Chicago, M. & St. P. Co. v. Kendall , 49 Ill. App. 398 ( 1893 )

Opinion of the Court,

Cartwright, J.

This suit was brought by appellee to recover damages from appellant for killing two horses and injuring a colt, the property of appellee. The declaration charged a liability of appellant on the ground that its fence was insufficient where the stock went through it. Appellee recovered $290 for damages and attorney’s fees.

The particular place where the stock went through the fence was identified, and was not in dispute. The court, against the objection of the defendant, allowed the plaintiff to introduce evidence of the condition of the fence for a considerable distance from the place in question along the lands of the plaintiff, and for years prior to the accident. Such evidence was irrelevant to the issue touching the liability of defendant that was being tried. The plaintiff did not suffer the injury complained of on account of the condition of the fence at other times and places. The plaintiff was not entitled to prove a general neglect of duty in respect to fences across his lands not resulting in the injury sued for. C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. v. Farrelly, 3 Brad. 60; Wabash R. R. Co. v. Kime, 42 Ill. App. 272; P. D. & E. Ry. Co. v. Aten, 43 Ill. App. 68.

But an instruction was given the jury; at the instance of defendant, that the jury had no right to consider, in coming to a conclusion in the case, whether or not the fences of the defendant were good or poor, sufficient or insufficient, on the sides of its right of way, adjoining the land and premises of plaintiff, other than the panel of fence which the animals got through the night they were killed or injured. In view of this instruction, which practically eliminated the evidence from the case, we do not think that any harm resulted from its admission.

Plaintiff testified to a conversation between himself and the section foreman of defendant, who had charge of the fence, concerning its condition. It is argued that this evi-' dence was incompetent; but the record shows no exception to rulings of the court as to the conversation, except a ruling that if plaintiff notified the section foreman of the condition of the fence, he might testify to that fact. That holding was correct, and as no other exception was saved, the other objections made here will not be considered.

It is contended that the court erred in admitting the testimony of witnesses on the part of the plaintiff as to the value of the animals, and in refusing to allow witnesses for defendant to testify to such value. The witnesses who testified for plaintiff on that subject said that they knew the value of horses generally in that vicinity, and had seen the horse about which they testified. Their testimony was competent, and their cross-examination, which developed the fact that some of them had but little knowledge on the subject, or slight opportunity to judge of the value of these animals, only affected the weight to be given to their testimony, but did not render it incompetent. The witnesses for defendant, who were not permitted to testify as to value, did not show that they had any knowledge of values, except the witness Rainey, who -was a dealer in horses at a village near by. As to the witnesses who had no knowledge of the subject, the ruling ivas correct. Rainey showed that he was competent to testify on the subject, and that he heard the mares described in the suit by the plaintiff and others. He ivas then asked what was the fair cash value of the gray mare, but was not permitted to answer. The case of Schneider v. Manning, 121 Ill. 376, is relied upon as establishing the rule that this was a proper method of examination; but if it was there intended to hold that a witness may give an opinion based upon hearing the evidence, and considering such facts as he can recollect as having been testified to, the witness in this case did not bring himself within the rule; for, at the time the question was asked, he had not shown that he had heard all the evidence on the subject about which his opinion was asked. A hypothetical question was then put to the witness, but the 'question was not full enough to form a basis for an opinion, and omitted important qualities about which there was no dispute affecting value, and which would necessarily influence am opinion, such as, that the gray mare was a nice, stylish family mare, that a girl was accustomed to drive in safety. There was no conflict in the evidence as to the qualities of the mare, and no dispute on that subject out of which opposing theories could be framed as to the facts, and there was such a partial statement of undisputed facts as to render the question objectionable.

It is also objected that the court refused to admit in evidence, a photograph of the broken fence boards. The broken boards were brought into court and offered in evidence, and the photograph, which exhibited but a partial view of them, was properly excluded.

There was a conflict in the evidence as to whether the boards, when found the next morning after the accident, were attached to the posts at each end, and had been broken in the middle, were sound and sufficient, or whether they had become detached from one post on account of decay and insufficient fastening. It was the peculiar province of the jury to determine this question of fact, and we will not disturb their finding.

We see no objection to the fourth instruction for the plaintiff, which is criticised by counsel because it refers to the instructions. It does not require the jury to believe any fact from the instructions, but merely informs them that if under the evidence and instructions, they believe. the defendant liable,'and find a verdict for plaintiff, then they shall assess the damages.

Finding no reversible error in the record, the judgment will be affirmed.