Burns v. N.Y., P. B.R.R. Co. , 20 R.I. 789 ( 1892 )

In this case the testimony does not show whether the deceased was thrown from train by the breaking of the spindle, or whether he fell from the train and the sudden strain upon the spindle, occasioned by the passing of the wheels of the train over his body, caused the breaking of the spindle.

But assuming that it was the breaking of the spindle which caused the deceased to fall from the train and which occasioned his death, the testimony fails to show negligence on the part of the defendant. It is claimed that the defendant was negligent, in that it did not inspect the spindle at stated times by removing it from the draw-bar. The testimony of the defendant shows that its freight cars are regularly inspected at each end of the route, Providence and Worcester, and that in such inspection the "draw-bars and draw-rigging" are examined, and that such inspection, so far as it relates to the spindle, is made by the inspector getting under the car and examining such portion of the spindle as is in sight, to wit, the end which projects beyond the draw-bar. It is contended on the part of the plaintiff that this inspection was insufficient, because the spindle was not removed from the draw-bar, and that the defect which caused it to break was within the draw-bar so that it could not be discovered without removing it from the draw-bar. On the other hand it was contended by the defendant that the only inspection that is or ever has been deemed necessary by railroad men is the inspection made by its employees, since the weakest portion of the spindle is at the slot through which the key is inserted to hold it in its position, and that this portion of the spindle can be and is inspected in the manner stated, without removing it from the draw-head; that the breaking of the spindle in question, within the draw-bar, was very unusual, if not unprecedented, and was due to a flaw in the iron which could not have been discovered without breaking the spindle had it been removed from the draw-head. The plaintiff in reply contended that the spindle, instead of having a flaw in it, was cracked, and that the surface of the iron where it was broken was rusted for a considerable distance across the break, and that if the spindle had been removed from the draw-head the crack could have been easily perceived. No one saw the spindle until after it had been broken. We are inclined to believe that the contention of the defendant is correct, and that the discoloration spoken of by the plaintiff's witness as rust was simply the discoloration characteristic of a flaw in iron due to imperfect cohesion. But, however this may be, we do not think the fact material. No testimony was adduced by the plaintiff to show that it is customary for railroad companies, or that it has ever been considered essential by prudent men engaged in the operation of railroad trains to remove spindles from the draw-bars for the purpose of inspecting them, and in the absence of such testimony, we are of the opinion that it was not negligence for the defendant to omit an inspection of the spindle in question in that manner.

Defendants' petition for a new trial granted.