Summary
In Bucher v. N.Y.C. H.R.R.R. Co. (98 N.Y. 128) the train did not stop at the station for which the plaintiff had purchased his ticket and at which he had the right to get off.
Summary of this case from Mearns v. Central R.R. Co. of N.JOpinion
Argued December 18, 1884
Decided January 20, 1885
Frank R. Perkins for appellant. George C. Green for respondent.
Upon the close of plaintiff's testimony on the trial of this action, the defendant's counsel moved for a nonsuit upon two grounds: First, that the evidence showed no negligence on the part of the defendant. Second, that the evidence showed negligence on the part of the plaintiff which contributed to the injury. The plaintiff's counsel asked to go to the jury upon these questions; this request was refused and the motion for a nonsuit granted, and an exception taken to the ruling by the plaintiff's counsel.
As the evidence stands there can be, we think, no serious question in regard to the defendant's negligence. It appears that the train did not stop at the station for which the plaintiff had purchased a ticket, and at which he had a right to get off. It was the custom to stop there, but, for some unexplained reason, when it arrived, instead of stopping as it should have done, the train merely slowed up and thus did not furnish the plaintiff an opportunity to leave the cars in accordance with defendant's contract with him. This was clearly negligence, but there is also evidence to show, as will hereafter be manifest, that the conductor used language to the plaintiff which authorized the conclusion that he had a right to get off the train and that he could do so under the conductor's direction. The rule is well established that it is culpable negligence on the part of a railroad corporation for its officers to induce a passenger to leave the train while in motion, and a gross disregard of the duty it owes him not to stop the train entirely and give the passenger ample time and opportunity to alight. ( Filer v. N.Y.C.R.R. Co., 49 N.Y. 51.)
It may be added that there was also evidence which tended to show that a signal was given by the conductor to put the train in motion while the plaintiff was getting off and without warning to him. If this was established it tended to show negligence on the part of the defendant. ( Keating v. N.Y.C. H.R.R.R. Co., 49 N.Y. 673.) As the testimony stood it was for the jury to determine whether there was any proof of negligence on the part of the defendant, and the court should have submitted the case to their consideration on that question, unless it distinctly appeared that the plaintiff was chargeable with negligence contributing to the injury.
As to the plaintiff's negligence, that also was a question for the jury to decide. It appears that the plaintiff had purchased a ticket from Buffalo to Getzville where the train was accustomed to stop. As the train approached this station, where the plaintiff intended to and had a right to leave the cars, the speed was reduced until the train came nearly to a stop. The plaintiff prepared to leave and, with a little child in his arms, proceeded to the car platform for that purpose. According to his testimony the conductor, who was standing on the platform of the station, called to him and said, "you want to clear off here," and he answered he wanted to get off, and the conductor told him to step off, or get off, or jump off, he didn't know which. The train was then in motion and he got off on the right side of the car, taking hold of the rail on the right side of the car platform with his left hand; he then stepped off with his right foot first and was twisted around; he thought the train had stopped the same minute he stepped off, but was mistaken as he felt it was going and he was jerked around; the conductor took hold of him and they tumbled off the platform of the station together. On his cross-examination, after testifying in substance, in reference to what passed between him and the conductor, the same as on his direct examination, the question was put to him, "was not all he said, do you want to get off?" and he answered. "He asked me, do you want to get off; I said yes. He asked me twice, do you want to get off." His testimony varies on his cross-examination as to the train stopping when he got off. He testified he did not know the train was going when he got off, or he thought it had stopped, and then he swore that when he was in the act of getting off he saw it had not stopped, thus contradicting his former evidence.
Wolkert, a witness for the plaintiff, testified that he saw the plaintiff get off the train; that he saw the conductor, before the plaintiff got out of the car motioning the fireman in the cab to go ahead; that the conductor saw the plaintiff and told him to get off. He also swore that the plaintiff went backwards about a rod along the platform holding on to the railing and that he was torn away by the conductor. He afterward stated on cross-examination that the conductor asked the plaintiff if he wanted to get off.
From the statement we have given of the testimony there was certainly some evidence to show that previous to the conversation between the plaintiff and the conductor, the latter, had given notice for the train to proceed, and that he had either told the plaintiff to get off, or given him to understand, from what he said, that he could get off, and under the circumstances it was for the jury to say, whether any such directions were given by the conductor as authorized the plaintiff to get off the cars at that time, or made him chargeable with contributory negligence for so doing. The plaintiff was called upon to act on a sudden emergency, and under such circumstances should not be held to the most rigid accountability for his action. ( Salter v. Utica and Black River R.R. Co., 88 N.Y. 49; Filer v. N.Y.C.R.R. Co., 49 id. 52.) If the plaintiff had reason to believe, from what passed between him and the conductor, and from the surrounding circumstances, that it was safe and prudent for him to leave as he did, then he was justified within the authorities last cited. Whether the facts warranted this conclusion was a fair question which should have been submitted to the jury.
The defendant's counsel claims that the conduct of the plaintiff when he left the car, in taking hold of the railing at his right side with his left hand, thus bringing his back in the direction in which the train was moving, and retaining his hold and walking backwards about a rod until the conductor pulled him away, was negligence and the cause of and contributed to the injury. While these facts were a proper subject for consideration in determining the question as to plaintiff's negligence, they are by no means conclusive. Plaintiff had a right to leave the cars at that place and in attempting to do so was evidently embarrassed by the train going on instead of stopping. If he supposed it had stopped, and had reason to do so as he testified on his direct examination, then there was nothing in the manner of his undertaking to get off which indicated carelessness on his part. If he was notified, as is claimed, to get off, then he had a right to assume that it was safe to do so, and he was not negligent in acting as he did. The question as to his contributory negligence in this respect was, therefore, not a question of law, but one of fact. Whether the plaintiff was asked by the conductor if he wished to get off, or whether the conductor told him to get off, is not very important, as either remark, under the circumstances, might be regarded as a notification to him to leave the cars. As this was a regular stopping place for the train, and as the plaintiff had a right to suppose the cars were going to stop, any intimation to him to that effect might, perhaps, in view of the facts, be regarded as sufficient to justify him in doing as he did.
We think it is clear that the case should have been submitted to the jury, and that the court erred in granting the nonsuit.
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.
All concur.
Judgment reversed.