296
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 67.
ing boat or an ordinary flat can be pushed over'the marsh at cer· tain stages of the tide. But they are not in the ordinary course of travel as highways, and, if anything, were in the nature of cut, offs. There is a strong analogy between this marsh land and a large body of highland bounded by public highways. So long as the land is uninclosed, or the public not forbidden, by signs, to use it, those passing and repassing on the highways can cut across from one to another. This is familiar to anyone who lives in this state, and has been out.side of incorporated towns. But no one has ever supposed that this sort of use establishes a right in the public to the body of land, as public highway, or that it by this becomes dedicated to the public. With regard to Bread and Butter creek: That leaves Town creek, forms an irregular arc, and returns to it some distance from its first entrance. It has two termini, each on a navigable stream. This meets the requisition, and constitutes it a navigable stream. As a conclusion from all that has been said, Town creek and Jones creek, with Bread and Butter creek, are navigable streams. In them the public can enter and pass through at will, without let or hindrance. With regard to the other creeks, lying, as they do, wholly within the land of the complainants, with no regular outlet after entering therein, except over their land, they are not navigable streams, and the public have no right to be in them, except with their permission. Stress has been laid on the fact that, for many years, persons have gone into these creeks, and have shot ducks in them, without hindrance. To create a right, there must be adverse use,-an assumption of the right against some denial of it. Trustees v. Meetze, 4 Rich. Law, 50. Speaking technically, no right can grow out of an act, unless the act itself would be a cause of action. Now, these lands have never been inclosed, and until a very recent period they have not been staked, and entry into-trespasses upon-them have not been forbidden. Hunting on uninclosed lands is not such an act as will support a trespass. Broughton v. Singleton, 2 Nott & McC. 338. And therefore a continuance of it will not ripen into a right. See, also, Jackson v. Lewis, Cheves, 259. Let the injunction be made perpetual as to all the streams but the three mentioned. VAN DYKE v. ATLAN'l'IC AVE. R. co. (CirCUit Court, E. D. New York. Aprll I, 1895.) NEGLIGENCE-QUESTION FOR JURY.
Plaintiff, while in the employ of defendant in repairing overhead trolley Wires, on a tower wagon, was injured by one of defendant's cars running into such wagon. It appeared that the car had no sand box, and could not be stopped by the brake. The plaintiff gave evidence to show that sand boxes were necessary for safety, and the defendant evidence that many cars were used without them, and that its tracks were sanded instead, but not that they were sanded at the place where the accident happened. Held, that it was a question for the jury to determine whether sand boxes were reasonably required, and whether the defendant was negligent in falling to provide proper means for stopping the car.
VAN DYKE 11. ATLANTIC AVE. B. CO.
297
This was an action by Seymour Van Dyke against the Atlantio Avenue Railroad Company for personal injuries. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff. Defendant moved to set the verdict aside. Raphael J. ,Moses and Mirabeau L. Towns, for plaintiff. William So Cogswell, for defendant WHEELER, District Judge. The plaintiff, while in the employ of defendant, repairing overhead trolley wires on a tower wagon, was seriousl;y injured by the running of one of its cars (which had no sand box, and the brake would not stop) against the wagon, and throwing him off. The plaintiff showed, by those familiar, that sand boxes were necessary for safety on cars so run in such places, although not always used. The defendant showed, in the same way, that many cars are used without them, and that its tracks were sanded in dangerous places instead, but not that they were sanded at this place. The defendant claimed direction of a verdict because not bound to provide the best, but only usual, appliances; and, for want of evidence that the tracks were not sanded at this place. The jury were charged, in substance, that the very best appliances were not required, but only such as would be reasonable and prudent in view of what could be provided and of all the circumstances; and that if the lack of a sand box was in that view a defect, and it caused the injury by preventing the stopping of the car sooner, the plaintiff would be entitled to a verdict. The defendant excepted "to that part of the charge where it says the car ought to have had a sand box, or that the track ought to have been sanded," and "to what was said about the track not being sanded." But the charge did not say that the car ought to have had a sand box, or the track ought to have been sanded, nor anything about th.e track not being sanded. After verdict for the plaintiff, the defendant moved to set it aside, as against law and evidence, and as excessive. This motion has now been heard, but the latter ground has not been pressed. The evidence seems to have been sufficient to well warrant the conclusion that there was something wrong about the appliances for stopping the car, which prevented stopping it soon enough to avoid injury to the plaintiff, and also sufficiently, although not so clearly and satisfactorily, that the want of sand boxes was the defect. That the defendant was bound to have reasonably safe appliances upon the cars for stopping them is not open to question. Railroad Co. v. Mackey (Sup. at. U. S., March 4, 1895) 15 Sup. Ct 491. Whether sand boxes were reasonably requisite for safety was a question of fact upon the evi· dence, which was, and had to be, submitted to the jury. If they were, the want of them was such a structural defect that the de· fendant would be presumed to have notice of it without further proof. The issues in the case were essentially ones of fact for the jury, whose finding should not be lightly disturbed. Motion overruled.
