New York, N. H. & H. Ry. Co. v. Kilby
Opinion of the Court
The train in question was bound from the South Terminal Boston Station to the Fall River wharf, and was made up of something like ten cars, including an emigrant car, a baggage car, and eight passenger cars, of which the two rear cars were parlor cars. Some or all of the passenger cars had modern vestibule connections. The parlor cars had vestibule connections equipped with what was called a “safety roller curtain” or “shield guard.” Ahead of the parlor cars were the passenger cars with vestibules without the safety guards. These vestibule connections are so constructed that they open a little and close again in passing from a straight line on to and off a curve, and the supposed object of the safety guard, or curtain, is to afford protection against passengers being involved in injury in passing through the passageway from car to car.
Upon the question of a passenger’s care, if a passenger was rightfully going from one part of a train to another, it would become a reasonable question for the jury whether, when a train was running on a straight track, with the vestibule connections perfect, the passenger might not, without carelessness, inadvertently be involved in injury as the train was jostled, by placing his hand on one side or the other of the vestibule 'connection, not knowing that the vestibule connections opened and closed.
In a situation like this, we think it a question for the jury, whether the vestibule arrangement does not contemplate more or less passing over the platform and more or less stopping for comfort and convenience ; and if, in passing, or while momentarily stopping, a passenger is injured, that it would be a question for the jury whether he was careless. It could not be said, we think, that the mere facts of a passenger’s passing through a vestibule connection and stopping for a moment or so for air, and while thus stopping, being jostled, undertook to steady himself by placing his hand upon the plates of the vestibule connections, which he may or may not have known opened and closed under the varying conditions of the track line, constituted negligence as a matter of law.
Now, as to the question of the railroad’s want of care. The evidence tended to show that, under vestibule connections, the face plates or
It seems that these guards were on the vestibules between the parlor cars on the train in question. That, perhaps, is of no particular importance, aside from the fact that it tended to show that they were in use by the railroad, and the use would be evidence upon the question of the railroad’s understanding that they were vestibule appliances in the direction of safety.
We do not understand that there is any rule of law, or rule of care, which would require these curtains, or guards, on parlor cars with vestibule connections and justify their non-use on ordinary passenger cars with similar vestibule connections. It would hardly do to say that a jury would be justified in holding the railroad culpable for not having safety guards on parlor car vestibules, and that it was in the exercise of due care in not having them upon ordinary passenger cars with like vestibule connections in the same train.
As has already been pointed out, we see no view in which this case could have been ruled under principles of law, one way or the other, on either of the questions of the plaintiff’s or the defendant’s care. We think, in both aspects, that they were questions of fact under the circumstances, and that none of the authorities cited sustain the claim that it should have been ruled as law either that the injury resulted from the plaintiff’s carelessness or that the defendant was in the exercise of due care. Under such view, the case was submitted to the jury under clear, definite and comprehensive instructions'which it would be hard to improve upon.
The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, with interest, and the costs of this court.
c&zaFor other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numhered Digests & Indexes
<§=>EI)r other eases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes
070rehearing
On Petition for Rehearing.
We have carefully examined this petition, and are of the opinion that, independently of, and notwithstanding, any criticisms submitted to us by the petition, the substantial questions involved in the case are questions of fact for determination by the jury, and that the same were properly submitted; and we cannot interfere with the result.
The petition for rehearing is denied, and the mandate will issue forthwith.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- NEW YORK, N. H. & H. RY. CO. v. KILBY
- Status
- Published