LOYD V. WALLER.
1501
seasonably made has been denied from an early day (Woods v. Young, 4 Cranch, 287; Sims v. Hundley, 6 How. 1; Barrow v. Hill, 13 How. 54; Thompson v. Selden, 20 How. 194; McFaul v. Ramsey, Id. 523; Cook v. Burnley, 11 Wall. 659), and we know of no cases to the contrary. In Thompson v. Selden, supra, the supreme court say: "And as regards the motion to continue the case, it has often been decided by this court that the refusal of an inferior court to continue a case to another term cannot be assigned for errol' here. Justice requires that the granting or refusal of a continuance should be left to the sound discretion of the court where the motion is made, and where all of the eircumstanccs connected with it, and propel' to be considered, can readily be brought before the conrt."
If this be the correct rule,-and under the great authority declaring it, it cannot be disputed,-then, a fortiori, in a case where an application for a continuance is made by an intervener who is rE'quired to be always ready to plead or exhibit his testimony because he has always his remedy by a separate action to vindicate his rights, and such application is not made seasonably, but during the trial after the jury has been impaneled, and the necessary parties to the suit have submitted their evidence, "the wise discretionary power of the court" in granting or refusing the application cannot be reviewed. The second assignment of error of the plaintiff in error Bakerthat the court erred in rejecting the evidence offered by the intervener-is not well taken. The bill of exceptions shows that the evidence offered was rejected because there was'no issue joined between the intervener and the defendant. The presumption from the record is that the evidence offered was against the defendant in the case, as against whom, owing to intervener's laches, there was no issue. The assignment of error of both interveners that the court erred in refusing a new trial cannot be considered. The practice on such assignments has been settled by this court and the supreme court so frequently that it is unnecessary to discuss the matter or cite authorities. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
LOYD et al. v. WALLER et at (Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. No. 432.
May 12, 189(1.)
1.
JUDGUENTS-CoLLA'rERAL ATTACK-JURISDICTION OF PROBATE COURT.
The heirs at law of one L. having brought an action at law against R. and 'V., to recover certain lands in Texas, for which a patent was issued to L. in 1856, R. and 'V. brought suit in equity against snch heirs, to restrain the prosecution of their action at law, and assert an equitable title to the land, The bill alleged that the original certificate, entitling L. to locate lands, was issued to him in 1838; that he died, intestate, prior to 1844, before locating any lands; that in 1844 administrat.ion of his estate was grant.ed, and in 1845 an administrator de bonis non, under an order of t.he probate court, sold the land to one B., who, in 1854, obtained a duplicate certificat.e,.and located the land; that in 1836 a patent therefor was issued
602
74 FEDERAL REPORTER.
in the name of L., though B. was the owner; and that R's title had passed by regular conveyances to R. and W., the complainants. On the trial, complainants offered in evidence a judgment of the probate court, appointing the administrator de bonis non of the estate of L. Held that, as the probate court was one of general jurisdiction in the settlement of the estates of decedents, its judgment could not be collaterally attacked for any irregularities in the exercise of the jurisdiction, and the judgment was properly admitted, though it did not appear how the original administration had terminated, nor that any order had been made extending the term thereof beyond 12 months from the time when it was granted, and the appointment of the administrator de bemis non was made more than 12 months thereafter. 2. SAME-LAPSE OF TIME.
Held, further, that after the lapse of many years, during which the land had been conveyed and improved in good faith, it was sufficient to show the order of the probate court dealing with the subject-matter, and that the absence nf an order extending the administration after 12 months did not invalidate the title of the purchaser at the administrator's sale.
3.
SAAfE-CONFIRMATJON OF SAT,E.
