Mobile Light & Railway Co. v. Hartwell

Damage to Automobile. Street Railway; Operation; Collision; Complaint. — A complaint alleging- that defendant so recklessly and wantonly conducted itself in the control, of its electric car as to be the proximate cause of a collision between the car and plaintiff’s automobile was not demurrabie as not showing that defendant was guilty of negligence or of any wanton or reckless act constituting the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injuries. 2. Trial; Pleading; Proof; Directing VercUct. — Where the evidence without conflict establishes the pleas interposed by the defendant the defendant is entitled to have the verdict directed for him.

Appeal from Mobile Law and Equity Court. Heard before Hon. Saffold Bek.net. Action by Guy J. Hartwell against the Mobile Light and Railroad Company. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. Count 3 was as follows: “Plaintiff claims of the defendant |500 damages, for that heretofore, to wit, on the 9th day of March, 1907, defendant was operating a certain car by means of electricity upon and along a railway on St. Francis street in Mobile, Alabama, and so recklessly and wantonly conducted itself in and about the management and control of said car as to be the proximate cause of a collision between said car and an automobile operated by plaintiff, whereby said automobile was damaged in the amount above claimed.” The following demurrers were interposed to the said count: “(1) Because it does not appear therefrom that the defendant was guilty of any negligence, or that it was guilty of any reckless or wanton act which constituted the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. (2) Because the allegation of said count that the defendant so recklessly or wantonly conducted itself in and about the management and control of said car as to be the proximate cause of said collision proceeds upon the hypothesis that it would constitute a reckless and wanton wrong to be the proximate cause of a collision, regardless of circumstances, and it is not equivalent to an allegation that the defendant was guilty of recklessness or wantonness which proximafely resulted in the collision.” The following pleas were interposed: (1) The general issue. (2) “And for further plea in this behalf the defendant says: That the plaintiff was himself guilty of negligence, which proximately contributed to the alleged injury, in this: That he undertook to run his automobile across the defendant’s track upon which the defendant’s car was approaching- without first stopping, looking, and listening for the approach of a car.” (3)-“That he negligently undertook to cross the defendant’s track with his automobile ahead of an approaching car in such close proximity thereto that there was danger of a collision if the defendant’s car continued to approach at the same speed at which it was then running” (heading same as 2, down to and including the words “injury, in this,” where they first occur therein). (4) Same as 2,-down to and including the words “alleged injury, in this,” with the addition: “That plaintiff undertook to cross, defendant’s track with his automobile in front of an approaching car when he knew, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence would have known, of the approach of said car, and that there was danger of a collision if the said car continued to approach at the same speed at which it was then running.” The following charges were refused to the defendant: General charge as to the first count, and the general charge as to the second count. — Counsel discuss the pleading but cite no authority in support of their contention. They insist- that their pleas were proven beyond dispute, that the matter set up in the pleading was applicable to persons undertaking to cross a street- car company’s track, and that a verdict should have been directed for defendant. — Bir. R. L. & P. Go. v. Oldham,' $1 South. 453; Snyder v. Mobile L. & R. Go., 146 Ala. 344; O. of Ga,. v. Foshee, 125 Ala. 213; G. of Ga,. v. Freeman, 134 Ala. 354. — Counsel insist that the cause should be affirmed on the authority of the following cases: Bir. B. L. & P. Go. v. Brantley, 37 South. 700; S. &N. Ala. B. Go. v. Sullivan, 59 Ala. 272; Memphis & G. B. Go. v. Womack, 84 Ala. 149; 4 South. Memphis & G. B. Go. v. Martin, 131 Ala. 269; 30 South. 827; G. of Ga. B, v. Lamb, 124 Ala. 172; 26 South. 969; G. of G. B. Go. v. Foshee, 125 Ala. 199; 27 South. 1006.