Bennett v. Butterfield

Personal Injuries—Elevators—Negligence. A customer who, without invitation or permission, attempts to enter a freight elevator located in the back part of a store, and designed for the use of employés only, and who is injured by falling down the shaft, cannot recover for his injuries against the proprietor.

Error to Wayne; Donovan, J. Case by Samuel B. Bennett against Harriet A. Butterfield for personal injuries. From a judgment for defendant, plaintiff brings error. Defendant was a dealer in wall paper, other kinds of paper, and stationery. She occupied the ground floor, the basement, and the fifth floor of a store 120 feet long and 40 feet wide. The ground floor was her salesroom, and the fifth floor her storeroom, where she kept duplicate and surplus stocks of goods.. This floor was reached by an elevator, situated in the rear and at one side. It was designed for the use of her employés only, and for the carriage of freight. Wall-paper cases six to seven feet high stood near and in front of the elevator, and with their backs towards it. The elevator was inclosed from floor to ceiling, with double doors opening into the store, and two windows, one on the north and one on the south side, each three feet by seven, and from six to seven feet from the floor. The entrance to it was protected by a gate, sliding in grooves on either side, hung on ropes running over pulleys, and balanced by weights. The gate was raised and lowered by hand. The elevator was plainly marked with the words: “Elevator. Danger. For freight only.” Plaintiff was a painter and paper hanger, and entered the defendant’s store shortly before noon, in a hurry, to buy some wall paper with which to finish a job on which he was then engaged. He had traded at this store for many years, and only once, about six years before the accident, had ridden upon this elevator, but the defendant did not then occupy the store. The day was bright and clear. Plaintiff testified that he entered the store at half-past 11 or a quarter to 12; that he asked a clerk who was there waiting upon a customer where their ingrains were; that he replied, “Upstairs; Will is up there;” that he continued to walk towards the rear, and found Will Fisher about 10 or 12 feet from, and east of, the elevator; that he asked Fisher where the ingrains were; that Fisher replied, “Upstairs, Bennett; we will take the elevator; ” that Fisher walked towards the elevator, plaintiff closely following; that the south door of the shaft was open; that Fisher entered the door and stepped to one side; that plaintiff, supposing that the elevator was there, also stepped in, fell to the bottom of the shaft, 10 or 12 feet, and was injured. The facts are that the elevator was above; that the rope by which the elevator was run was on the inside, and from one to one and one-half feet from the door; that Fisher, with his right foot resting on the timber inside the shaft, his left foot outside, his left arm around the casing, leaned into the shaft, called out, “Elevator,” and reached for the rope. While he was doing this, plaintiff stepped in and fell. The case was submitted to the jury under the usual instructions as to the negligence of the defendant and the contributory negligence of the plaintiff. The jury rendered a verdict for the defendant.