Rottmund v. Pennsylvania Railroad
Rottmund v. Pennsylvania Railroad
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This action was brought to recover damages for injuries to the plaintiff received at a grade crossing in the city of Lancaster. After a careful examination of the evidence, we are satisfied that it was sufficient to justify the learned judge in submitting the negligence of the defendant and the contributory negligence of the plaintiff to the jury. The plaintiff’s testimony tended to show that the train which collided with the wagon was running at the rate of thirty-five or forty miles an hour, and that no notice of its approach to the crossing was given by sounding the whistle or ringing the bell. The learned counsel of the appellant is in error in saying that the plaintiff’s testimony as to the notice was entirely negative. The plaintiff himself testified that the whistle was not sounded and the bell was not rung until the train was almost upon him, and in this he was supported by at least three disinterested witnesses who testified that no such notice was given of the train’s approach to the crossing. This testimony was positive, not negative. The witnesses said that the bell was not rung and the whistle did not blow; not that they did not hear the sound of either. This was sufficient to send the case to the jury on the question of the defendant’s negligence, notwithstanding the testimony of the defendant’s witnesses who testified that the whistle blew and the bell was rung.
The learned trial judge was right in refusing to declare the plaintiff guilty of negligence as a matter of law. The plaintiff testified that as he approached the crossing he stopped, looked and listened at a point about seventy-five or one hundred feet north of the track. His view was obstructed by reason of a corn field on his right and possibly some cars on the tracks. He heard or saw no train coming in either direction. He pro
The appellant further alleges that it was error for the court to permit the reassembling of the jury to “alter and reform its verdict after it had been rendered and recorded and after the jurymen had separated;” and in denying the defendant’s request for a poll of the jury after it had reassembled. An examination of the record in the case will show that no reversible error was committed by the court under the well-established practice in this state.
In 1 Troubat & Haly’s Practice, sec. 716, it is said: “When the jury have agreed, they return to the bar, and, by their foreman, publicly give their verdict, which is recorded by the clerk in his minutes, who then reads the entry to the jury, in order that, if he has made a mistake in taking down the verdict, it may immediately be corrected. There is no verdict of any force except a public verdict, given openly in court.” This is the practice uniformly followed throughout the state so far as we are advised. All the authorities agree that the only verdict is that which the jury announce orally in court and which alone is received and recorded as the jury’s finding: Mitchell, J., in Kramer v. Kister, 187 Pa. 227.
It thus appears that the jury returned to the court room, announced their verdict orally in the proper form and that it was accepted by the court and recorded. The verdict as returned and accepted by the court was not irregular, imperfect, or irresponsive to the issue tried. As stated by the learned judge, as will be observed, the jury announced to the court a verdict “in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the sum of $7,000.” The verdict therefore was proper in form and in substance. The court did not reassemble the jury to change the verdict, but as the judge stated he desired the jury to “-make the written verdict conform to the verdict that they did actually render.” There was no occasion
The question of the right of the appellant to have the jury polled need not be considered or decided in this case. The verdict was that which was returned, accepted by the court and entered upon its minutes at 2 o’clock that afternoon. The subsequent attempt by the court to make the “written verdict” conform to that verdict was abortive, and does not affect the verdict as returned and entered upon the minutes of the court. When the jury, after having been discharged from
The assignments are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
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- Rottmund v. Pennsylvania Railroad Company
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- Negligence — Railroads—Grade crossing — “Stop, look and listen”— Evidence as to signals. 1. In a grade crossing accident case where the plaintiff’s testimony-shows that the train was running at a very high rate of speed and three witnesses for the plaintiff testify positively that the bell was not rung and the whistle did not blow, not that they did not hear the sound of either, the question of the railroad company’s negligence is for the jury, although its witnesses testify that the whistle blew and the bell was rung. 2. Where the plaintiff in such a case testifies that he stopped, looked and listened at a point about seventy-five or 100 feet from the track where the view was somewhat obstructed, but saw and heard no train, and- that he again stopped, looked and listened when his horse was about four feet from the track, and there could see the track for about 600 or 700 feet from the crossing, and not seeing nor hearing a train started across with the result that his wagon was struck in the rear by a train, the question of the plaintiff’s contributory negligence is for the jury. Practice, C. P. — Trial—Verdict—Recording verdict — Polling jury. 3. The only valid verdict is that which the jury announce orally in court, and which alone is received and recorded as the jury’s finding.- 4. Where a jury orally announce that they find a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for a sum stated, and this is duly recorded, the action of the court in reassembling the jury so as to let them make a written memorandum of their verdict which they had submitted, conform to the oral verdict previously recorded, is unnecessary and unavailing. 5. A motion to poll the jury cannot be made after the verdict has been openly announced to the court, affirmed by the jury collectively and recorded on the minutes. 6. The reassembling of the jury by the court in order to make a written verdict conform to the oral verdict previously rendered and recorded, affords no occasion for a motion to poll the jury.