McGoran v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
McGoran v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Opinion of the Court
This is an action of trespass on the case for negligence, brought by William McGoran, in his lifetime, against the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad *388 Company, for damages for injuries received by him on the 18th day of November, 1899, while crossing a track of the defendant in Pawtucket, in consequence of his wagon being struck by a train owned and operated by the defendant.
On the second day of August, 1901, the plaintiff died, and the executrix of his will thereupon entered her appearance in the case.
At the trial of the case, the presiding justice, on the conclusion of the plaintiff’s testimony, directed the jury to return a verdict for the defendant.
The evidence shows that at the time the railroad was built, in 1875, the way which is now Webster street, with the land through which it ran, belonged to Terrence Daly, who in his conveyance to the railroad company reserved a right to himself, his heirs, and assigns, to use this way over the tracks which were to be laid down by the railroad company; that Daly sold lots to people along the street, and these people used the way; that in 1893 the street was laid out as a highway by the city of Pawtucket.
There is no evidence that the consent of the railroad commissioner was given to the establishment of a grade crossing at the place in question, or that his consent to the same was ever asked until June, 1899; and it appears that, after a hearing, the railroad commissioner, on December 30th, 1899, refused such consent. The evidence is that the crossing was used by Daly and his assigns, and by others, from the time, the *389 railroad was built to the time of the accident; that there were fences partly across the street on each side of the railroad, with gates, said gates being from ten to fourteen feet in length, sufficient to admit of the passage of only one team at a time; that these gates were usually open, but were occasionally shut; that there was a plank on each side of the outside rails.
There was also evidence that an order was made October 21st, 1896, by the city council of Pawtucket, that flagmen should be provided at all grade crossings within the city limits.
The plaintiff contends that the company was negligent in not having a flagman at the crossing in compliance with the order of the city council.
The statute then in force, chapter 187 of the General Laws, provided: “Section 47. Every railroad corporation, or trustees of such corporation, operating a railroad within the state, shall cause flagmen to be placed wherever railroads cross public highways, whenever in the opinion of the town council it is necessary for the safety of the public.”
This, however, applied only to crossings over public highways. The establishment-’of a^public highway across! the railroad at grade could only be made with the consent of the railroad commissioner, expressed in writing. In the absence of such consent, the railroad company would be under no obligation to maintain a flagman at the crossing.
The verdict for the defendant was therefore rightly directed.
Petition for new trial denied, and case remanded to the Common Pleas Division with direction to enter judgment upon the verdict.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Margaret McGoran, Ex’x., vs. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
- Status
- Published