Catron v. Nichols

• Decision Date: 31 October 1883
• Citation: 81 Mo. 80
• Parties: CATRON, Appellant, v. NICHOLS.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

81 Mo. 80

CATRON, Appellant,

v.NICHOLS.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

October Term, 1883.

Appeal from Lafayette Circuit Court.--HON. J. P. STROTHER, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Alex. Graves for appellant.

The court erred in giving the fourth instruction for defendant. The burden of proof was on plaintiff to show that his property was destroyed by reason of the fire, but the defendant was bound to assume the burden of proof that the act of firing was prudent. Kenney v. Railroad Co., 70 Mo. 246; Smith v. Railroad Co., 37 Mo. 287; Fitch v. Railroad Co., 45 Mo. 327; 1 Thompson on Neg., p. 25, last paragraph; Turberville v. Stamps, 1 Salkeld 13; Hanlon v. Ingram, 3 Iowa. 82.

George S. Rathbun and T. J. Duling for respondent.

It was lawful for the respondent to burn the stubble and rubbish in his field to prepare it for cultivation, and he is not liable for any accident which might happen, unless he has acted in a negligent manner. Miller v. Martin, 16 Mo. 508; Stewart v. Hawley, 22 Barb. 619; Clarke v. Foot, 8 John. 421; Shearman & Redfield on Neg., (3 Ed.) § 329; Fahn v. Reichart, 8 Wis. 255; Hanlon v. Ingram, 3 Iowa 81. The instructions are consistent and fairly presented the law to the jury. It devolved upon the plaintiff to prove negligence and want of care in setting out the fire. Miller v. Martin, supra. The gist of this action is the negligence of the defendant, and the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff. Brown v. Railroad Co., 33 Mo. 309; Holman v. Railroad Co., 62 Mo. 562; Thompson on Neg., p. 148, §§ 3, 4, 5; Bachelden v. Heagen, 18 Me. 32; Higgins v. Dewey, 107 Mass. 494; Sturgis v. Robbins, 62 Me. 289; 11 Metc. 460; Shearman & Redfield, supra. The destruction of property by fire does not raise a presumption of negligence. Bryon v. Fowler, 70 N. C. 596. In the case of railroad fires the rule is different in this State, and the presumption of negligence is against the company. Clements v. Railroad Co., 53 Mo. 366. The whole question of defendant's negligence and carelessness, as charged by plaintiff, was submitted to the jury upon proper instructions, and this court will not interfere upon the ground of weight of evidence. Savings Asso'n v. Sailor, 63 Mo. 24; Miller v. Graham, 41 Mo. 509; 58 Mo. 429; McKay v. Underwood, 47 Mo. 185; Shunill v. Evans, 49 Mo. 396.

HOUGH, C. J.

The defendant set out a fire in his stubble-field, for purposes of husbandry, which spread through the high grass of a marsh, which was in the corner of his field, to an adjoining field, belonging to the plaintiff, and consumed his fence and a quantity of hay. The plaintiff brings this suit to recover damages for said injury, alleging that the defendant, willfully, negligently and carelessly, set out said fire. There is testimony tending to show that the wind was high when the fire was set out, that it was blowing in the direction of plaintiff's farm; that there had been no rain for six weeks, and that it was dangerous to set out fire under such circustances. There is, also, testimony tending to show, that the fire was prudently set out and carefully guarded. The court properly instructed the jury as to the degree of care to be exercised in burning trash and stubble, preparatory to cultivation, and then gave the following instruction:

4. The jury are instructed that under the law and the evidence in this case, the defendant had the right, in the exercise of such care and prudence as defined in other instructions, to put fire out on his own premises to burn up the weeds, grass and trash on his fallow land, and if the jury believe, and find from the evidence, that the defendant set fire for this purpose, on his cultivating land, adjacent to said marsh, without any intention on his part of setting fire to said marsh, then the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, and he must show by a preponderance of testimony, that said fire, and damage to the plaintiff's property, resulted from the lack of ordinary caution and care, in time, place, or manner of setting out said fire, upon the part of defendant, under all the circumstances, and the mere fact that plaintiff's property was destroyed, does not, of itself, prove negligence.

There was a verdict and judgment for the defendant.

The plaintiff contends that the foregoing instruction is erroneous; that it only devolved upon the plaintiff to show that his property was consumed by fire, set out by the defendant, and that the burden was cast upon the defendant to show that the act of firing the stubble was prudent and not negligent, and he cites in support of this position Fitch v. Railroad Co., 45 Mo. 327, and Kenney v. Railroad Co., 70 Mo. 246, claiming that the same rule which is applicable to fires caused by locomotive engines, is likewise, applicable to individuals.

The general rule is, that he who...