Bloom

Appeal from a judgment on nonsuit and from an order denying a motion for a new trial in an action for negligence caused by the alleged unskillful operation of an automobile driven by an employee of defendants, who are copartners doing business under the firm name of Allen & Doxsee, and also under the firm name and style of the Coast Line Freight and Stage Company. The occupation of the firm is that of carrying and transporting passengers for hire between the cities of Fort Bragg and Point Arena in the county of Mendocino, and between intermediate points to Cazadero, in the county of Sonoma. The evidence shows that on November 23, 1918, one of the stages, as was its custom, tied up at a place called Greenwood for the night. The stage so tied up was sometimes, and as a part of respondent’s business, utilized for short runs or special trips to neighboring points. Upon the evening of the day mentioned, and upon which the accident complained of occurred, the stage regularly arrived at Greenwood. Arrangements had been made several nights previously for the transportation of several young men, one of whom was the plaintiff, to Point Arena. A charge of sixteen dollars for the trip had…