298
FEDERAL IlEPOHTER,
BARHISOX v. HARTFORD FIRE INS. 00.
(Olrcuit Court, S. D. Iowa, E. D. December 4, 1894.) No. 271. L INSURANCE-AcTION ON POI,ICY-CONTRACTUAL LIMITATION.
McClain's Code Iowa, § 3742, providing that where plaintifl' talls in an action for a reason other than negligence a new action commenced within six: months shall be deemed a continuation of the first for the pUllJOSeS contemplated by the act, has no application to an action on an insurance policy which by its terms provides that no action shall be maintained thereon unless brought within twelve months of the date or loss, and an action brought after that time is barred, though filed within six months after termination of a former action, in which plaintiff failed. because such action had been prematurely brought.
2.
FEDERAL COURTS-FoLLOWING STATE DECISIONS.
As McClain's Code Iowa, § 3742, providing that, where plaintiff rails in an action for a reason otber than negligence, a new action, commenced within six months, shall be deemed a continuation of the first for the purpose of excepting it from the operation of the statute of limitations, has no application to an action on an insurance policy which by Its terms provides that no action shall be maintained thereon after the expiration of twelve months from date of loss, the federal courts, in an action on sucb are not bound by the construction given such statute in the state CO\lrts.
Action by George D. Harrison against the Hartford Fire Insurance Company on a policy. Defendant demurred. The petition filed berein May 29, 1894, alleges the following facts, material to the question presented by the demun-er: PlaIntiff, on June 18. 1890, Insured his dwelling house, situated In I.ouisa county, Iowa, and certaIn personal property therein, and also his· carriage house and barn, in the defendant insurance company, for a term of five years. On October 4. 1892, the buildings Insured, together with a large part of the personal property, were destroyed by fire. On January 16, 1893, plaintiff commenced in the district court of Louisa county. Iowa, an action against defendant to recover the loss and damages suffered by him from said fire. Defendant appeared in said action. and removed the same to this court. As one of its defenses, defendant therein alleged that said action had been prematurely commenced, -that Is, brought before the expiration of tbe 90 days from waiver of proofs of loss; and, on trial of said action, the court directed the jury to return a verdict tor the defendant. for the said reason that the action had been prematurely brought, and the court did not have jurisdiction to hear and try the same; and on January 20, 1894, the Jury rendered such verdict, and judgment was entered against plaintiff accordingly. but without any trial or adjudication of the action on its merits. Plaintiff now brings this suit as a continuation at his said suit, brought, as aforesaid, on January 16, 1893, to recover for Ws loss by said fire. The polley sued on is attached to said petition as an eXhibit. One clause therein reads as follows: "No suit or action on this policy. for tbe recovery of any claim, shall be sustainable in any court of law or equity · · · unless commenced witbin twelve months next after the lire." Defendant has filed a demurrer to petition, alleging that no right ot action exists, nor can this suit be now maintained, because. the same was not "commenced within twelve months next after the tire." .
D. N. Sprague and A. H. Stutsman, for plaintiff. McVey & Cheshire, WOOLSON, District Judge. Can the present action be maintained, under the clause in the policy generally known as the limita·
HARRISON tI. HARTFORD FIRE INS; CO.