Held, further, that the confirmation by the court of the sale made by the administrator de bonis non was sufficiently shown by an order, entered after the receipt of his report of the sale, directing that the settlement made by him (apparently referring to the disposition of the proceeds of the sale) be accepted and received by the conrt.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Texas. James B. Goff, for appellants. Seth VV. Stewart, for appellees. Before PARDEE, Circuit Judge, and BOARMAN and SPEER, District Judges. SPEER, District Judge. Inez E. Loyd and a number of others, who are citizens of states other than 'l'exas, which states are specified in the record, and who are the heirs at law of vVilliam :YI. Loyd, now deceased, but formerly of that state, brought an action at law in the circuit court of the United States for the Northern district of Texas, to try title to certain lands in that district, against Columbus Waller, a citizen of that state, and Thomas Ruddy, a subject of her majesty, Victoria, queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and empress of India. A number of others. who were minors, were represented by next friends, and James B. Goff, Esq., was their attorney. Columbus Waller and Thomas Ruddy, defending this action, presented a bill to the circuit court sitting in equity. Their complaint is as follows: That the plaintiffsiit the action at law are claiming lands of the complainants, and rely upon a bare, naked legal title; that complainants are, and have been for a long time, in the possession of lands, and have the equitable title thereto; that the alleged title of the plaintiffs in the action at law is a cloud upon complainants' title, and prevents the sale of the land, by which the latter are greatly damaged. Notwithstanding the true and equitable title of the complainants, Waller and Ruddy, the defendants would pre· vail in the action at law, unless the court should enjoin that action, and hear and determi.ne the cause in equity. The bill further states that, several years prior to 1844, vVilliam M. Loyd, who was the
LOYD. V.
603
original grantee of the lands in question, amounting to one-third of a league, died intestate, in San Augustine county, Tex. This was long before the lands were located, surveyed, or patented, and long before the issuance of the duplicate certificate, by virtue of which, under the laws of Texas, said lands were and surveyed. Indeed, this certificate was not issued until the 14th day of July, 185i; and it was then issued upon the application of one T. G. Broocks, who had purchased the original headright certificate No. 397, issued by the board of land commissioners of San Augustine county, to William III. Loyd, before his death, namely, on the 23d day of February, 1838. William M. Loyd having been dead for some time, the original letters of administration were granted upon his estate by the probate court of San Augustine county. This was done at the February term, 1844; and, the original administrator having disappeared in some manner not known to the complainants, one .John CL Berry was thereafter appointed by the same probate court administrator de bonis non of said estate. He duly qualified, and the bill alleges that, there being a necessity therefor, an order was granted by the probate court for the sale of the headright certificate No. 3D7 as a part of the estate. This was done conformably to la-w. Broocks became the purchaser, and gave $131 therefor, the certificate having been appraised at the value of $100. 'rhe report was duly made to the probate court on the 30th day of May, 1845; and, Broocks having paid his bid, the ad:ministrator made hi:m a deed to the certificate. This was on the 2d of April, 1845. 'rhis deed was, however, destroyed, and another deed was :made to Brood:s by the administrator. This sale was duly and legally confirmed by the court, but, by some inadvertence, the order of confirmation wal:! not entered of record until October 31, 1854, when said administration was still pending. The duplicate certificate was obtained by Broocks from the general land office on the 14th day of July, 1854; and, this certificate having been located upon the lands in controversy, patents were issued by the state of 'rexas on the 23d day of August, 1856. These patents were issued, however, to \Villiam M. Loyd, although, as stated in the bill, Broocks was equitably entitled to receive the patent in his own name, and was the equitable owner, by the purchase before described, of the certificate to lands thus located and patented. In 1859, Broocks sold the north half of the survey to one J. F. \Villiams, and the complainant Thomas Ruddy has a regular consecutive chain of title from the heirs of \Villiams to himself, and is now in actual, adverse possession of the lands; they being inclosed by him, and in actual occupancy. 