NISKERN V.OmCAGO, M. &BT. P. BY. 00.
818
if in the negative, settles the controversy. The burden of proof is upon the plaintiff-that is, upon Niskern-to satisfy you, by a fair preponderance of the evidence, that the fire, which he claims started in the corn-stalks which were piled up against the barn, came from the locomotive. If the sparks from this locomotive, whether from the smoke-stack or from the ash-pan, did not cause the fire, there is no foundation for this cause of action. To determine this first question in the case,-to-wit, was the fire wh'ich destroyed this property set by sparks or coals from the defendant's locomotive ?-you must take into consideration all the facts and circumstances testified to, tending to throw light upon this issue. You must judge of the credibility of the witnesses on both sides, the weight to be given to their evidence, and the probabilities of the truth of their statements, their opportunities for knowledge, their interest in the subject-matter of the suit, the manner in which their testimony is 'given, and evei·y circumstance in the case which the testimony discloses. You must consider all the evidence, and all the facts and circumstances submitted to you, bearing upon this question; not only the evidence introduced by plaintiff to prove that the fire was communicated from this locomotive to the corn-stalks, but also the evidence of the defendant's witnessesin regard to the probabilities of fire being communicated to the barn and corn-stalks from other sources; and, after full consideration of the testimony bearinH upon this issue, determine the origin of the fire, recollecting that the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff to satisfy you, by tbe weight of evidence, that the corn-stalks were set on fire by the locomotive. This is the plaintiff's theory of the origin of the fire. He says that this fire was oommunicated from the locomotive to the corn-stalks which burned up his property. That is his theory of the case. If, upon fuU conI:lideration, you should determine that the fire which destroyed this property was not set by defendant's locomotive, then, of course, the plaintiff cannot recover in this action, and the defendant will be entitled to your verdict. That is the first question for you to determine. But if, after full deliberation, considering all the testimony tending tv ahow the origin of the fire, you believe that the plaintiff, by a fair preponderance of evidence,' bas proved that the fire was communicated from this locomotive, -e.nd that the fire was started in the cornstalks piled up against the plaintiff's barn by sparks or coale scattered or thrown from this locomotive, then you will still further consider the case in the light of the statute which I will read to you. I might here state that on this statute the plaintiff virtually rests his case. This statute enacts-although it might be, perhaps, the rule without the statute-that "all railroad companies or corporatidns, operating or running cars or steam-engines over roads in this state, shall be liable, to any party aggrieved, for all damage caused by fire being scattered or thrown from said cars or engines, without the owner or owners of
814
FEDBRAL BEPOBTEBe '
the property so damaged bemR required to show defects in their engines, or negligence on the part of their employes; but the fact of such fire being so scattered or thrown shall be construed, by all courts having jurisdiction, as prima facie evidence of such negligence or defectj" that is, if you are satisfied that the fire communicated to the corn-stalks from this locomotive, then the negligence of the company is established prima facie, and they are not required to go any further. If the first issue is found in favor of the plaintiff in this case, then it is presumed, for all purposes of the case, that the company was negligent and responsible for the destruction of the property. "Provided, that the said railroad corporation may show, upon the trial of any action, that said damage arose from, the default or negligence of the party inj ured." This statute shifts the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant, and raises a legal presumption of the defendant's negligence. It says to you, if the plaintiff in this <lase, upon whom the burden of proof rests, has, by the weight of evidence, proved to your satisfaction that this locomotive set fire to and destroyed the plaintiff's property, then this locomotive is presumed to have been defective, or the employes of the company who operated it are presumed to have been negligent. As 1 said before, the plain. tiff relies on this statute; there is no direct evidence here to show to you that this engine was defeotive at that time, or that the engineer in charge of it was incompetent or unskillful. In other words, if the plaintiff has established to your satisfaction that fire scattered or thrown from the locomotive destroyed his property, a prima facie case of negligence on the part of the defendant is made out,and the plaintiff is entitled to recover compensation, unless the company proves that it did its duty in the premises, and was not guilty of negligence. The burden of proof here is upon the defendant to show you, by satisfactory evidence, that the locomotive was properly constructed, and that it was equipped with the best mechanical contrivances and invenWms known in practical use at that time, which were effective in preventing tpe burning of private property by the escape of sparks and coals from its locomotives, and that competent and skillful employes were operating 'it. The company must furnish satisfactory evidence that the locomotive was thus properly constructed, and managed with aU the care and caution which the ciroumstanC'es required. It was not required to stop the operation of its road because the wind was blowing strong from the north-west towards the pla.intiff's property at that time; nor was it required to lay up its train because it was passing through a village where wooden buildings and private property were near its track and exposed to fire and sparks. It performed all of its duty in the premises if the locomotive was properly equipped with the best appliances for arresting and preventing the escape of sparks or coals, and was operated with, the requisite care and caution. Of course It higher degree of care was required to be exercised in passing such a
