Downey v. Indiana Union Traction Co. , 177 Ind. 587 ( 1912 )

Morris, C. J.

Appellant commenced this action against appellee for damages, for the alleged negligent injury to personal property. There was a trial by jury, and verdict for appellee. Appellant’s motion for a new trial was overruled, and on this action appellant bases his assignment of error. The only alleged errors which are discussed, consist in the action of the trial court in sustaining objections to two questions asked by appellant of a witness named Omer Downey.

It is stated in appellant’s brief that the injury complained of was to a team of horses, and a cab to which they were hitched, while the horses were being driven by Omer Downey.

In one of the questions propounded the witness, he was asked what, if any, obstruction there was in Union street to prevent him from driving on the west side of that street. The court sustained appellee’s objection to the question, whereupon appellant offered to prove by the witness that there was a baggage track standing on the west side of the ear in Union street.

The witness was also asked, concerning the space between the west ear on Union street and the west curb thereof, the following question: “2. Is it wide enough to drive a cab through there if there are no obstructions?”

The court sustained an objection to the question, and appellant offered to prove by the witness that the space was wide enough to drive through, if it were unobstructed.

Appellee contends that if it be conceded that the court erred in its action relative to the two questions, the error was harmless, because appellee, in another part of the examination of this witness, proved hy him the same facts sought to be elicited by the above questions.

Appellee is correct in its contention. The witness testified that he started south on the west side of Union street, but saw that “the passage was stopped by a truck.”

The witness also testified in regard to the distance between the west curb of Union street and the west car on the street, as shown by the following question and answer: “Do you know about the distance the tracks are which the west—the west track I mean on which the car was standing on Union street is from the west curb of Union street ? A. I think it is about ten feet.”

1. Inasmuch as the witness testified substantially to the same facts which appellant offered to prove in response to the questions to which the court sustained the objections, appellant was not harmed by the action of the court.

Judgment affirmed.

Note.—Reported in 98 N. E. 418. See, also, 38 Cyc. 1466.