'rhe other complainant, Columbus Waller, holds title to the south half of the survey. His title originates in the will of the said '1'. G. Broocks. This was duly probated, and the title proceeds to Waller, through a regular consecutive chain; and he is also in actual adverse possession of the south half of this survey, and has the same inclosed and in occupancy. Ruddy also alleges that he has been in possession of his half of the land for more than one year next before the 27th day of May, 1893 (the day the action at law was filed); and that he has made llermanent and valuable improvements on it, amounting in
604
74 FEDERAL REPORTE&
value to the sum of $1,460. These improvements were made in good faith, Ruddy believing, as he states, that he had a good and perfect title to the land. ·Waller also states that he was in actual possession of his share for more than one year next before the 27th day of May, 1893, and that he has also made permanent and valuable im. provements thereon, amounting in value to the sum of $7,!l50. His improvements were likewise made in good faith, with the belief that he had a perfect title to the land; and each of the complainants alleges that he and the perliOns under whom he holds have had and held the actual, adverse, uninterrupted, and peaceable possession of the lands for more than three years next before the institution of the action at law. They each also allege that he and his prede<:essors used, cultivated, and enjoyed the lands, and held same under a I'egularchain of transfers from the state of Texas to himself. Each alleges that he has paid all taxes chargeable upon his half of the survey, and this was done without any objection on the part of the defendants. 'l'hey pray that the defendants shall be l'equired to answer the bill, and that they and their attorneys shall be prohibited and enjoined from further prosecuting the action at law; that the clouds upon complainants' title, respectively, shall be removed, and their title, as set out, be perfected, and the claims, legal titles, and demand of the defendants be canceled, and be de. clared null and void, and defendants perpetually enjoined from setting up the said claims against complainants or their legal representatives. Exhibits to the bill show that ODlumbus 'ValleI' made a number of improvements on his land. These consisted of 6 miles of wire fencing, grubbing and clearing 500 acres of mesquite land, breaking and putting in cultivation 510 acres, building a bridge across Baker's creek, and building a rock crossing on the creek, digging two wells of water, building an eight-room two-story house, and a two-room tenant house, a wheat granary with eight bins, and another wheat granary, a smokehouse, with a buggy shed, one storm and milk cellar, one corral, and lots thereto, and planting a peach orchard of over 100 trees. These improvements aggregate in value $7,950. Complainant Ruddy made improvements on his lands, which consisted of Ii miles of fencing, breaking and putting into cultivation 400 acres of land, grubbing 200 acres of mesquite land. He dug one well. His improvements amount in value to $1,460. The defendants answered the bill, and admitted that the land in question was patented to ·William M. Loyd on the 23d day of August, 1856, long after the death of said Loyd, who, as we have seen, died before 1844. They deny that Broocks legally purchased the original headright certificate :No. 397. They deny that complainants pave title to the land. They admit that the original letters of administration were granted on the estate of William M. Loyd, as charged in the bill, and that John G. Berry was afterwards appointed administrator de bonis non, but deny that Berry was ever legally appointed administrator, or that he ever legally qualified as such. They do not profess to know whether there was any necessity for the sale of the headright certificate, but they do deny that the administrator sold it, and they deny that a report of the sale was made to the probate
605
