O'Shea

The defendant has appealed from a judgment of $6,000 which was rendered in favor of the plaintiff for injuries received as the result of a fall from a ladder caused by coming in contact with highly charged electric wires which, at the request of defendant’s foreman, he attempted to cut after having been assured they were dead wires.

The defendant owns and operates an electric power and lighting system in Willows and other California communities. Among the properties which it owns at Willows is an electric substation building. Several years prior to the commencement of this action an electric fire-alarm bell was attached to the front of this building. It was installed in a metal box which was fastened to the outer wall above the door about twelve feet from the ground. The bell belonged to the city of Willows. It had not been used for several years. The plaintiff, Frank J. O’Shea, was chief of the fire department. Frank Loder was defendant’s foreman and superintendent in charge of the substation. The plaintiff telephoned to Loder several days prior to the time of the accident requesting him to return the bell for the reason that the city wished to install it at the fire department…