Weber v. Winona & St. Peter Railroad

The statute upon which the plaintiff bases his right to recover upon the facts proven provides that “railroad companies * * * shall be liable to any party aggrieved for all damages caused by fire being scattered or thrown from said cars or engines, without the owner * * * of the property so damaged being required to show defect in their engines or negligence on the part of their employés; but the fact of such fire being so scattered or thrown shall be construed by all courts having jurisdiction as prima facie evidence of such negligence or defect.” G. S. 1894, § 2700.

The principal question in…