court on the 30th day of May, 1845, or at any other time, and deny that said certificate was legally sold. They do not know, they answer, whether 'f. G. Broocks became the purchaser of the certificate at the administrator's sale or not, or whether he paid for it, or whether it was appraised at $100, or whether Berry, as administrator, executed to Broocks a deed, as averred in the bill, or ,,;hether the deed was destroyed, and another deed was made; but they say, if it was done, it was done without authority, and is therefore void; and they deny that there was any sale or any legal confirmation of sale of lands, and that any attempt by Berry to pass the title to Broocks was null and void. The answer insists that the order of Hon. Alfred Polk, chief justice of San Augustine county, made in 1854, more than nine years subsequent to the alleged report of the sale of the certificate, ,vas an original order, and was illegally made. The answer shows that the respondents are really the lineal descendants and the heirs at law of 'William M. Loyd, and the respondents that, as the legal title has not been properly divested, they are entitled to recover the lands in question, and that the application for an injunction should be refused. The cause was heard in equity February 27, 1895, and a decree in favor of the complainants WDS entered. By this it was determined that the equitable title to the lands is clearly vested in the complainants, and the boundaries of the share of each were distinctly outlined by the decree. It is determined that the lands in question were originally granted to "William M. I,oyd on the 23d day of February, 1838, and that a duplicate certificate was issued to him by the commissioner of the general land office on the 14th day of July, 1854, and that the land was patented to him on the 33d day of Augu"t, 185G; that, prior to the date of his patent, he had died intestate; that letters of administration were duly and properly granted upon his estate in San Augustine county, Tex., to John G. Berry, and, as administrator de bonis non, Berry sold and conveyed the certificate granted to 'Villiam M. Loyd for said land to one 'rravis G. Broocks, for a full and valuable consideration; the sale was dnly and legally confirmed by the probate court, and this vested a full and clear title to the certificate in Travis G. Broocks, and that complainant 'fhomas Ruddy is now vested with the full and equitable title by a regular and consecutive chain of transfers from the said Travis Broocks to himself to the north half of said one-third league of land; that Columbus 'Waller is the full, clear, and equitable owner of the south of said one-third league, and holds under a regular and consecutive chain of transfers from Travis G. Broocks to himself. It appearing to that court "that apparent legal title to the land" was vested in the heirs at law of William M. Loyd, who are the respondents to the bill and the plaintiffs in the action at la,,,, they were, by the decree, together with their attorney, James B. Goff, Esq., enjoined and restrained from further prosecution of the law action; and it is further decreed that said action at law shall be dismissed from the dockets of the court, at the cost of the plaintiffs therein. The bill awards costs to complainants, as against From this decree, the appeal is taken.
606
The complaints in the circuit court.offered, on the trial, a judgment of the probate court of San Augustine county, appointing John G. Berry administrator de bonis non of the estate of 'William M. Loyd, deceased. This was objected to, on the ground that the complainants did not show when or in what manner the original administration had terminated; and, further, because they did not show any order of the probate court extending the term of the first administration beyond the expiration of 12 months from the date of the order by which it was granted. Counsel for respondents argue that, in the absence of such an order, it would be pl'esumed that the administration had been duly closed, and that the court would be without jurisdiction to make the appointment of the administrator de bonis non. This evidence was admitted notwithstanding the objection, and, we think, properly. It was the action of a court of competent jurisdiction having special charge of matters of administration. Although there may hij.ve been irregularity on the part of the court in the exercise of that jurisdiction, its judgment cannot be collaterally attacked elsewhere. The court, having jurisdiction, is presumed to have done its duty. "Res judicata pro veritate accipitur." Brown, Leg. Max. 729. The Texas courts seem to be very clear in the enforcement of this principle. Murchison v. White, 54 Tex. 78, and Weems v. Masterson, 80 45, 15 S. W. 590. In the case of Murchison v. 'White, supra, the court says: "It is believed that a careful analysis of the cases in this subject will show that ill collateral proceedings the only contingency in which the judgment of a domestic court of general jurisdiction which has assumed to act in a case over which it might, by law, take jurisdiction of the subject-matter and the person,· lOan be questioned, is when the record shows affirmatively that its jurisdiction did not attach in the particular case."
