Stevens v. Missouri Pacific Railway Co.

BROADDUS, P. J.

This is a suit for damages for an injury alleged to have been received by the plaintiff by being struck by the tender of one of defendant’s engines.

The facts, as detailed by the plaintiff, were substantially as follows: On the 12th day of March, 1906, plaintiff left her home in the eastern part of the city of Independence, about six blocks distant from defendant’s right of way, to go to the home of her brother-in-law, Robert Hull. She did not go in the usual way because she was not dressed suitably to be seen on the street and because she apprehended that a depression for a short distance of the way would be filled with snow which would make traveling difficult. She started out the back way of her home to an alley, along it to Walnut street to the railroad and along the track to Lexington street, where she stopped and looked back and saw no engine or train. She noticed that from this point ahead the snow between the' rails was packed down by .tracks of persons who had been passing. From Lexington street she proceeded on her way. She reached a point in the vicinity where the track switches off to an electric light plant, when she again stopped, looked hack and saw nothing. She proceeded a short distance and again looked hack, discovering an engine close to her, and made a step or two to get off, but was struck and thrown out upon the right of way. At the point where she claimed she was struck, there were found footprints between the rails indicating that some one had turned, and there was an impression outside of the rails resembling that which could have been made by a human form. She stated that she was unconscious for a while and that, when revived, she got up and completed her journey. The track in the locality described was unfenced and outside of defendant’s switch limits. The engine was running backward at the time and at a rate of speed of ten or twelve miles an hour. There was evidence tending to show that no warning was given of the approach of the engine to Lexington street. There was evidence to the effect that persons traveled on foot along that part of the track daily and that it had been so used for a number of years. Plaintiff was injured about the head, bruised above right shouldér and in the small of her back. She stated that the -tender struck her on the right side of the head. The doctor’s description of her injuries is as follows; two lacerated scalp .wounds on the right side of her head, one about ian inch above the ear and the other about three inches above the ear, one about an inch and the other an inch and a half long.

The defendant’s evidence tends to show that the track of defendant from Walnut street to Lexington street had not been used as a way by pedestrians; that the engine in question was equipped with a pilot or cowcatcher on the rear end of the tank the same as on the front of the engine; that the engine was moved backward from the company’s yards at Independence to Pixley, about ten miles distant, for the purpose of hauling freight from the latter to the former place; that, as there was no turntable at Independence, the engine was run backward; that the cowcatcher attached to the tank extended over the rail on either side, and was as wide as the tank itself, and extended forward in the center about five or six feet from the tank, and was something less than a foot above the rails.

One of the contentions of defendant is that plaintiff, while walking on defendant’s track at the place slie was injured, if she was injured, was a trespasser and that, as such, defendant owed her no duty except not to have injured her knowingly. Reference is made to the case of Frye v. Ry. Co., 200 Mo. 377, wherein it is held that it was not sufficient to allege that plaintiff was, with the permission of defendant by long' use and custom, walking on its tracks, etc. This case is different. It is alleged that the track in question had been for many years prior to the date of plaintiff’s injury “used generally by the public between said points with the forbearance, consent and knowledge of said defendant.” The law is that, in such instances, the defendant owes a duty to footmen “to use ordinary care to look out for them and ordinary care to protect them from being run down and maimed or killed. ’ ’ [Frye v. Ry. Co., supra, 400-401; Everett v. Ry. Co., 112 S. W. 486.] As there was evidence tending to show that the track on which plaintiff was struck was used generally by the public as a footpath with the knowledge and acquiescence of the defendant, it was a question for the jury. [Everett v. Ry. Co., supra.] These are the latest expressions of the Supreme Court on the subject and conclusive against the contention of defendant.

But defendant’s main contention is that, under the facts as shown by the evidence, plaintiff could not have been struck by the tender and that whatever injuries she may have sustained was the result of some other cause.

As the cowcatcher preceded the tank and extended over the rails on each side and forward of the tank about five or six feet, and was something less than a foot above the rails; it is incomprehensible to see ho'w she could have been struck by it before the tender reached her. And as there was no evidence of injury to her lower limbs, the inference is that, the injury to her head, shoulders and back could not have been made by coming in contact with either the cowcatcher or the tender. If she was struck at all, it must have been by the cowcatcher, of which there would most certainly have been some evidence of injury on her lower limbs, had the engine been moving at any rate of speed. Had the plaintiff been struck by the tender on the head while it was moving at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, the injury would have been much greater, if not fatal. Plaintiff stated that when she looked back and saw the engine close upon her she made one or two steps to get off the track before she was struck.

Referring to her evidence again we find that she stated in one place she was in the center of the track and at another place that, “one foot was on one side of the rail and the other on the other.” Had she been in either position it was inevitable that she must have been first struck by the cowcatcher of which there was no evidence whatever. Besides she would have been beyond the reach of the tender. Perhaps plaintiff should be credited with the belief that she was struck in the manner she claims she was. Owing to the peril of her situation and perhaps her confusion of mind created the belief that she was actually struck, as she found herself when consciousness returned thrown down upon the ground and injured.

Entertaining the view we do of the case, it is useless to discuss it further. .It should be reversed.

Johnson, J., concurs; Ellison, J., dissents.