{ "id": 8720287, "name": "Inabnett v. St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company", "name_abbreviation": "Inabnett v. St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Co.", "decision_date": "1901-03-09", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "130", "last_page": "134", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "69 Ark. 130" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "59 Minn. 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 1645939 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/minn/59/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 Mass. 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 722396 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mass/114/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "55 Me. 208", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "51 Cal. 605", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal.", "case_ids": [ 2336941 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/cal/51/0605-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 Ala. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ala.", "case_ids": [ 5549458 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ala/91/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "56 S. W. 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "7 Ind. App. 179", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind. App.", "case_ids": [ 2393720 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ind-app/7/0179-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 Wis. 570", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis.", "case_ids": [ 11283681 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/wis/85/0570-01" ] }, { "cite": "104 Ind. 526", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1360736 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ind/104/0526-01" ] }, { "cite": "78 Pa. St. 219", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 1040392 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/pa/78/0219-01" ] }, { "cite": "39 S. W. 415", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "42 Ill. App. 469", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5041184 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/42/0469-01" ] }, { "cite": "55 Me. 438", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "case_ids": [ 4230393 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/me/55/0438-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 Tex. 19", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Tex.", "case_ids": [ 2184925 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/tex/75/0019-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 Pa. St. 405", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 1061265 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/pa/88/0405-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ga. 492", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 17244 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ga/60/0492-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 Ill. 431", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5337444 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/88/0431-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 Ill. 298", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5268349 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/47/0298-01" ] }, { "cite": "39 Ill. App. 67", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "34 Mo. App. 57", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo. App.", "case_ids": [ 494423 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo-app/34/0057-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 Ark. 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "31 Ark. 684", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1879334 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "699" } ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/31/0684-01" ] }, { "cite": "14 Ark. 530", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1862677 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/14/0530-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 Fed. 219", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3807894 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/53/0219-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 Ga. 810", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 36759 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ga/73/0810-01" ] }, { "cite": "40 Minn. 544", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 550907 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/minn/40/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ark. 409", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1903737 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/60/0409-01" ] }, { "cite": "26 Atl. 937", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "29 Md. 252", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1766768 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/md/29/0252-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 Mo. 22", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 966239 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo/65/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 Mo. 50", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 568198 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo/98/0050-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 Mo. 36", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 567033 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo/101/0036-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 N. Y. 451", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2158454 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/58/0451-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ark. 409", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1903737 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/60/0409-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 Mo. 36", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 567033 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/101/0036-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 575, "char_count": 10308, "ocr_confidence": 0.508, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.4703454943712744e-07, "percentile": 0.8064558976218305 }, "sha256": "225640470e70ab5bada41f7e2a3f9e8a6faacd05fbbb70d8a8a2be800f49cb93", "simhash": "1:a9c4b942b92fc6ac", "word_count": 1784 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:49:09.426821+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Inabnett v. St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Wood, J.\nThis suit was brought by Inabnett to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been caused by the negligence of the railway company in blowing the whistle and in allowing steam to escape from the steam cocks of its engine while plaintiff in his buggy upon the highway was approaching the public crossing in the city of Texarkana. It is alleged that the unnecessary blowing of the whistle greatly frightened plaintiff\u2019s horse, and that, while he was endeavoring to calm same, plaintiff observed an engineer on the engine nearest to him, and saw that the engineer was apprised of plaintiff\u2019s danger, hut, without regard to plaintiff\u2019s safety, the engineer in a grossly, careless manner opened the steam cocks of his engine, and began to move the same, which caused the plaintiff\u2019s horse to take greater affright, and caused him to suddenly turn from the highway, and to spring down a deep enbankment, whereby plaintiff, in an attempt to extricate himself from the danger - of the situation, was thrown from the buggy, and seriously hurt, etc.\nThe answer denies all material allegations,- and sets up contributory negligence. Without giving the evidence in. detail,, it is sufficient, for the purpose of this opinion, to state that there was proof on the part of the plaintiff which tended to support the allegations of his complaint. The jury might have found from plaintiff\u2019s testimony that the agents of the defendant knew,-or could have known by the exercise of ordinary care and prudence, that the blowing of the whistle, and especially the escaping of steam from the steam cocks of the engine, under the circumstances detailed by the plaintiff, were well calculated to frighten plaintiff\u2019s horse, and to endanger plaintiff and cause the injury of which he complains. There was evidence ^also to justify the verdict. Were the jury properly instructed?\nThe court gave on behalf of the defendant the following among other instructions: \u201c(3). The jury are instructed that negligence is not to be imputed to the railway company merely from the blowing of a whistle, or causing steam to emit from an engine, even though the same may occasion fright to a horse or horses, unless the same was done under circumstances that made the act an imprudent and improper one upon that occasion, and the jury would have no right to impute negligence to an engineer under such circumstances, unless there were circumstances in his knowledge at the time admonishing him that injury would probably result if the act was done; and in this case, unless the jury find from the testimony that at the time of the accident in question there was something in the circumstances of the plaintiff\u2019s presence upon the track, or in the conduct of. the hofse, as seen by the engineer, which would have admonished him in time to have prevented it, or that giving of signals or permitting the steam to emit from his engine was likely to cause the horse to frighten, then he would not be guilty of negligence, even if you find such facts. (4). The court instructs the jury that mere proof that the train employees unnecessarily blowed the whistle or let off steam in close proximity to a team of horses does not necessarily establish negligence. (8). The court instructs the jury, in determining the question of the- negligence of defendant\u2019s servants, they should take into consideration all of the facts and circumstances, that defendant\u2019s servants and engineers were not bound to take notice of the mere presence of plaintiff and his horse in close proximity to the railway, nor that that fact, would raise a presumption that the horse would become frightened at the use of steam, but there must have been something at the time in the conduct and actions of the animal which indicated to. the engineer that such results would probably follow before he could be charged with negligence.\u201d\nThe third and eighth ignored the rule which enjoins upon railroads a high degree of care for the protection and safety of' travelers upon the highway at and in proximity to public crossings. in cities. It is their positive duty to keep a lookout for such trav- / elers., and to use every reasonable precaution consistent with the / proper operation and management of their trains to avoid injuring / them. There might not be any circumstances in the knowledge of the engineer, admonishing him that injury would probably result / from the unnecessary blowing of a whistle or escaping of steam, j Yet such circumstances might exist, and the engineer\u2019s ignorance! of them be on account of his wilful or negligent failure to do what! the law requires; i. e., to keep a lookout for them, and then to do* whatever reasonable prudence would dictate to avoid injury td travelers. Hilz v. Mo. Pac. Ry. Co., 101 Mo. 36; Frick v. St. Louis, etc., R. Co., 8 Am. & Eng. R. Cas. 280; Weber v. Ry. Co., 58 N. Y. 451-62.