MISSOURI PAC. R. CO. V. TEXAS & P. RY. CO.
359
forth in the bill of discovery is one cognizable at law. It is probably true that it is one of which equity also has concurrent jurisdiction, because the remedy there would be more adequate and complete in some respects than the plaintiff can obtain at law. It is altogether probable that the bill of discovery is bad upon demurrer, and this is perhaps the first instance in which such a bill has been filed in. aid of a suit at law where issue has not been joined in the suit at law; but this question. although somewhat discussed at the argument, is not properly here, and can only be considered when a demurrer is interposed. It has seemed proper to thus refer to and consider somewhat matters not strictly pertinent to the present motion, because of the obvious misapprehension of points of practice by both counsel, which, ifnot now corrected, may lead to further and useless proceedings in the controversy. The plaintiff has the choice at his election of either one of two courses which will afford him an efficient remedy. He can dismiss his bill of discovery and treat his original suit as an action at law,and when the pleadings are perfected and issue joined, can apply to compel an inspection and production of necessary and material books and papers in the defendant's possession; or he can treat it as a suit in equity, and frame a bill with appropriate averments and interrogatories for discovery, and if necessary, for an inspection according to the course of equity practice.
MISBOUBI PAC.
R. Co.
tl.
TExAS & P. Ry. Co., (Cox et tla:., Intervenors.)l
(Oircuit Oourt, E. D. Louuiana. January 2, 1888.) CAlUUERS-NEGLIGEl'fCE-UNSAFBPLATll'OllH-WARNING BY OFll'ICBBS OJ'RoAD -REFERENCE.. . .
In a claim for damages for injuries sustained by passengers falling off a railwayplatforin, upon which they had alighted safely, and after they had been warned by an official of the railway as to their danger, the maeter di!l not rule specifically as to the effect of the warning in obligating the passengers to take greater care, but merely referred to it as being insufficient to Julfill the railway company's obligatIOn of reasonable care in respect of safe conditions. Held, that as the question as to the effect of the warninA" had not received the attention its importance warranted. the case should be recommitted to further hearing and report.
In Equity. OIl exceptions to master's report. .'\ R. M. Cox and wife filed in intervention a claim against the receivers of the Texas & Pacific Railway Company, for damages from personal injuries sustained. ..The master reported, allowing claimants 81,400. The receivers excepted to the master's report.
J. H. Kennard, for intervenors. I
w. w. Hilwe.,
Reported b7 Charles B. Sta1ford, Esq;j of the New Orleans balo.
360
FEDERAL REPORTER.
'(PARDEE, J., (orally.) Conceding for this case all thernaster has repar-ted, and all that counsel for intervenors claims as to the responsibility o£:the receivers in regard to a safe andwell-lighfed platform forilie egress and ingress of passengers to and from the railroad trains, :there still remains the question whether the intervenors did not contribute through their own negligence to the injuries they received. The evidence shows that they safely alighted on the platform amidst an unusually large cr0wd, at night, and thereupon commenced searching through the crowd for the friend with whom they intended to visit. In so seaJ;ching, they advanced towards the edge of the platform, when they were warned by an official of the railway as to their danger. At the moment they heeded the warning and turned back, but immediately returned to the same place,arid walked directly off the platform. The evidence of the ofijcial who gave the warning is corroborated by another witness, and is not specifically denied by intervenors. On this, point the master does llOtspecifically rule, and only refers to the warning as being insufficient to relieve the defendants, to-wit, "that even an admonition, in the confusion incident to as dark a situation, to a surging crowd, by one who, like the premises, was unknown to complainants, did not suffice the defendants' obligation of reasonable care in respect of safe conditions." :The confusion,and surging crowd, and dark situation, instead of depreciating the value of the warning, should have enhanced it to the Put upon their guard as they were, the. question naturally arises as to whether then, if not before, they were not obligated to use some prudence and caution in taking care of themselves, and if they neglected the caution, and heedlessly walked in the dangerous way, and were injured, can it he said tb,at did not, by their own negligence, to the injury? . . ,.... . , .' .. As this did,not apparently receive the attention by the counsel for the parties appearing before the master which its importance warrants, and aathe evidence can. evidently be made more explicit, the case should be recommitted. An order will therefore be. entered recOIumittlng report f9r further evidence, if desired by party lUld for report.
MISSOURI
PAC.
R. CO. "'.
TEXAS
& P. Ry. Co., (TANDY, Intervenor.)]
(Girouu Gourt, E. D. Louisiana. January 2, 1888.) RAILROAD
, , In an ac;tion against a raiiroad company for damages by fire from its locomotives,..tbe only evidence offered by the company was the affidavits of their master mechanic as to the condition of certain locomotives at the time. as to stack-nets, ash-pans, etc. The evidence did not 'disclose whether these were the engines by which the fire was caused. Held, that a finding by the master of damages for claimant was proper. ' , Reported by Charles B, Stafford, Esq., of t'\J,e New Orleans bar.
. I