Wright v. J. A. Richards & Co.

In the construction and maintenance of high voltage wires over and along the streets of a city or town, the management is charged with a high degree of care for the protection of the public in the ordinary use of the streets. The duty of care is commensurate with the danger — a danger enhanced by the fact that the presence of the electric force is often invisible and may give no warning save by the deadly shock.

That such live wire is down, in position to come in contact with a person upon the street, no extraneous cause appearing, is prima facie evidence of negligence, casting upon the…