See, also, Freem. Judgm. §§ 131-134, 334; Christmas v. Russell, 5 Wall. 307. It is equally clear, under the decisions of Texas, that the probate court is one of general jurisdiction in the settlement of the estates of decedents. Murchison v. White, supra; Guilford v. Love, 49 Tex. 715; Williams v. Ball, 52 Tex. 603; Bumpus v. Fisher, 21 Tex. 567. Nor did the fact of the failure to enter an order extending the administration after expiration of 12 months from the date of the order granting such administration invalidate, as it is insisted by the respondents, the title of the purchaser to the land at an administrator's sale. Howard v. Bennett, 13 Tex. 314; Poor v. Boyce, 12 Tex. 440.. 'rhese adjudications, which serve to protect titles acquired in good faith at such sales, are in accordance with the principles of equity. They would seem especially applicable here. In this case the certificate which was the original evidence of the title was sold by the administrator pursuant to an order. It was bought apparently in good faith, for more than its appraised value. It was the basis of the title which has come through many holders to the complainants. who believed that they held a perfect title, and who themselves cleared, cultivated, and improved the land at much cost. Now, after 48 years, the heirs at law of the original grantee seek to avail them-
607
selves of what seems merely a criticism on the regularity of procedure in the probate court, had at a time when Texas itself 'was little more than a wilderness. "'Ve all know," said Mr. Justice Baldwin for the court in Grignon's Lessee v. Astor, 2 How. 339, "that even in the old states the record of these and similar proceedings are very imperfectly kept. It is no matter of surprise that, in so new and remote a part of the country where these proceedings were had, this b1:ate of things should exist. It is enough that there be something of record which shows the subject-matter before the court, and their action upon it; that their judicial power arose and was exercised by a definitive order, sentence, or decree." The proposition that the administrator's sale of the certificate to T. G. was not confirmed by the court is equally untenable. It appears that on May 30, 1845, Berry reported the sale of the certificate in question to 'I.'. G. Broocks, for $131 cash. The report also recites that no sale had been made for cash of certain other lots, and prays the court for the order to sell the same on credit. Thereafter, at the October term, 1845, of the probate court of San Augustine county, this order was taken: "It is ordered by the court that the settlement this day made by John G. Berry, administrator of said estate, be accepted and received by the court; and, on petition of the said Berry, it is ordered and decreed that the specified in said petition be sold on a credit of twelve months."
The subsequent order seems to import that the "settlement" referred to included the proper disposition of the proceeds of the sale of the certificate to Broocks. Since it was accepted and received by the court, it is necessarily implied that the sale from which these proceeds arose was confirmed. The other property Berry was authorized to sell on credit. There are no intervening orders, and, as it is the first action taken by the court after the report of the sale was filed, it sufficiently indicates that the cour1: did then actually, if not formally, confirm the sale. This seems an adequate confirmation under the circumstances, if we are to accept, as is clearly proper, the rule adopted by the Texas court of last resort. In Moody Y. Butler, 63 Tex. 212, it is declared that: "Where there is any evidence of confirmation, or of something from which an intention to confirm might be inferred, or something entitling the purchaser to have the sale confirmed, the purchaser will be protected in his claim of title to the land."
See, also, Neill v. Cody, 26 Tex. 289, and Simmons v. Blanchard, 46 Tex. 266. 'I.'hen, since there was a legally qualified administrator, a necessity for a sale, an order for sale by the court, a return of sale reported to the court, and a judicial confirmation, we are obliged to conclude that the deed from Berry, administrator, to Broocks, did actually divest the estate of William M. Loyd of the title to the land. It was a proceeding in rem, to which all claiming under the intestate are presumed to be parties, and they are concluded by it. }IePlwrson v. Cunliff, 11 Sergo & R. 432; Grignon's Lessee V. Astor, 2 How. 319. That Broocks paid the purchase price is eYidenced by the report of the administrator that it was cash, and the deed conveying the
f.i08
74
FEDERAL REPORTER.
certificate admits the receipt of the purchase price. Indeed, while the administration was still pending, namely, October 30, 1854, a formal order and decree of the court confirmed the sale. The issuance of the patent in 185G to William }!. Lo,rd, it is true, passed the naked legal title to the heirs, but this inured to the holders of the true, superior, equitable title. Of the good faith of the complainants there can be no doubt. Now, to oust them from the possession of land conveyed so many years ago, and so long held and improved by themselves and their predecessors, would be not only contrary to the right which it is the duty of courts of equity to conserve, but might seem to foment litigation, and make uncertain that which is and ought to be the surest and safest means of community wealth, namely, the repose of its land titles. Speaking of such sales the supreme court of Texas happily remarks: "There are no sounder or more salutary adjudications than those which protect the titles fairly acquired by pUl'chase at these sales. They are founded on the oldest and most sacred principles of the common law.. Time has consecrated them. * * * They are rules of property on which the repose of the community depends. Titles acquired under the proceedings of courts of competent jurisdiction must be deemed inviolable in collateral actions, or none can know what is his own; and there are no judicial sales around which greater sanctity ought to be placed than those made of the estates of decedents, by order of those eourts." Poor v. Boyce, supra.