29\3
tion clause or condition? This is the only question to be decided on this hearing. The clause is valid and upheld by the courts. O'Lal1ghlin v. Insurance Co., 3 McCrary, 543, 11 Fed. 280; Insurance Co. v. Stanchfield, 1 Dill. 424, Fed. Cas. No. 6,660; Riddlesbarger v. Insurance Co., 7 Wall. 386. The fire occurred October 4,1892. The petition herein was filed on May 29, 1894. If this clause be literally and strictly applied to these dates, manifestly this action is barred, and cannot be maintained. On the argument, as in the petition, this is substantially confessed by counsel for plaintiff; and there, as here, the attempt is made to avoid the force of this conclusion by reference to a former action instituted on the policy in suit Such former action was pending in this court. Upon January 20, 1894, in an action brought on this policy,· and wherein the present plaintiff sought to recover thereon from the defendant company for the loss herein complained of, this court directed a verdict for the defendant 59 Fed. 732. 'rhe court found, from the uncontradicted (!Vidence submitted therein, that plaintiff, contrary to the terms of the Iowa statute (section 1734, McClain's Iowa Code), had begun his action within 90 days after proofs of loss had been waived by defendant. No proofs of loss had been furnished. The action thus determined by direction of the court, solely because of its having been prematurely brought, was begun January 16,1893. Section 37i2, McClain's Iowa Code, is as follows: "If, after the commencement ot an action, the plaintiff tail therein tor any cause except negligence In Its prosecution, and a new suit be brought within six months thereafter, the second suit shall, for the purposes herein contemplated, be deemed a continuation ot the first."
Plaintiff's contention is that this section entitles the maintenance of the present action, notwithstanding the contract limitation clause. The reasoning is that the said former suit failed, but not for negligence in its prosecution; that the present is a new suit, brought with111 six months after the failure of the former action; and that this suit is therefore a continuation of the first action; consequently, it is, in contemplation of law, begun within the 12-months period named in the policy. To what extent, if at all, does this section apply to the pending action? The supreme court of the United States had occasion to consider a statute of the state of Missouri which tended in the same general direction, viz. granting the exceptiona:I right, notwithstanding the general statutes of limitation of that state, to maintain an action which but for this exception would have been barred. This Missouri statute allowed a party who "suffers a nonsuit" in an action to bring a new acti.on for the same cause, within one year afterwards. In Riddlesbarger v. Insurance Co., 7 Wall.. 396, the policy contained a clause which required suit to be brought, if at all, within 12 months from loss. The supreme court, in considering the question of the applicability of this statute, last stated, to the contract clause in the policy therein in suit, declare: "The rights ot the parties flow trom thE' contract. That relieves them trom the general limItations ot the statute, and; as a consequence, from its excep.tions a180." .
300
J'EDERAL REPORTER,
The subsequent language of the opinion just quoted is, perhaps, Having called attention to the fact that the Missouri statute was applicable only to cases of inToluntary nonsuit, the court declare, as to the limitation clause in the contract or policy:
yet stronger.
"The action mentioned, which must be commenced within twelve months, Is the one which Is prosecuted to judgment. The failure of a previous action from any source cannot alter the case. The contract declares that an action shall not be sustained unless such action-not some previous action-shall be commenced within the period designated."
In O'Laughlin v. Insurance Co., 3 McCrary, 543, 11 Fed. 280, Circuit Judge McCrary, in an action involving the same statute, applies and follows the Riddlesbal'ger Case, the policy involved containing a like contract-limitation .clause. When the circuit judge of this circuit thus closely follows and applies the ruling of the supreme court, there would seem little opportunity for our dissent. Yet, usi»g the language of Judge McCrary in the case just cited, "I have not much sympathy with this sort of a defense in a suit of this kind i" and especially under the ciroumstances disclosed herein by the allegations of the petition. The former action was decided adversely to plaintiff because brought too soon; and we are now asked to decide this action against plaintiff, because, as claimed, it is brought too late. There appears no evidence of laches on part of plaintiff in bringing this suit. But, as said by the learned circuit judge in the O'Laughlin Case, supra, the Riddlesbarger Case furnishes "the law which must be administered here," unless its force can be broken by showing that it is not here applicable. If the language of the Missouri and Iowa statutes on this point were identical, the case would be here closed. But plaintiff calls special attention to the fact that the Iowa stat· ute is peculiarly dissimilar in phraseology, in that it declares that the "new suit," if brought within six months from the failure of the former action, is to be "deemed a continuation of the first"; and the contention, therefore, is that the argument in the Riddlesbarger and O'Laughlin Cases does not apply, because in the case at bar, the "action commenced," to wit, "the one which is to be prosecuted to judgment," was commenced within the 12 mouths of the limitation clause; therefore, per force of the statute, it is the continuation of the suit actuaJly commenced within such 12 months; and thus the contract clause is met. But it may well be asked, if thenew suitis thus to be regarded as having been commenced at the time of the original suit, do we not face the same difficulty which presented itself in the old suit? 59 Fed. 732. Does not this argument and application bring us, of necessity, to fix the commencement of this action as within the 90 days after waiver of proofs of loss, and therefore as violating the statute w,hich prohibits the action from being commenced within such 90 days? If, for purpose of fixing the commencement within the 12-months contract limitation clause, the new suit is a continua· tion of the old suit, and was thus commenced within the pendency of that suit, how can we escape the conclusion that its commencement must be the commencement of the -:lId suit? And mnst not the doctrine which,-applied to the old suit compelled jndgment
HARRISON tl. HARTFORD FIRE INS. CO.
