The question of the liability of railway companies in the event of
personal accident through parcels falling from a rack in the compartments
of passenger trains has been raised in the Midlands. In December last, a
tailor named Round was travelling from Dudley to Stourbridge, and, on the
train being drawn up at Round Oak Station, a hamper was jerked from the
racks and fell with such force as to cause him serious injury. Certain
medical charges were incurred, and Mr. Round alleged that he was unable
to attend to his business for five weeks in consequence of the accident.
He therefore claimed £50 by way of compensation. Sir Rupert Kettle,
before whom the case was tried, decided that the company was not liable,
and could not be held responsible for whatever happened in respect to
luggage directly under the control of passengers. The case is one of
some public interest, inasmuch as a parcel falling from a rack is not an
uncommon incident in a railway journey. Moreover, the hamper in question
belonged, not to the plaintiff, but to a glass engraver, and contained
four empty bottles, two razors, and a couple of knives.
—_Daily News_, March 29th, 1884.