The Chicago & Alton R.R. Co. v. Bloomfield
| Decision Date | 31 May 1880 |
| Citation | 7 Ill.App. 211,7 Bradw. 211 |
| Court | United States Appellate Court of Illinois |
| Parties | THE CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD COMPANYv.PATRICK BLOOMFIELD. |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Macoupin county; the Hon. W. R. WELCH, Judge, presiding. Opinion filed September 29, 1880.
Messrs. RINAKER & RINAKER, for appellant; that it should be shown that the fire emanated from the engine, cited C. & A. R. R. Co. v. Clampit, 63 Ill. 95; Ill. Cent. R. R. Co. v. Frazier, 64 Ill. 28; C. & A. R. R. Co. v. Quaintance, 58 Ill. 389; T. W. & W. R. R. Co. v. Larmon, 67 Ill. 68; P. C. & St. L. R. R. Co. v. Campbell, 86 Ill. 343.
The plaintiff failed to make out a prima facie case, and the judgment should be reversed: I. & St. L. R. R. Co. v. Evans, 88 Ill. 63.
Messrs. COHN & SHIRLEY, for appellee; as to the right to recover, cited C. & A. R. R. Co. v. Quaintance, 58 Ill. 389; Rev. Stat. 1874, 814, § 78; 807, § 38; P. C. & St. L. R. R. Co. v. Campbell, 86 Ill. 443.
This suit was brought by appellee against appellant to recover the value of a stack of hay alleged to have been burned by sparks of fire escaping from one of appellant's engines passing on its road.
The stack was four hundred and fifty feet from the road, but appellee attempted to prove that the fire originated on the right-of-way and extended to the stack.
Appellant attempted to show that the fire commenced at the stack and extended to its right-of-way, and that it was not caused by sparks from its engine. On this question there was a conflict in the evidence.
The court, at the instance of appellee, gave this instruction to the jury:
1. That if they believe from a preponderance of the evidence in this case, that the plaintiff's hay was destroyed by fire communicated from one of defendant's engines, and that defendant's right-of-way was not free from dry grass, leaves and other combustible matter at the place where the fire started, then the defendant is prima facie guilty of negligence, and the burden of overcoming such prima facie case by evidence is upon the defendant; and unless the jury believe that the defendant by its evidence has overcome such prima facie case, they will find for the plaintiff, and assess his damages at what the evidence shows such hay was worth at the time it was destroyed.
This instruction assumes as a fact the very matter in contest, that the fire started on defendant's right-of-way; and must have greatly prejudiced appellant.
The evidence was so...
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