'4 "McGUffiE fl.
FEDERAL REPORTER.·
CHIdAG(); M. it ST. P. Ry. CO.
(Circuit r:,ouri, D. Minnesota. .January 2,1889.) RAILROAD COMPANIES-INJURY TO PERSONS ON TRACK-CONTRmUTORY NEGLI· GENClll-QmLDREN.
Plaintiff, a boy 10 years old,bright and intelligent for his age, crossed a railroad track as soon as a train had passed, and stepped onto another track, where he was struck by a train coming from an opposite direction, at an unlawful rate of speed, and without giving any warnmg. Held, that the court would not rule that plaintiff was negligent as a matter of law, and that the question was properly submitted to the jury under instructions that only such vigilance was required of plaintiff as could reasonably be expected of a child of his age and capacity.1 "
At Law. On delEmdant's motion for new trial. . This suit wail brought to recover damages for a personal injury to plaintiff, John McGuire, a boy nearly 10 years 01<:1, resulting from the negligence of the defendant; and the jllry rendered a verdict for the plaintiff. Plaintiff was about to cross the defendant's railway tracks near the corner ofEleventh avenue and Fourth street in the city ofMinneapolis, in. this district, and 011 reaching the tracks on Eleventh avenue he stopped for a passenger train to go by, and as the train passed he stepped before" the last car on and over that track onto another, upon which a freight train was coming in an opposite direction, and was immediately confronted and struck by the engine. Subsequently, in his endeavors to escape, he was thrown from a pile of boards under the wheels of the passenger train. The evidence tended to show that the freight train was moving at a rate of speed by law, and that no warning by ringing a bell or otherwise was given. The defense of contributory negligence \Vas interposed by defendant. The court decided that the plaintiff, as the evidence showed, was active, bright, and intelligent, and had the faculties requisite forthe perception of danger. Flandrau, Squires & Outchecm, for the motion. Forrest & Van Oleve, contra. NELSON, J., (after Btati'l1g tM jactBlfl!,DstantUlUy as above.) A correct decision of this motion depends upon w;hether or not the boy was negligent as a matter oflaw in going upon the tracks and attempting to cross as he did. If an adult had been injured under the same circumstances, instead ofa child about 10 years of age,I shoqld hav.e little hesitation in granting tlie Illotion. I feel sati,af1ed, however, that .this case was a. proper one for 'the jury upon the question of contributory negligence, and I do not think that thtl court erred in refusing to instruct them that the act of the boy in attempting to cross the tracks was negligence as a. matter of law. The caution required of the boy was according to his
·In regard to contributory negligence attributed to children in actions for negligent injuries, see Twist v. Railroad Co., ?Minn.) 39 N. W: Rep. 402, and note; Railroad . Co. v. Young, (Ga.) 7 S. E. Rep. 912; Railway 00. v. Wblpple, (Kan.) 18 Pac. Rep. 730, and note.
BARBER.
55
age and capacity, to' be' dEltermined by the facts and circumstances developed on the trial. While I held that the boy was capable of exercising some degree of care,stiU he was not subjected to the same rules of conduct as an adult. I instructed the jury that it was incumbent upon the boy to exercise vigilance for his safety. yet only such care was required of him as could reasonably be expected of a child of his age and capacity. I put it to the jury to determine whether he did exercise such care, and the verdict did not sustain the defense of contributory negligence. It is a close case, and not free from doubt. If I am wrong, the remedy of the defendant.is'clear. Motion for new trial denied.
UNITED STATES '11. BARBER.
(District Oourt, D. Nebraska. 1.
November Term, 1888.)
This,last la,w has no saving clause relative to offenses arising under the sQ.id .second section, and offenses committed prior to the 26th of September, 1888. cannot be puniahed under the present law. The portion of said section which 1ixedtbe punishment for the offenses therein enumerated has been repealed by implicatioti. ·(8g Ua bt.l8 the Court.) On the.C6urt's Motion in Ar;rest of Judgment. W. , L. 'Barber was tried and convicted under the act of congress of June 18, 1888, for depositing in the post-office non-mailable matter. . George E. Pritchett, for the U oited States. Mr. Munn, for defendant. DUNDY,J. On tM18th day of June, 1888, congress passed an act, An act relating tp postal crimes, and amendatory of the statutes therein mentioned," which seems to have gone further than congress has ever before ventured in that direction. New offenses have been created · by that act, and neW penalties have been prescribed for old offenses. ·The latter part of section. 2 of said act is all that seems necessary to 'consider in connection. That is as follows: .. And all matter otherWise mailable by law upon the envelope or outside covel' or wrapper of which, or postal-card upon which, indecent, lewd, lascivious, obscene, libelous, scurrilous, or threatening delineations, epithets, terms. or language, or reflecting injuriously upon the character or conduct ot an..other, may be written or,printed, arebereby declared to be non-mailable mattl;lr, and shall not be conveyed in the mails, nor delivered from any post-office. nor by any letter-carrier:' and any person who shall knowingly deposit or caUSA to bl\ deposited for mailing ordeUv6.ryanything declared by this section to be
2.
S..um.
Act 26th September, 1888, amending section 2 of the act of 18th June, 1888, relatmgto non-mailable matter, changes all former penalties provided for that offense.
AGAINST POSTAL LAWS-ACT CONGo SEPT. 26,1888.