after stating the facts. In view of the act of February 23, 1897 (Private Laws, Chap. 56), the Court properly refused to submit the third issue tendered by defendant. This point has been so fully considered in the cases Coley v. Railroad and Thomas v. Railroad, both at this term, that further discussion seems unnecessary. It may now be considered settled that the said act deprives all railroad companies operating in this State of the defense of assumption of risk, whether resting in contract, express or implied, and whether treated directly or under the doctrine of fellow servant. It is further settled that the plaintiff is not guilty of contributory negligence in undertaking the performance of a dangerous work unless he performs it in a negligent manner, or unless the act itself is obviously so dangerous that, in its careful performance, the inherent probabilities of injury are greater than those of safety. Hinshaw v. R. Co., 118 N. C., 1047; Coley v. Railroad and Thomas v. Railroad, supra.
We see no error in the charge. As there was more than a scintilla of evidence tending to prove the negligence of the defendant, the case could not have been taken from the jury. Bank v. School Committee, 121 N. C., 107; Cable v. Railway Co., 122 N. C., 892; Moore v. Street Ry. Co., 128 N. C.,. 455. The Court properly refused to charge as to contributory negligence on the first issue, especially as he substantially embodied that part of the prayer in his instructions upon the second issue.
*401The defendant requested the Court to charge: “If the jury believe from the testimony of defendant’s witnesses as to the condition of the grate-bar, or the testimony of plaintiff’s witness Clark, that the grate-bar was worn The least bit in the world,’ this would not be sufficient evidence of a defective appliance to go to the jury, and they should find the first issue ‘No’ ” The Court refused to give the instruction as requested, but gave it in the following modified form: “If the jury find from the testimony that the condition of the grate-bar was good and not worn, or that the grate-bar was worn only ‘the least bit in the world,’ this would not be sufficient evidence of a defective appliance to go to the jury, and they should find the first issue ‘No.’ ” Defendant excepted to the modification. His Honor was correct in modifying the prayer, because its effect would have been, or might have been, to give undue credit to the defendant’s witnesses as well as the witness Clark, whose testimony was by no means favorable to the plaintiff. Jackson v. Commissioners, 76 N. C., 282; Young v. Steamboat Co., 64 N. C., 399; Weisenfield v. McLean, 96 N. C., 248.
We are inclined to think that it would have been error if the instruction had been given as asked, as it tended to discredit the plaintiff, who had testified in his own behalf; but in any event the defendant had no right to demand that his Honor should single out by name any one witness from amongst others who had testified to the same matter.
Among other prayers, some of which were given, the defendant asked for the following instruction: “A railroad is not an insurer of the safety of its employees, nor is it required to have every appliance in perfect condition at all times. If its machinery is reasonably suitable for the purpose for which it is designed, if used with ordinary care, the railroad can not be found negligent because the corners of a grate-bar are worn ‘the least bit in the world,’ provided *402•that this would not cause the accident if due care should be •observed by the fireman using it.” The Court gave this instruction as requested; and cabrged tbe jury upon the second issue, among other things, as follows: “If you find from the evidence that the grate-bar was in a dangerous condition on account of two of its corners having worn until they were round, that the plaintiff knew of its defective and dangerous condition, and that with knowledge of such defective and dangerous condition he voluntarily remained in the service of defendant and continued to use such grate-bar, he assumed the risk incident to the use of such defective grate-bar, and you should answer the second issue ‘Yes.’ If you find from the evidence that the plaintiff did not use that degree of care and caution in attaching the handle to the grate-bar which a prudent man would have used in so attaching it, and that such want of care caused or contributed to the injury of which the plaintiff complains, then, whether the grate-bar was worn or not, you should answer the second issue ‘Yes.’ ”
These instructions, with others, went fully as far as the defendant had a right to demand, and, in fact, if the point were before us, we might seriously question its correctness as being too favorable to the defendant as to the assumption of risk under the act of 1891.
This case is peculiarly one whose determination comes within the province of the jury, as the testimony was conflicting upon material points. Even if the facts were undisputed, it would be extremely difficult for a Court to say as matter of law what degree of wear would render a piece of machinery, not in common use, so* far dangerous as to imply negligence on the part of the defendant, or to deter a man of ordinary prudence from undertaking to use it.
Considering the testimony and the charge, the jury might well have found for the defendant, if they had given to its witnesses the same degree of credibility that they appear to *403have given to the plaintiff. But they have found otherwise, and we can not say that they are wrong. The credibility of a witness is a matter peculiarly for the jury, and depends not only upon his desire to tell the truth, but also, and sometimes even to a greater extent, upon his insensible bias, his intelligence, his means of knowledge and powers of observation. The judgment is
Affirmed.
Cook, J., dissents.