After a careful consideration of the record, we are satisfied that the decision of the court below has justly and biwfully determined the rights of the parties, and it is therefore affirmed.
NEW YORK BISCUIT CO. v. ROUSS. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. 1.
May 28, 1896.)
MASTER i\ND SERVANT-NEGLIGEKCE OF MASTRR-QUESTION FOR JURY.
Plaintiff, a lad of 18, was employed by defendant, a manufacturer of crackers and biscuits, in helping the baker and "pulling scrap," occupa· tions which were not dangerous. Plaintiff's foreman told him, on one occasion, to take some dough, and break it on a machine known as the "dough-breaker." Plaintiff objected that he had never done it before, and did not know how, whereupon the foreman left him, without saying anything. POI' several days thereafter plaintiff was told there was no work for him, but he was finally re-employed at the same work as before. After such re-employment, he was again told by the foreman to break up dough on the dough-breaker. He attempted to do it, and while engaged in the attempt his hand was caught in the rollers on the machine, and so crushed as to make amputation necessary. The machine consisted of a sloping trough, leading to a pair of rollers, run by power, through which the dough was passed, and drawn out by the operator's left hand. It was obvious that there was some danger, in operating the machine, of the fingers of the right hand being caught while pressing the dough down to the rollers, which was the way in which plaintiff was injured, but there were certain other special risks connected with the use of the machine, and certain precautions which could be taken, and were taken by those properly instructed in its use, of which plaintiff knew nothing, and as to which no instruction was given to him. Held, that the question of defendant's negligence in failing to give pIa intiff instructions in the use of the machine was properly left to the jury.
NEW YORK BlSCUI'l' CO.
v.
HOUSS.
609
2.
CHARGIlS"G .TURY-MrsSTATEMEN'L' OF AnGUMENT-ConnECTION OF EnnoR.
When the court, in charging the jUry, states an argument of the defendant's counsel in a manner claimed by him to be inaccurate, the taking ot an exception to such misstatement, in the presence of the jury, sufficiently corrects the error. OJ<' MACm"iEHY.
S.
ting an inexperienced person to work on a dangerous nmchine, to permit a witness, familiar with the working of the machine, to describe what dam::ers there were about it, and what precautions were necessary to avoid them; and to testify that the men usually employpd upon it were of mature age, the plaintiff being a young lad; and that, before being sot to work, such men were carefully instructed in the use of the machine.
It is not error, in an action involving the question of negligence in set-
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. This case comes here upon writ of error to review a judgment of the circuit court, Southern district of New York, entered upon the verdict of a jury in favor of defendant in error, who was plaintiff below, for $10,000. The action was to recover damages for pet'sonal injuries, caused by the negligence of plaintiff in error, who was defendant below. Hamilton Wallis, for plaintiff in error. David Levintritt, for defendant in error. Before LACOMBE and SHIPMAN, Circuit Judges. LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. The plaintiff, a boy of 18, went into the employ of defendant, a manufacturer of crackers and biscuits, in May, 1892. Until the following July, except for a few weeks, when he was sick, he was employed in helping the baker at the oven. Thereafter, for a few days, he was set to work "pulling scrap." So far as appears, neither of these occupations was dangerous. Thereafter the foreman told him to take the dough, and break it on a machine known as the "dough-breaker." Plaintiff testified that in response to such direction "I told him that I never done it before; I don't know how to do it; and he left me and went away." When plaintiff returned the following day, he told there was no work for him at that time, and to come around the next day. He did that for several days, and finally, on .July 20th, was re-employed, first at sweeping, and