Page images
PDF
EPUB

CAP. I.
SEC. I.

possession of a house or close, or of chattels. PART I. If a person forcibly enters into a house, he may be forcibly ejected; but if he enters quietly, he must be requested to retire before he can be lawfully turned out, and then, if he refuses to retire, the owner may use as much force as is necessary to compel him. But in neither case may an unnecessary degree of force be resorted to. (Add. Torts, 397-8; Selw. N. P. 32-3; Broom Com. 665; 3 Ste. Com. 461; Roscoe on Evid. 597.)

A forcible entry is not lawful, even where the law gives a right of entry. (Add. Torts, 398; Cole on Eject. 69, 70, 686-690; Woodfall, 858, 860.)

is Putting

a

In the case of an affray, any person justified in interfering and using such degree of force as may be necessary for the purpose of separating the combatants and putting an end to it. (Add. Torts, 398-9; 1 Burn's Justice, 56.)

down an affray.

hem is excusable.

When a person has been assaulted in such Where maya way as to put him in fear of grievous bodily harm, mayhem inflicted in self-defence is excusable. But a person may not make Dispropora return, in self-defence, wholly dispropor- injury in tionate to the injury he has received. (Add. Torts, 399; Roscoe on Evid. 594-5.)

tionate

return.

PART I.

SEC. II.

SECTION II.

Of Consequential Injuries to Corporal

Security.

Consequential, as distinguished from direct

CAP. I. injuries, frequently arise from nuisances or from negligence.

Definition of a nuisance.

Where redress not granted.

Different sorts of

A nuisance is something done which has the effect of unwarrantably marring the enjoyment of the rights of another person.

Redress cannot be obtained for a thing as a nuisance, where it merely involves a reasonable use of the rights of the person charged with creating it, and it merely abridges the pleasure of the person suffering from it: it must, at the least, unwarrantably render the enjoyment of life or property uncomfortable. And hence the carrying on an offensive trade may be actionable if carried on in one locality, but not so if carried on in another. (See Add. Torts, 74; Roscoe on Evid. 514-5; Selw. N. P. 1129-31; Bamford v. Turnley, 10 W. R. 803. And see p. 57, infra.)

Some nuisances affect the enjoyment of nuisances. rights concerning the person; others affect the enjoyment of proprietary rights. Some of the former are noticed in this section; some of the latter in a subsequent page.

Nuisances are either public or private. Public or common nuisances are those things which prejudicially affect the public, i. e. all persons who come within the sphere of their operation, though they may affect some persons more than others. Private nuisances are things prejudicial to the enjoyment of private rights. (Broom Com. 693; 3 Ste. 490.)

[blocks in formation]

shafts.

If a person lawfully traversing land falls wells of into an unguarded well or mining shaft, without negligence or misconduct on his part, the occupier of the land is responsible in damages. But if the person injured were trespassing, and the well or shaft were more than twenty-five yards from a public carriageway, the occupier would not be liable. (Add. Torts, 80, 95.)

Dangerous

paths.

If a landowner suffers a path to his house to be used, he is responsible for any act of his whereby injury arises to other persons, without giving them timely notice, or revoking the licence to use it. (Add. Torts, 81.) If a householder leaves a cellar, vault, Dangerous area, or sewer unguarded, so close to a highway as to be dangerous to passengers in the dark or in foggy weather, he is responsible for any injury occasioned thereby. (Add. Torts, 82, 96; Roscoe on Evid. 528-9.)

vaults, areas, or sewers.

PART I.
CAP. I.

Ferocious animals.

Whoever keeps an animal which he knows

SEC. II. to be wont to attack mankind, is liable to an action for damages by any person injured by it. But a person may allow a fierce dog to be loose at night for the protection of the premises; yet not in the open approaches to a house, so as to injure persons lawfully coming to it. (Add. Torts, 96; Roscoe on Evid. 525-6; Dixon's Law of Farm, 110-21.) An action may be maintained for injuries carelessness. to corporal security arising from negligence or want of proper care, in other cases besides those of nuisances.

Injuries from negligence or

Injury from furious or

careless driving.

Thus, when a coach is overturned and a passenger is thrown out, owing to the carelessness of the driver, the passenger may bring an action against the coach proprietor. (3 Ste. Com. 461; Roscoe on Evid. 518.) And a person walking or riding on a road, who sustains an injury in consequence of the furious, careless, or negligent driving of another, may maintain an action, unless his own want of reasonable care conduced to the injury. (See Oliphant on Horses, 225.) Duty of per- A person driving is not bound to keep on and walking the regular side of the road; but when on the other side, he must use greater care to

sons driving

avoid a collision. A person driving over a

crossing for foot-passengers, or in a crowded part, ought to drive slowly and carefully; but it is also the duty of a foot-passenger to use due care, so as not to get recklessly among the carriages. (Add. Torts, 240; Oliphant on Horses, 241-3; Roscoe on Evid. 520-1.)

PART I.

CAP. I.

SEC. II.

the health.

Action by

personal re

tort.

And it may here be added that redress Injuries to may be had by action for injuries to the health of an individual, by the sale of bad wine or provisions, or by the neglect or unskilful treatment of his medical attendant. (Broom Com. 692, 695-6; 3 Ste. Com. 462.) When the death of a person is caused by a tort which would have entitled him or her presentative of a person killed by a to damages, an action for damages may be brought by his or her personal representative, for the benefit of his or her wife, husband, parent, grandparent, step-parent, child, grandchild and step-child, in such shares as the jury shall direct; and the measure of damages is the actual or contingent pecuniary loss to the family from the death; but the jury cannot take into consideration the funeral expenses or mourning, or the mental suffering occasioned to the family. (Broom Com. 689-91; Wms. on Executors, 710-11; Add. Torts, 254, 267; 9 & 10 Vic. c. 93.)

« EelmineJätka »