\nNor does the law gauge the standard of negligence by what the engineer in charge in any particular case did or knew. It is broader and more reasonable than that. Negligence is determined in cases of this kind by what any reasonably prudent and careful engineer would or should have known and done under the circumstances in proof. Both the third and eighth convey the idea that, unless there was something in the circumstances of the plaintiff\u2019s presence upon the track, or in the conduct of the horse \u201cas seen by the engineer,\u201d which would have admonished him of plaintiff\u2019s danger, then he was not negligent in doing acts complained of. This, too, regardless of whether he had exercised that prudence which any reasonably careful man would have exercised to become acquainted with the circumstances. In this respect the instructions were radically wrong, and wholly inconsistent with the instructions which the court had given at the instance of plaintiff, and which correctly stated the law. Ry. Co. v. Lewis, 60 Ark. 409.\nFurthermore, the eighth instruction declares that the employees of the railroad \u201cwere not bound to take notice of the mere presence of the plaintiff and his horse in close proximity to the \u00bb railway.\u201d This was well calculated to mislead. The duty of rail- 1 roads is to exercise reasonable and ordinary care to observe trav- \\ elers about to cross the railroad upon the highway. Here the j travelers have a right to be, and they must be expected to be constantly passing. They are \u201cever present,\u201d so to speak, and the ; railroad jmployees must exercise that diligence which the law j require^fo observe\\them\u00a3 \u201cThe care and skill, to be reasonable,\u201d it is said, \u201cmust be proportioned to the danger and multiplied chances of injury.\u201d 3 Elliott, Railroads, 1156, and authorities cited. It is generally for the jury to determine whether such care has been exercised.\nThe fourth, to say the least of it, was not predicated upon the facts in evidence, and was therefore abstract, and should not have been given. Taken in connection with others, however, it may not have been prejudicial.\nFor the error in giving the third and eighth instructions for appellee, the judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "Wood, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "L. A. Byrne, for appellant.", "Dodge & Johnson, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Inabnett v. St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company.\nOpinion delivered March 9, 1901.\n1. Railroad \u2014 Accident at Crossing \u2014 Negligence of Engineer. \u2014 In an action against a railroad company for damages caused by defendant company\u2019s negligence in blowing a whistle and allowing steam to escape from\" its engine at a highway crossing, whereby plaintiff\u2019s horse was frightened, and plaintiff injured, it was error to instruct that defendant\u2019s liability would depend upon whether there were circumstances within the knowledge of defendant\u2019s engineer which admonished him of plaintiff\u2019s danger, (1) because the instruction ignores the statutory duty of the railroad company to keep a lookout lor travellers at highway crossings, and to exercise reasonable care to avoid injuring them; and (2) because the test of negligence is not what the engineer in charge did or knew, but what a reasonably prudent engineer would have known and done under the same circumstances. (Page 132.)\n2. Same \u2014 Instruction.\u2014In case of a traveler injured at a highway crossing, it was error to instruct the jury that defendant\u2019s employees \u201cwere not hound to take notice of the mere presence of the plaintiff and his horse in close proximity to the railway,\u201d as it is the duty of a railroad to exercise reasonable and ordinary care to observe travelers about to cross at a highway crossing. (Page 133.)\n.3. Same \u2014 Abstract Instruction. \u2014 An instruction that \u201cmere proof that the train employees unnecessarily blowed the whistle or let -off steam In close proximity to a team of horses does not necessarily -establish negligence,\u201d not being predicated upon the facts in -evidence, should not have been given. (Page 134 )\nAppeal from Nevada Circuit Court.\nJoel D. Conway, Judge.\nL. A. Byrne, for appellant.\nAppellee was bound to the exercise of all the measures and means of precaution which the highest prudence could suggest and which was in its power to employ. 101 Mo. 36; 98 Mo. 50; 8 Am. & Eng. R. Cas. 280; 65 Mo. 22; 58 iST. Y. 451; 91 Ky! 434; 29 Md. 252; 26 Atl. 937. The fourth instruction for appellee was erroneous as a proposition of law. 2 Th. Neg. 1235-6; Cooley, Torts, 668, 671; 60 Ark. 409; 8 Am. & Eng. R\u201e Cas. 262; id. 280; 11 Am. & Eng. R. Cas. (E. S.), 70; 40 Minn. 544; 73 Ga. 810; 53 Fed. 219. It was error to give it for the further reason that it was abstract. 14 Ark. 530; 31 Ark. 684, 699; 37 Ark. 591; 13 Am. & Eng. R. Cas. (hi. S.), 469. The sixth instruction for appellee was also erroneous. 34 Mo. App. 57; 125 111. 127; 39 Ill. App. 67; 47 Ill. 298; 88 Ill. 431; 60 Ga. 492; 88 Pa. St. 405.\nDodge & Johnson, for appellee.\nTo constitute negligence on the part of the engineer, there must have been circumstances within his knowledge, admonishing him that injury will probably result if the act is done. 75 Tex. 19; 32 E. E. 209; 55 Me. 438; 42 Ill. App. 469. There is no error in the fourth instruction. 5 Am. & Eng. R. Cas. (E. S.), 192; 57 E. W. 545; 39 S. W. 415; 78 Pa. St. 219. Eo negligence was shown. 104 Ind. 526; 85 Wis. 570; 7 Ind. App. 179; 42 Ill. App. 469; 56 S. W. 1; 130 E. Y. 631; 91 Ala. 382; 51 Cal. 605; 55 Me. 208; 114 Mass. 358; 59 Minn. 458." }, "file_name": "0130-01", "first_page_order": 148, "last_page_order": 152 }