afterwards at pulling scrap, and then about 1 o'clock the foreman told him to "take the dough and break it up; take it over to the break machine and break it up." Influenced, possibly, by the recollection of the cessation of employment which followed his former refusal, plaintiff took a mass of dough in his hands, put it on the break machine once, and let it go through, and it came out in thrpe slices, and, as it had to come out in one piece, he took the dough again, and pressed it down with his right hand, using his left hand to catch hold of it as it came out between the rollers. The fingers of his right hand got caught between the rollers, and his hand was crushed, which necessitated amputation. The dough-breaker con.. sists of a trough placed on an incline above two rollers of about 10 inches diameter. 'l'he dough is placed in this trough, and pressed v.74F'.no.5-39
610
down with the right hand, and as it emerges from the rollers is pulled out with the left hand upon a shelf placed below the rollers. The rollers are driven by power, and of course it was apparent to anyone of ordinary intelligence that there was some risk connected with its operation. There was evidence in the case, however, from which the jury might find that there were special risks connected with the operation, the existence of which would not be appreciated by an inexperienced person; that it was a treacherous machine, by reason of the fact that the dough obscures the rollers, and so it does not look dangerous when the dough is put on top; that to insure safety the operator must be careful to look only at the dough above the roller, and not allow his eyes to wander to the sheet of dough coming out from beneath them, trusting his left hand to find that sheet without the help of his eyes; that whenever it is necessal'y to give the dough a push the closed-up fist should be used, and thus the risk of the fingers being caught in the sticky dough, and so drawn between the rollers, avoided. There is no pretense that any instructions as to how he might operate the machine with safety were given to the plaintiff. The negligence of the defendant on which plaintiff relies was the failure of defendant or its foreman to give such instructions. The plaintiff in error concedes that "ordinarily, where an accident happens in the use of a machine inherently dangerous, the absence of instructions as to its mode of operation, and the failure to point out the dangers attendant upon such operation, are imputed to the owner of the machine as negligence." But it is contended that a verdict should have been directed in favor of the defendant upon the equally well-settled exception to the rule, viz. that when it appears affirmatively that the injured party was possessed of a full knowledge of the character of the machine which he was operating, the failure to instruct is no longer negligence. There was no evidence in the case, however, that plaintiff had any knowledge of the two main sources of danger in operating, viz. the failure to keep the eyes always on the right hand and never on the left, and the risk of pushing the dough above the rollers with an opened hand. The description which plaintiff gave on the trial of the working of the machine, on which plaintiff in error principally relies,includes, of course, the experience gained by the accident itself. It was, upon the proof, fairly a question for the jury to determine whether the accident happened by reason of the machine exposing its operator to dangers of which the plaintiff knew nothing, which he had no reason to anticipate, and of which no one warned him. The remaining assignments of error may be briefly disposed of. At the close of the charge defendant's counsel excepted "to so much of the charge that states, in effect, that if the plaintiff was at work at this machine without instructions, defendant was guilty of negligence." To this the court replied: "I did not charge that. If I did charge it, I will retract it now." Thereupon defendant excepted "to so much of the charge as states, in effect, that if the plaintiff was directed to operate the machine without instructions, or without adequate instructions, the defendant was negligent."
NEW YORK BISCUIT CO. V. ROUSS.
