Fisher v. Pennsylvania R. Co

Decision Date06 May 1889
Docket Number321
Citation126 Pa. 293,17 A. 607
PartiesCHARLES FISHER v. PENNSYLVANIA R. CO
CourtPennsylvania Supreme Court

Argued April 23, 1889

ERROR TO THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.

No. 321 January Term 1889, Sup. Ct.; court below, No. 19 February Term 1888, C.P.

On January 16, 1888, the plaintiff Charles Fisher, brought trespass against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, to recover damages for the death of a mule, struck by the defendant's locomotive. Issue.

On February 3, 1888, the case was referred under the compulsory arbitration law. The arbitrators, on March 5, 1888, filed an award in favor of the plaintiff for $198.66. On March 13 1888, the defendant appealed from the award.

On May 14, 1888, the plaintiff obtained a rule to show cause why the appeal should not be stricken off. Depositions were taken both in support of and against this rule, and it appeared therefrom, that the prothonotary, when the appeal was taken had duly entered on the record that all the costs had been paid, amounting to $35.59, but that the defendant had in fact receipted on the back of plaintiff's bill of costs for $3.88, witness fees due one Phillips, the superintendent of the defendant's road, paying the prothonotary but $31.71 in cash; and that on April 2, 1888, the prothonotary had changed his record by erasing the figures $35.59 and inserting in place thereof $31.71. The same day an order signed by said Phillips was filed, authorizing the payment of the above costs due him to the defendant's attorney.

On May 14, 1888, the rule to strike off the appeal was discharged the court, FURST, P.J., saying:

It is sufficient to say that the record showed the actual payment of all the costs; that a subsequent alteration of the record without notice to appellant cannot affect his rights. The appeal is good under the authority of Rice v Constein, 89 Pa. 479. The only difficulty in the case was as to one witness, W. M. Phillips; the record shows only that he received his costs. We need not inquire how, when the record shows the payment to an authorized agent to receive it. This rule is therefore discharged.

At the trial of the action on September 19, 1888, the following case appeared:

On November 27, 1887, Michael Fisher, the plaintiff's son, started from a barn with two mules belonging to his father, for the purpose of watering them at a spring, on the opposite side of the railroad about six hundred yards away. He rode one mule which he directed by means of the halter strap passed through its mouth, and led the other by a chain fastened to its halter. He testified as to the accident as follows:

Q. How did you leave the barn? A. I rode the one mule and led the other one in the hand with the halter; I went on down about near 300 yards, and the one mule which I had in my hand got to playing; I hadn't worked them very hard, a few days before, and he got to playing, rearing up that way around, and he started off on a run, and I was not thinking of him starting off, and he jerked away with the chain and jerked me off; I had hold of the T and he jerked me off and they started both on after I was off. Q. Started on where? A. Down to the watering place. Q. What is the watering place -- a spring? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you ever water the mules there before? A. I think I watered them once there; I aint sure, but I think I watered them once there. Q. What occurred then after you were thrown off? A. I started on down following them up, and I didn't just run; I took my time and went on down, and about the time they were ready to come over, there was an engine came, and one of them made it across, one of them came across, and the other one didn't make it; the engine struck him before he got across. Q. Where was the mule when the engine struck it? A. Right at the edge of the crossing. Q. On the road? A. No, sir; right on the railroad. Q. But it was on the line of the public road? A. Yes, sir.

The occurrence was on Sunday, and it was admitted no trains were scheduled to run that day. There was evidence that no bell was rung or whistle blown as the engine approached the crossing.

At the conclusion of plaintiff's evidence, the defendant moved for a judgment of nonsuit, which was allowed and judgment of nonsuit entered, with leave, etc.

A motion to vacate the judgment of nonsuit was subsequently refused, the court, FURST,...

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7 cases
  • Kerby v. Oregon Short Line Railroad Co.
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • February 29, 1928
    ... ... ( Wheeler v. Oregon R. & N. Co., 16 Idaho 375, 102 P ... 347; [45 Idaho 640] 22 R. C. L., p. 1002, sec. 230; ... Fisher v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 126 Pa. 293, 17 A ... 607; St. Louis B. & M. Ry. Co. v. Knowles (Tex. Civ ... App.), 180 S.W. 1146; Southern Ry. Co ... ...
  • Brookbank v. Benedum-Trees Oil Co.
    • United States
    • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
    • April 22, 1957
    ...of a statutory requirement the railroad was not bound to fence its tracks: Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Riblet, 66 Pa. 164; Fisher v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 126 Pa. 293, 17 A. 607.9 Mitchell, 'Real Estate and Conveyancing in Pennsylvania' (1890 ed.) chapters XI, XII, pp. 402-432; Fallon 'Pennsylvan......
  • Brookbank v. Benedum-Trees Oil Co.
    • United States
    • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
    • April 22, 1957
    ... ... Appeal of C. S. CAMERON, an individual. Appeal of BENEDUM-TREES OIL COMPANY. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. April 22, 1957 ... Reargument ... Denied June 20, 1957 ... [131 A.2d 104] ... [Copyrighted Material Omitted] ... [131 A.2d 105] ... the railroad was not bound to fence its tracks: Pennsylvania ... R. Co. v. Riblet, 66 Pa. 164; Fisher v. Pennsylvania R. Co., ... 126 Pa. 293, 17 A. 607 ... [ 9 ] Mitchell, 'Real Estate and ... Conveyancing in Pennsylvania' (1890 ed.) chapters ... ...
  • Devereux v. Philadelphia & Reading Railway Co.
    • United States
    • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
    • April 20, 1914
    ... ... Heckscher, of Duane, Morris & Heckscher, for appellant, ... cited: Railroad Co. v. Skinner, 19 Pa. 298; ... North Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Rehman, 49 Pa ... 101; Ely v. Pittsburgh, Etc., Ry. Co., 158 Pa. 233; ... Strader v. Monroe Co., 202 Pa. 626; Hunterson v ... Clarke Mason, for appellee, cited: Railroad Co. v ... Skinner, 19 Pa. 298; No. Penna. Railroad Co. v ... Rehman, 49 Pa. 101; Fisher v. Railroad Co., 126 ... Pa. 293; Clark v. Railroad Co., 24 Pa.Super. 609; ... Snyder v. Railroad Co., 205 Pa. 619; Scowden v ... Railroad Co., ... ...
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