Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/143

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
124
The Green Bag.

THE SIREN TURN-TABLE. By Irving Browne. [A railroad company, maintaining a turn-table, on its own lands, about six hundred feet from two high ways, and having upright guy bars, is not bound to keep it locked or guarded, and a child injured while playing on it cannot recover} Daniels vs. N. Y. etc. R. Co., Mass. Sup. fud. Ct. Sept. 1891.] A

TURN-TABLE reared its posts in air In a railroad company's yard, Enticing small boys to wander there In absence of padlock or guard. Young Daniels rode on the merry-go-round, Uncaring for life or limb; The wicked Fates, with malice profound, Quick turned the table on him. He came to the court, and prayed relief Of a monetary kind; Unfeelingly thus beyond belief Responded that Justice blind : "My son, you were doing very wrong On the company's land to pass, Disturbing the quiet air with song, And disarranging the grass. "The gentlemanly directors may not Be forced to adopt any mode Of guarding such a secluded spot, Five hundred feet from the road. "Much better to take your mother's hand And walk on the Common green, Or with the most cultured youth of the land Sail boats on the Frog Pond clean; 1 To the same effect, St. Louis, etc. R. Co. vs. Bell, 81 Ill. 76; S. C. 25 Am. Rep. 269; McAlpin vs. Powell, 70 N. Y. 126; S. C. 26 Am. Rep. 555; Frost vs. Eastern, etc. R. Co., 64 N. H. 220; Contra : Rail road Co. vs. Stout, 17 Wallace, 657; Kans. Cent. Ry. Co. vs. Fitzsimmons, 22 Kans 686; S. C. I Am Rep. 203; Keffe vs. M. & St. P. Ry. Co., 21 Minn. 207; S. C. 18 Am. Rep. 393; Nagle vs. Mo. Pac. RyCo., 75 Mo. 653; S. C. 42 Am. Rep. 418; Evansich vs. Ry. Co., 57 Tex. 126; S. C. 44 Am. Rep. 586; R. Co. vs. Bailey, 11 Neb. 332.