Churchill v. Holt

The plaintiffs were the lessees and occupants of a building on Winter Street, a crowded thoroughfare in the city of Boston. Connected with the building there was a hatchway in the sidewalk, leading into the basement. On March 31, 1875, one Julia Meston, a traveller upon the street, fell into the hatchway, which bad been left open and unguarded, and was injured. She brought an action against these plaintiffs, alleging that she was injured by reason of their negligence in keeping the covering of the hatchway in an insecure condition, in allowing it to decay and become ruinous, and in allowing…