898
FEDERAL REPORTER.
this amount the complainants De France can hold and occupy the homestead. A decree will be entered declaring the mortgage held by Tabor a. first lien on the whole 160 acres, and also granting to the complainants De France the right to occupy the homestead, and making the injunction permanent restraining the further prosecution of the action in ejectment on payment within 60 days after notice of this decision of the sum of $415.96 above specified. On failure to pay this amount, the injunction is dis301ved, and the only relief granted will be as above stated.
CENTRAL TRUST
Co. and another v. WABASH, ST. L. & P. Ry. Co. and others. (Dopp, Intervenor.)1
(Oircuit Oourt, E. D. Missouri. March 24,1886.) IUILROADS-NEGLIGENCE-USE OF TRACKS FOR FOOT-PATHS.
Persons who use railroad tracks as foot-paths are bound to use reasonable care to avoid injury, and it is proper for locomotive engineers to act upon the presumption that they will use such care. 2
In Equity. Exceptions to master's report. The intervenor asks for damages for injuries sustained through the alleged negligence of the employes of the Wabash receivers. The facts of the case are substantially as follows: The intervenor, while walking westward along a track of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacifio Railway Company, saw a Wabash engine and tender backing towards him. When it was about two oar lengths from him he left the Wabash track and got on the incoming Missouri Pacifio track, whioh is just north of it, and started along the latter track; but, upon looking up, saw a Missouri Pacific train coming in, and to avoid it left the Missouri Pacifio track and started back towards the Wabash traok. Before he could reach the latter track he was struck by the tender of the Wabash engine and severely injured. 'l'here was not sufficient time after he started back towards the Wabash track to stop the engine before he was struck. By getting off the Missouri Pacific track on the north instead of the south side he could easily have avoided all danger. The master reports that the reoeivers' employes were not in fault, and that the intervenor is not entitled to reoover. Wm. O. et Jas. O. Jones, for intervenor. H. S. Priest, for reoeivers. TREAT, J., (orally.) The exceptions are overruled, not only for the reasons stated by the master, but from elemental rules in addition 1 Reported I
by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., of the St. Louis bar. See note at end of case.
CENTRAL TRUST CO. '11. WABASH, ST. L. & P. RY. CO.
897
thereto there can be no recovery in this case. T·he intervenor chose to use the track of the railway company for his personal convenience, without regard to constantly moving trains thereon; and the railway company having a right to suppose the track free, pursued its ordinary course of business. The injury, therefore, occurred through the gross negligence of the intervenor, without any fault on the part of the railway company. Master's report confirmed. N01'E. Where a party voluntarily upon and walks along a railroad track, and fails, without excuse, to look and listen for danger, and is injured by reason thereof from a passing train, he is guilty of such contributory negligence as will defeat recovery. Laverenz v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co., (Iowa,) 10 N. W. Rep. 268. Such person is a mere trespasser, and while it would be the duty of the persons operating trains, if they saw him, and could avoid injuring him, to do so, yet if they did not see him, and were ignorant of his dangerous position, they would not be bound to look out to save him from'injury. McAllister v. Burline:ton & N. W.Ry. Co., (Iowa.) 20 N. W. Rep. 488. A railroad company doe8 not owe a mere trespasser upon its track the duty of having an engineer running a train to look to see whether he is there. Scheffier v. Minneapolis & St. L. Ry. Co., (Minn.) 21 N. W. Rep. 711. A person going upon a railroad track between stations, without first looking and listening for an approaching train, is guilty of contributory negliglillce, and cannot recover for injury sustained. Ivens v. Cincinnati, W. & M. Ry. Co., (Ind.) 2 N. E. Rep.
When a trespasser on a railway track is injured by the negligence of the railroad company, he may not recover unless such negligence was willful; mere gross negligence is not sufficient. Terre Haute & I. ·R. Co. v. Graham, 95 Ind. 286. A person who, without right, aud with full knowledge of the location, voluntarily places himself upon a railroad track, at a place where there is no crossing, and which IS a known place of danger. and is killed by a passing train, is negligent, and no damages can be recovered for his death, except for wauton injury. Pittsburgh, Ft. W. & C. Ry. Co. v. Collins, 87 Pa, St. 405. One who, without authority, enters upon a railway track, and while there becomes insensible from providential causes, and while in this state, and in plain view, is injured by a train, may recover damages of the company, althou/!:h the injuries were not wanton or willful; but otherwise, if his insensibility was by reason of voluntary in· toxication. Houston & T. C. By. Co. v. Sympkins, 54 Tex. 6i5. Except at public crossings a rail way company no duty to a young child on its track. Cauley v. Pittsburgh. C. & St. L. Ry. Co., 95 Pa, St. 398. See Meeks v. Southem Pac. Ry. Co., 56 Cal. 513; Central Branch, etc., R. Co. v. 23 Kan. 347; Heston· ville P. It Co. v. Connell, 88 Pa, St. 520; Moore v. Peunsy1vania R. Co., 99 Pli. St. 301.
134.
CO. and another v. WABASH, ST. L. & P. By. Co. and others. (NOONAN, Intervenor.)!
(Oircuit Oourt, E. D. Missouri. March 24,1886.) RAn.ROADs-CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE-RIDING ON DEFECTIVE CAR.
The foreman of the crew of a. switch-engine complained to the yard-master that one of the foot-boards of his engine was in a dangerous condition, but it was not repaired. Three da.ys after making the complaint, and while riding on the defective foot-board, he was thrown off in consequence of the defect, and i!1jured. He might have ridden on the caboose platform, which was safe. Held, that he had not been guilty of such contributory negligence as to prevent a recovery.
I
Reported by Benj. F. Rex, Esq., ofthe St. Louis bar.
v.26F.no.12-57