611
The error complained of is that as thl1s stated the element of plaintiff's knowledge of the danger is eliminated, there being no obli· gation to instruct as to risks or dangers of which the employe is fully informed, or which would be apparent to persons of ordinary prudence and sagacity. The difficulty with the exception, however, is that it does not correctly state the charge. The instruction as given to the jury was: "If, when he was hurt, he was at work there pursuant to the directions of the foreman, and, being an inexperienoed lad, had been put to work upon a dangerous machine without proper instructions to enable him to conduct himself safely in operating it, then the defendant is guilty of negligence." Upon the facts in proof this was a correct statement of the law. The court, having instructed the jury as to the law of contributory negligence, ·no exception to such exposition of the law being noted, proceeded as follows: "Now, gentlemen, what are the facts? Do you believe this young man voluntarily undertook to run this machine? Is it quite reasonable to believe that he would have dared to do so? Is it probable that while he was there, getting his pay for doing other duties, that he would attempt to interfere with the operation of this machine, even supposing that the man who had been operating it was temporarily absent? It is said, on the other hand, that it is unreasonable to suppose that the foreman would have directed him to operate the machine, inexperienced as he was." This last sentence was excepted to, "as that was not the ground upon which the unreasonableness of the foreman directing him was placed in the case." It is difficult to appreciate the meaning of this exception, and the brief does not give us much light upon it. It is suggested that the language used by thp court tended "to minimize the defense in the minds of the jury." In what way it accomplished this is not apparent. At the most, it was a mere statement, not of the evidence, but of what the court understood to be one of the arguments of defendant. 'Whether the court did or did not correctly state such argument the record gives us nn means to determine; but, if it incorrectly stated defendant's argumenton the point, the taking of the exception in the presence of the jury corrected such misstatement. The next exception is to so much of the charge as "charges, in effect, that it is improbable that plaintiff thought that he could operate the machine without danger of losing his right hand." Careful examination of the charge fails to disclose any sentence which conveys any such instruction. The excerpt in the brief purporting to be taken from the charge is not an accurate transcription, and the paragraph from which it is evidently derived leaves it to the jury to determine whether it was probable that plaintiff would undertake to operate the machine if he had known he could not operate H safely without instructions, which is quite a different proposition from that stated in the exception. 'Ve find no error in the admission of evidence given by the witness Russell, an experienced operator on the dough-breaker machine. He was asked, "Is that a dangerous machine?"-a question which was properly excluded, the court allowing him to describe what dan-
612
ger there was of getting the hands caught in the machine, and what precautions witness had to take to prevent it. This was proper expert evidence. The answers show that there were peculiarities about the machine, and peculiar precautions required for safe operation, which only an experienced operator conld properly describe. We find no error in the admission of proof that the men regularly employed by defendant on the dough·breakers were men of 35 and 40, and that when Russell was set to work at the dough-breaker he received careful instructions. Such evidence tended to show the character of the machine, and the fact tliat defendant knew it had elements of danger, which called for experience in its operator. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
BARROW v. MILLIKEN. (Circuit Court of Appeals, lnfth Circuit. No. 388. Pr.EDGE OF SUGAR BOUNTIES.
May 5, 1896.)
There is nothing in the sugar bounty provision of the act of October 1, 1800, or in Rev. St. §§ 3477, 3737, to prevent the sugar planter from pledging the bounty to become payable on his crop, before his claims therefor have been presented and allowed. and a treasury warrant issued. Hobbs v. McLean, 6 Sup. Ct. 870, 117 U. S. 567, applied.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Louisiana. ' E. H. Farrar, for appellant. Thos. J. Semmes, for appellee.. Before PARDEE and Circuit Judges, and SPEER, District Judge. McCORMICK, Circuit Judge. The controversy in this case is about certain bounty checks issued by the government of the Unit· ed States to Cornelius J. Barrow, a sugar planter and licensed SlIgar producer in the parish of West Baton Rouge, under the act of Octoher 1, 1890. These checks were forwarded from vVashington to C.·T. Barrow, at New Orleans, to the care of Richard l\-lilli· k0n. Milliken was Barrow's factor and commission merchant, who for some years past had been making advances to Barrow to cultivate his plantation. In March, 1892, Barrow executed a mortgage and pledge of his crop to Milliken, to cover certain past and certain future indebtedness, and in said act of mortgage stipulated as follows: "And in order to secure more fully the full and punctual payment of the said note, with all interest, attorney's fees, costs, charges, and herein stipulated, the said Cornelius J. Barrow does hereby ""'d acknowledge, in favor of the said mortgagee, his heirs and assigns, the Ii",,,, llnd priyilege accorded by law on any and all crop or crops of sugar and and other crops, of whatever nature or kind, which shall be or may be 'Lwte on the said plantation for or during tile year eighteen hundred and ninets-two,