301
against plaintiff-be applied here, with no less disastrous effect on plaintiff's present action? Looking at the Iowa section (section 3742, McOlain's Code), with a view to determine from its own terms its proper application, we are impressed with its phraseology, and the intent apparent therefrom, as to such application. The section is found in that chapter of the Code which is entitled and which treats of "Limitations of Actions." The general provisions of the statute of limitations is in the opeqing aection of the chapter. Following this appear the sections which are exceptions to this general and among these exceptions appears section 3742. Now, the very phraseology of the section apparently limits the continuation, which it establishes as a proposi· tion of statutory law, to "the purposes herein contemplated." What purposes are herein contemplated? Manifestly, the intent of the legislature in enacting the section was to ingraft on the general statute of limitations an exception whose terms should save from the destruction provided by the general statute a cause of action which failed from other reasons than negligence in its prosecution. Do not the words "the purposes herein contemplated" restrict the "continuation of the first" action to that of such continuation, as regards the general statute of limitations, so that, if the first action was timely, this continuation shall also be timely? And is not this application of the section the only one reasonable under the circumstances? If this be the correct construction, we are ready to determine what application the section has to the case at bar,-to the policy in suit; and adopting the language of the supreme court, as voiced by Justice Field in the Riddlesbarger Case, supra, and as also adopted by Circuit Judge McCrary in the O'Laughlin Case, supra: "The rights of the parties flow from the contract. That relieves them from the general limitations of the statute, and, as a consequence, from its ·exceptions also."
Our attention is called to the case of Jacobs v. Insurance Co., 53 N. W. 101, decided by the supreme court of Iowa. Jacobs brought suit at law to recover loss from fire. On the trial it was discovered that the policy misdescribed the premises, and recovery on the policy as it then stood could not be had. Immediately, and by leave of court, he filed a substitute petition, in equity, asking reformation of the policy. Decree of reformation was duly entered. Thereupon he began a new suit, also in equity, against the company, but on the policy as reformed by the decree. The new suit was not begun "within one year from the date of as required by the limitation contract in the policy. This is set up· as a defense. With reference to such defense the court say: ''There was an action commenced on the policy within the year. In consequence of a mistake in the policy, discovered during the pendency 01' that suit, the character of the action was changed, and a reformation of the contract was sought and obtained. [Here the court quote section 3742 McClain's Iowa Code.] The discovery of the mistake and the change in the character of the action caused a failure to obtain judgment in the suit on the policy. We think the provision of the policy and the section of the statute must be construed together. Thus constl'Ued, there is little doubt that,
302
FEDERAL HEl'ORTER,
unless there was negligence in the prosecution of the first suit, this one 18 not barrell"
Later on in the opinion appears the following: "The law, however, does contemplate that In cases where suit Is brought the plaintiff may fall therein without negligence, and then another suit shan be deemed a continuation of the first; and this, we think, such a case."
