Brown v. Wood

Citations

• 2 Monag. 115
• 16 A. 42
• 1888 Pa. LEXIS 822

Syllabus

<p>In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, caused by the alleged negligence of defendant, the evidence was to the effect that plaintiff, a deckhand on a steam tow-boat, was sent on shore in the morning, before it was light, to loosen ropes which held the boat to the shore ; after three of the ropes were loosened, the last one became foul on the deck, and, on failing to clear it, after a minute or more, the captain ordered it to be loosened. The plaintiff, with an ax, cut inside the knot by which it was fastened to the tree, causing it to rapidly unwind, and strike and break his leg. The plaintiff testified that, if the rope had been cut forward of the knot, it would have sprung away from him and towards the boat. Held, that the contributory negligence of the plaintiff was the cause of the injury, and that it was not error to enter a non-suit.</p>