Erie R. v. Weber
Erie R. v. Weber
Opinion of the Court
The decedents, Anna Weber and John Kraft, were struck and killed at the same time by defendant’s locomotive engine. The respective suits therefor were separately tried, each resulting in verdict and judgment for the plaintiff. The cases are here on writs of error, and have been argued together. But four alleged errors have been discussed. The first two relate to both cases; the remaining two are limited to the Kraft case.
Defendant contends that the conduct of the three parties in crossing the tracks under those circumstances was so clearly imprudent as to justify a direction of verdict in its favor. We are unable to agree with this contention. It is conceded there was sufficient evidence of defendant’s negligence to justify its submission to the jury.
Defendant assails the ordinance in question as unreasonable and void. Plaintiffs relied upon the provision limiting speed to 6 miles. In Railroad Co. v. Ives, supra, the ordinance which was received as evidence of negligence limited the speed to 6 miles in the city of Detroit. It is not necessary, however, to pass upon the reasonableness of this ordinance, for we think its admission nonprejudicial, in view of the concession by the engineer driving the engine, that the train was running at a speed of 20 to 22 miles an hour.
4. The court excluded the testimony of the Erie train conductor that the bell was ringing when the train approached the Youngstown depot, which was about a mile from the place of the accident. It was offered to corroborate the testimony of the engineer that the bell 'was operated automatically by air, that when once started it continued to ring until shut off, that it was so started at Meadville, and was not shut
Upon the whole case, we think the effect of the proffered testimony (depending, as it did, upon inference from inference) too remote, and its weight too slight, to predicate prejudicial and reversible error upon its exclusion, even if technically erroneous.
The judgments of the District Court are affirmed, with costs
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ERIE R. CO. v. WEBER SAME v. KRAFT
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- 13 cases
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- 1. Railroads (§ 350*)—Accident at Crossing—‘Gontbibittoby Negjligence— Question bob Juey. ■ Two persons, who, with a third, were walking along a street alter dark in the evening, where it was crossed by seven railroad tracks, were struck and killed by an engine on the fifth track. There were gates at the crossing, which had been lowered on the approach of an engine and cars on the first, track. There was testimony, the engine having stopped before reselling the crossing, the gates were raised. There was evidence that the parties looked in both directions and listened before going upon the track, but did not see nor hear the approaching engine; that their view in the direction from which it came was obstructed by steam and smoke from the standing engine, which was blowing in the direction they were walking; and also that the engine was running at a high rate of speed and did not sound either bell or whistle. Held, that the question of contributory negligence, as well as the negligence of the railroad company, was for the jury. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Railroads, Cent. Dig. §§ 1152-1192; Dee. Dig. § 350.*] 2. Trial (§ 178*)—Motion fob Directed Verdict—Review of Evidence. On request for directed verdict, the court is bound to take that view of the evidence most favorable to the adverse party. [Ed. Note.—Eor other eases, see Trial, Cent. Dig. §§ 401-403; Dee. Dig. § 178.*] 3. Evidence (§ 588*)—Trial (§ 140*)—Credibility of Testimony—Question for Jury. The credibility of witnesses is peculiarly a question for the jury, and in the absence of established, facts and circumstances with which the testimony cannot be reconciled it cannot be disregarded as incredible. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Evidence, Cent. Dig. § 2437; Dec. Dig. § 588;* Trial, Cent. Dig. §§ 334, 335; Dec. Dig. § 140.* Credibility of witnesses or. parties testifying as question for jury, see note to Missouri, K. & T. Ry. Co. v. Collier, 8S C. C. A. 143.] 4. Railroads (§ 347*)—Accidents at Crossings—Evidence of Negligence —Violation of Speed Ordinance. A violation of a city ordinance limiting the speed of trains is ordinarily evidence of negligence. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Railroads, Cent. Dig. §§ 1124^-1137; Dec. Dig. § 347.* Effect of violation of statutes and ordinances regulating speed of trains, see note to Shatto v. Erie R. Co., 59 C. C. A. 5.] 5. Evidence (§ 492*)—Opinion—Speed of Train. The admission of the testimony of a witness, giving his opinion as to the speed of a train when it passed a crossing, held not error. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Evidence, Cent. Dig. § 2270; Dec. Dig. § 492.*]