Chicago & Erie Railroad v. Leiter ( 1915 )

Ibach, P. J.

1. This is an action for damages for the killing of appellee’s horses by appellant on its -railroad tracks. The evidence in the case most favorable to appellee shows that in the year 1906, appellant for some reason removed many of its cattle guards and highway fences, among which were those which had existed in close proximity to appellee’s farm, and since that time has not rebuilt or maintained any of such crossings, but has maintained its lateral fences through appellee’s farm. Pour of appellee’s horses escaped from a field which was securely fenced and entered on appellant’s right of way at a point where some time prior thereto appellant had removed a cattle guard and highway wing fence, and at a time when one of appellant’s trains was approaching the highway crossing and had given the usual highway crossing signals. The horses ran in front of the approaching train and were overtaken at appellant’s bridge over Mud Creek some distance away from the crossing, where they had entered on the tracks. The engineer and fireman actually saw the horses running before the train and the signals given by appellee’s wife, who was at the time on appellant’s right of way, endeavoring to protect the horses from the oncoming train, and at such time the engine was being operated at such a rate of speed that the train could have been stopped in ample time to have prevented the collision with the horses and their consequent injury and death. The train, however, was not then stopped, neither was its speed cheeked, but instead the whistle was constantly blown and the horses pursued until by reason of the high embankments along the right of way, and the existence of a cattle guard at the bridge, there was no escape for the horses, and they in their fright attempted to cross over the bridge, bnt fell through the trestle, and one was struck by the train and killed, another had to be killed because its leg was broken in falling through the trestle, and another died shortly afterwards from its injuries. There was evidence that the horses were worth $650 and a verdict of $700 was returned.

2. 1. There is evidence to show that the fence surrounding the field in which the horses were confined was a substantial fence, and that the horses were not of a character such that contributory negligence could be imputed to appellee by reason of the fact that he allowed them to feed and pasture in the field from which they escaped. Our courts have held many times that the owner of live stock is not to be charged with contributory negligence when there is evidence to show that the fences which he maintained were ordinarily and reasonably secure, and they escaped from the enclosure without his fault or knowledge, and entered on the lands of another, which rule applies to railroad companies. 1 Thornton, Negligence §§1222, 1223; Dennis v. Louisville, etc., R. Co. (1888), 116 Ind. 42, 18 N. E. 179, 1 L. R. A. 448; Pittsburgh, etc., R. Co. v. Shaw (1896), 15 Ind. App. 173, 43 N. E. 957. There is evidence not only tending to support .the first paragraph of complaint, which is based on the theory of negligence, but likewise to support the amended second paragraph, which is drawn on the theory of wilful injury.

3. 4. In answer to one contention of appellant, it is proper to state at this point that a complaint to be good on the theory of wilful injury need not contain an averment that plaintiff was without fault. Chicago, etc., R. Co. v. Nash (1891), 1 Ind. App. 298, 301, 302, 27 N. E. 564, and cases cited. In this case the court in effect decides that intention iá*the controlling element in wilful injury, and for a complaint to be good on that theory, the language used must be sufficient to show that the defendant had an intent, either actual or constructive, to dm the injury complained of, but it is not necessary to'use words indicating an act amounting to a crime, or imputing actual malice toward the owner of the property injured, nor to show that plaintiff was free from contributory negligence, nor that the property injured was rightfully at the place of injury. The averments of the paragraph under consideration charging that the injurious act was purposely and intentionally committed with the intent wilfully and purposely to inflict the injury complained of, meets all requirements. See, Indianapolis St. R. Co. v. Taylor (1902), 158 Ind. 274, 13 N. E. 456; Walker v. Wehking (1902), 29 Ind. App. 62, 63 N. E. 128. The facts of this case sufficiently show that the stock was seen on the tracks of the railroad company by those operating a train a sufficient length of time before the collision occurred to have slackened the speed of the train, or to have stopped it, without imperiling the persons or property entrusted to it for transportation. Under such a state of facts it was for the jury to determine whether negligence existed on the part of the appellant, or whether it was liable for the commission of a wilful injury, and having found for appellee, it is not fpr this court to say that there was no evidence to support such conclusion.

5. The contention on appellant’s part that to recover under the statute the evidence must show actual contact with the animals is correct, but this proposition has no application to the first and amended second paragraphs of complaint, based on negligence and wilful injury, respectively. 1 Thornton, Negligence §1207; Campbell v. Indianapolis, etc., Traction Co. (1906), 39 Ind. App. 66, 79 N. E. 223; Toledo, etc., R. Co. v. Bergan (1893), 9 Ind. App. 604, 37 N. E. 31; Toledo, etc., R. Co. v. Milligan (1876), 52 Ind. 505, 510.

6. The damages awarded by the jury are not necessarily excessive, in a case such as this. The verdict may have been based on either the first paragraph of complaint, or the amended second, in which event interest was recoverable from the time of filing complaint to return of the verdict, and since there was evidence to show the value of the horses was $650, and the interest on that sum from the date of filing complaint to the returning the verdict was more than $50, the damages given by the jury can not be said to be excessive.

Other errors are assigned, but what has already been said disposes of all of them adversely to appellant’s contention.

The cause seems to have been fairly tried, and a correct result reached. Judgment affirmed.

Note. — Reported, in 109 N. E. 213. As to the duty of railroad company to animals on track, see 20 Am. St. 161. As to interest on damages, for injuries to stock, see 18 L. R. A. 450 ; 28 L. R. A. (N. S.) 68. As to the liability of a street railway for injuries to animal running at large, see Ann. Cas. 1913 C 722. See, also, under (1) 33 Cyc. 1207; 33 Cyc. 1915 Anno. 1299-new; (2) 33 Cyc. 1298; (3) 3 C. J. 160; 2 Cyc. 422; (4) 33 Cyc. 1304, 1303; (5) 33 Cyc. 1292; (6) 13 Cyc. 88.