Illinois Central Railroad v. Houck

The only question presented by this record is one of fact; The plaintiff’s intestate was an engine-driver on one of defendant’s engines, engaged in hauling a water train between Big Muddy and Centraba. On the 11th of December, 1871, as the train was going from Centraba to Big Muddy, the boiler of the engine on which the intestate was employed exploded, killing the intestate and one Keen, a brakeman. It is alleged that the explosion was in consequence of the defective condition of the engine, and that the defendant was guilty of negligence in permitting, knowingly, a defective engine to be so…