Mattocks v. F. W. Woolworth Co.

[490]

NOURSE, P. J.

Plaintiff sued the Pacific Motor Transport Co., the Woolworth Company, and the Valley Truck Lines for damages arising from the operation of a sidewalk elevator maintained on the premises of the Woolworth Company. Negligence was charged against all the defendants in the following terms: That “defendants operated a certain ‘sidewalk elevator’ so carelessly, negligently and without warning of any nature whatever and without regard to the safety of the pedestrians ... as to cause and did cause plaintiff to be suddenly raised into the air several feet, and by reason thereof plaintiff fell to the sidewalk and pavement and sustained serious injuries’’.

When the cause was called for trial the two trucking concerns asked for a continuance on the ground that they were unable to procure two necessary witnesses. In an affidavit of counsel for one of these defendants it was stated that they would testify that an employee of the Woolworth Company piloted the elevator up to the sidewalk for the purpose of returning the truck drivers to the sidewalk. It was stipulated that they would so testify and the continuance was denied. Plaintiff then put in his case but failed to prove any connection between the two trucking concerns and the accident. Their motions for nonsuit were both granted and the trial was continued as to the Woolworth Company.

Evidence was received showing without contradiction that the Woolworth Company owned the building and the elevator, that two employees of some trucking concern delivered goods to this company on the morning of the accident, that an employee of the Woolworth Company met them at the elevator entrance and piloted them with the goods to the basement where the goods were deposited and checked, and that, when this employee was temporarily absent, these truck drivers, without the knowledge or consent of the Woolworth Company, suddenly seized the elevator and ran it to the sidewalk, striking plaintiff and causing the injuries complained of. Upon these facts the trial court found that the Woolworth Company was not guilty of any negligence and gave judgment accordingly.

Appellant does not question the sufficiency of the evidence to support this judgment but argues that the trial court

[491]