At what time, if at any time, did you see this lady who was finally injured ? A. When I was standing on the footboard, I looked towards the rear of the car and saw this lady standing up between two seats, standing on the floor of the car, with a market basket on her arm. Q. And what if anything did you say or did you hear anybody else say to her between Walnut and Sansom streets?' A. I heard somebody warn her, tell her to sit down, to keep her seat. Q. What did she do, if anything, that you observed after that ? A. After that I faced forward and stepped off into the street; just as my foot touched the street, I heard a crash behind me, looked around, and the lady was in the street with her basket lying in the street. Q. A crash of what ? A. A crash of breaking glass.”
The other witness, William R. McAdam, also a passenger, was asked: “ Q. Did you see this lady, the plaintiff here, or any other ladies on that car do any particular thing ? A. I saw a lady in front of me, and after we passed the corner of Chestnut —Q. Walnut street?- A. Twenty-second and Walnut streets; I think the lady was standing up. Q. What did she do ? A. I did not take any particular notice at that time. Q. What did you see her do afterwards ? A. I did not see her do anything. I was not watching her then. Q. What part of the car was she standing on ? A. Immediately in front of her seat; it seemed as if she had just raised up. Q. Did you notice anything about
These five persons, the plaintiff, her husband, Rothfuss, Smith and McAdam, are all the witnesses who testify to the fact of the fall. It must be borne in mind that the plaintiff was in the car uninjured, and in no more danger of injury than any other passenger, after the car had left Walnut street, and after the collision with the cart. The effect of whatever occurred on Walnut street, and up to and after the collision, had transpired and no one was injured. fThe rapid progress of the car had been arrested and it was under control. The injuries inflicted by the collision did not affect the plaintiff. At the moment of her fall the car was in quite moderate motion, and stopped entirely within two or three of its own lengths. How then is it possible to hold the defendant responsible in damages for the plaintiff’s fall? Where is there any evidence of negligence which caused her fall? Neither she nor any of her witnesses gave any explanation as to how or why it occurred. They do not prove any act of negligence by which it was occasioned. It is of no consequence to inquire as to the action of the motorman or conductor on Walnut street, or at or before the collision, because those matters had all passed and the plaintiff was uninjured. So far as the testimony on her side of the case goes nothing but the fact of her fall was proved. No evidence was given of any act or omission which induced her fall. But when the testimony of the other two witnesses is examined there is no difficulty in accounting for the fall. They both say that she was standing on her feet on the floor of the car, and one of them says she had' a market basket on her arm.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Abbie E. Jackson v. The Philadelphia Traction Company
- Cited By
- 3 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Negligence — Evidence— Contributory negligence. In an action against a street railway company to recover damages for personal injuries resulting to plaintiff, a woman, from her falling from an open street car, it appeared that at the time of the accident plaintiff was riding in an open summer car with seats running lengthwise across the car. Some time previous to the accident the car was running rapidly, and, at a point two hundred and thirty feet from where the accident occurred, it collided with a cart and mule, but at the point of the accident it was under control and going at a moderate speed. Witnesses for the plaintiff testified that they saw her fall from the car, but gave no evidence of any act or omission which induced her fall. The uncontradicted testimony of witnesses for the defendant was, in effect, that at the time of the accident plaintiff was standing at the end of the seat, with a market basket on her arm, although she had been warned to keep her seat. Held,, (1) that there was no evidence of defendant’s negligence; (2) that plaintiff was at least guilty of contributory negligence; and (8) that binding instructions should have been given for the defendant.