I have thus quoted at length, and all of the opinion which attempts to deal in any wise with the point above considered as to the applicability of section 3742, McClain's Iowa Code, to policies such as in case at bar. It may be here remarked that the result obtained was unquestionably correct, viz. the sustaining of the right of Jacobs to maintain his action for recovery on the reformed policy. That would be a singular court of equity, indeed, which would so uphold, construe, and enforce the limitation clause in the policy as to forbid the insured to bring and maintain suit on the reformed policy, when no laches are shown, and the mistake in the policy as to description of premises was mutual, and not discovered by either party until during the trial in the first action. Perhaps the fact that the result reached was so eminently just and beyond question equitable may account for the apparently brief and limited consideration given to this point in the decision. There seems to have been no spirited contest by counsel, as there was no extended discussion in the opinion filed, and the point is not shown to have received any specially close examination by the court. The Riddlesbarger and O'Laughlin apparently were not brought by counsel to the attention of the court, nor the reasoning therein considered by the court. It would seem probable that if the question shall hereafter be fully presented, and the court brought to re-examine the point anew, such court will adopt the view of the federal courts as above presented in the extracts quoted, and hold that the contract clause is to be substituted, not only for the general statute of limitations, but as well for the exceptions thereto. If we accept the .Tacobs Case, as stated in the opinion cited, as giving the construction of section 3742 which is to obtain in the supreme court of Iowa with refer:ence to actions on policies containing limitation clauses as in policy in suit, there is manifest a decided difference in the holdings on this point between the federal and state courts. Which construction is binding on this court? There can be no contention but that in causes founded on state statutes this court is bound to accept and enforce the construction put thereon by the supreme court of the state. This is a general proposition; while in matters of general law, in the construction and applicatjon of general prindples, of matters not dependent on nor to be governed by state statute, the courts of the United States are not bound by the decisions of the state courts; and this though the federal courts strive to make their decision in harmony with the decisions of the courts of the state wherein they sit. As was well said in Burgess v. Seligman, 107 U. S. 20, 2 Sup. Ct. 10, when con· sidering the question of construction of commercial law and like matters:
OBLENIS· 11. CREETH.
303
·'Even In such cases, tor the sake ot harmony, and to avoid contusion, the federal courts will lean towards an agreementot views with the state courts, It the question seems to them balanced with doubt."
The decision in the Jacobs Case, supra, was made subsequently to these cases decided by the supreme court and circuit court of the United States to which we have at length above referred. If the decision to be herein reached is to be based on the state statute, this court must follow this (later) decision of the state court. Such is the generally established doctrine of the federal courts. But, if the federal decisions above cited are of binding authority on this court, then the point now under consideration is easily settled. These cases are decided on the construction therein given to the limitation clause of the policy. They are based on general principles. And it is therein expressly declared: "The rights ot the parties flow trom the contract. That relieves them trom the general limitations ot the statute, and, as a consequence, from its exceptions also."
And hence it becomes immaterial in this action what construction is to obtain as to the state statute in question. This action is relieved from the operation of that statute. The rights of the parties, flowing, as they do, "from the contract," must be determined without reference to the statute. According to the statements contained in the petition herein, this action was not "commenced within twelve months next after the flre," as required by the limitation clause of the policy. It is not therefore sustainable, under the contract the parties themselves have made with reference thereto; and, as a necessary result, the demurrer to petition must be sustained. Let an order be mtered accordingly, with exceptions thereto saved to plaintift;; and plaintiff is given until January 1, 1895, to amend if he be so advised, or to st&nd on his petition if he so elect. OBLENIS et at v. CREETH. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. April 23, 1895.) DBlBlDS-DESCRIPTION-BOUNDARY ON TIDE WATER.
A grant, made in 1666, ot a portion of Manhattan Island, atter defining a north and south line, running trom the Hudson to the East river, and forming the westerly boundary ot toe lands granted. proceeded to convey to the grantees all lands "lyelng and being within the said lyne, to draw north and south as atoresaid, eastward to the end ot the towne and Harlem Ryver, or any part of the said ryver on which this Island doth abutt, and likewise on ye North and East Ryvers wltWn the lymitts aforementioned." Held, that the eastern boundary ot the grant was the Harlem river, and, that river being tide water, the grant carried only the land to high-water mark.
This was an action of ejectment by Henry P. Oblenis and others against Thomas J. Creeth, Bubmitted to the court without a jury, upon an agreed statement of facts. Woodville Flemming, Phillips & McKinny, and John B. Jones. tor plaintiffs. H. W. Ingersoll and Robert G. Ingersoll, for defendant.