Mondt v. Iowa Ry. & Light Co.
Decision Date | 18 December 1915 |
Docket Number | 30338 |
Citation | 155 N.W. 245,178 Iowa 666 |
Parties | H. A. MONDT, Appellee, v. IOWA LIGHT & RAILWAY CO., Appellant |
Court | Iowa Supreme Court |
REHEARING DENIED, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1916.
Appeal from Boone District Court.--R. M. WRIGHT, Judge.
ACTION at law to recover damages. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. The material facts are stated in the opinion.
Affirmed.
John A Hull, for appellant.
F. W Ganoe and D. G. Baker, for appellee.
The defendant operates an electric railway extending between the city of Boone and the village of Logansport, and on the day in question one of its cars came into collision upon a public crossing with an automobile operated by the plaintiff, with resultant injury to the latter's vehicle. Plaintiff demands a recovery of damages, on the theory that the collision was occasioned by the negligence of defendant's employes operating the electric car, and without fault on his own part. A verdict was returned in his favor for $ 275, and judgment was entered thereon. The appellant has assigned numerous errors, but its argument is confined to three propositions, and to these only we give our attention.
I. The negligence is alleged to consist: (1) In operating the car over the crossing at an excessive and dangerous speed; (2) in failing to stop the car after discovering plaintiff's danger; (3) in failing to sound any signal or give warning of the car's approach; and (4) in failing to keep the car under reasonable control.
Appellant does not argue that the evidence is insufficient to justify a finding of negligence on its part, and, upon the record to which we shall hereinafter refer, it could not well make such claim. Its first proposition is that plaintiff is shown to have been guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, and this is in fact the one really debatable question in the case. Referring to the facts, the evidence tends to show that the collision occurred under conditions as follows: The crossing, though within the geographical limits of Boone, is outside of the settled area of the city, in the direction of the Des Moines River, and in or near a region of coal mines. The view as plaintiff approached the crossing was obstructed by a large billboard, by posts and poles, and by corn growing upon the adjacent land, and weeds covering the right of way up to a point close to the track. Plaintiff and the person riding with him both testify that they looked to see if any car was approaching; but, owing to the obstructions, they did not discover the car in time to prevent the collision. Plaintiff swears that the car, when he discovered it, was moving at not less than 30 miles an hour; and, although the power was shut off before it struck the automobile, the motorman did not succeed in stopping it until it had overrun the crossing 160 feet or more. The automobile was being driven at about 15 miles an hour, and as soon as plaintiff saw the car he released his clutch and applied both brakes; but the automobile slid up to the track, and stopped just before it was struck. He says no whistle or bell was sounded by the car. There is also evidence that, after the collision, the motorman, having stopped his car, came back to the crossing and, in reply to plaintiff's question why he did not ring the bell, said he did not see the automobile. The motorman, testifying for defendant, says:
The conductor also testifies:
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