Pennsylvania Co. v. Versten

The verdicts of juries in actions for negligence, especially where railroads are defendants, often present the question whether they ought to be sustained upon the evidence. The theory of the legislation of this State upon the subject of jury trials, is that the jury are to be trusted rather than the court.

The court shall instruct only as to the law of the ease, and in writing. All summing of the evidence, all exposure of the sophistry of counsel, which in the old practice was deemed so important to the administration of justice, is prohibited. It does not become the courts to thwart the will…