NISKERN V.OHIOA.GO, M. &
P. BY. 00.
town, where wooden buildings are exposed, than in passing through an open country, where buildings and private property would not be endangered. . . In determining whether the defendant has overcome the prima facie case of negligence which results from the law, in case you locomotive set fire to the property, you must consider and properly weigh all the evidence which has been given you by the engineers and machinists, who are familiar with locomotives and their proper construction. The defendant is required to overcome a prima facie case of 'negligence which the law raises, and it must do this by satisfying you that it performed its whole duty, aud did not use a defective locomotive or manage it in an uuskillful manner. If, upon this issue of fact, you find that the company have not been at fault or negligent, then, in that case, although you should believe from the evidence that the property was destroyed by fire from this locomotive, yet the plaintiff cannot recover, and your verdict must be for the defendant. The first issue is, did the locomotive set fire to this property? If it did, has the defeudant overcome the prima facie case of negligence which is raised by the law? If it has, then, although you find the first issue in favor of the plaiutiff, still, he cannot recover if you find the second issue in favor of the defendant, and that entitles the defendant to a verdict. But if, in your opinion, the defendant has not overcome the presumption raised by the statute, a.nd you believe that the fire from the locomotive destroyed the property by the negligence of the defendant, then the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict, unless he was also guilty of negligence which contributed to the delltJ,'uctiol). of his property. . The statute of this state makes this provision: that a railroad company may show, upon the trial of any action, that the damage arose from the default or negligence of the party injured; that is, what is called contributorynegligence. The rule of the Common 10.wis that "one who, by his negligende, has brought an injury upon himself, cannot recover damages for it;" and this rule is enunciated and made a part of this statute, which is nothing more than the common-law rule of contributory negligence. If you find that the railroad company was negligent in this case, then it is for you to decide whether the destruction of Niskern's property was occasioned entirely by the negligence or improper conduct of the railroad company, or whether llehimself so far contributed to the destruction of the property by his own negligence that, but for Buch negligence and want of care and caution on his part, the property would not have burned. If the loss was occasioned entirely by the defendant's negligence, then can recover, and is entitled to a verdict. But if his own want of care contributed to the destruction of hi" property, then he cannot recover, although the defendant was negligent in the management oflts 'locomotive. The diligen<:e.in this/respect required, of the
816
PBDBBAL BEPOBTBB.
avoid the destruction of his property, by fire scattered orthrown from a locomotive, is such care and attention a prudent and careful man, under such circumstances, would exercise with regard to the preservation of his property from fire thrown or scattered from a. locomotive. Niskern piled up against his barn, which he had never done before, a stack of corn-stalks, alleged to be combustible matter, so as to endanger its taking fire from the sparks from a locomotive; and it is urged that a prudent and careful man, under the circumstances, would not have done so. While Niskern, in the use of his property, had a right to presume that the railroad company would not be guilty of negligence, and was not required to anticipate any negligent act or omission on its part, yet. he is required to be free from fault, and not contribute, by his own negligence, to the loss which he suffered. So, gentlemen, it is for you to determine, from all the evidence in the case, whether the defendant,this railroad company, upon whom the burden of proof rests, has upon this branch of the case proved that Niskern contributed to the loss of his property by his own negligence. If he did, he cannot recover. If the defendant has not proved him to be negligent in piling the corn-stalks, then, if the destruction by fire of the plaintiff's property was occasioned entirely by the defendant's negligence, the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict. This is about all the law 'there is in the case. I have been requested by counsel on both sides to deliver certain instructions to you. I think I have covered most of them in roy general charge, and decline to do so. The jury found a verdict for defendant.
BENNETT
and another
t1. COVINGTON. l
Ootwt, E. D. N(J'f'th Oarolina. December 12,1884.) 1. 2. CONTRACTS-GAMBLING-BURDEN OF PROOF.·
The hurden of proof is upon the defendant to show that a contract III Told under the act against gamhling. An order to operate in cotton futures Includes an assumption on the part of the principal of all losses legitimately incurred and paid by the agent in the ordinary and known exercise of his agency.
SAME-PRINCIPAL AND AGENT.
8.
SAME-AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES-TEST OF ILLEGALITy-EVIDENCE.
In order to establish the illegality of a contract for the future delivery 01 cotton, as being a wager, it is necessary to show that the real intent of all the parties at the time of entering into the contracts was merely to speculate in the rise or fall of prices, and that the goods were not to be delivered, but that one party was to pay to the other the difference between the contract price and the market price of the goods at the date fixed for executing the contract.
1Reported bTl. W. Hinsdale, Esq., oCtile Raleigh, North Carolh,&, bar.