Major plot error (Spoiler)

Spoiler comin' up.....


A major plot point is the death of "The Bad Guy" by electrocution. He is hiding on the roof of a trolley car. When he reaches up to steady himself he grabs the overhead power wire. Sparks fly and he is killed. Except, it couldn't happen. True, trolleys used 600 volts DC to power their motors and that could kill you for certain. But standing on the roof of the wooden car,he would have been insulated from the ground. He could have held the wire all day without harm. Ever see a bird sitting on a power line? Same thing. I tried to post this as a "goof" but IMDB wasn't having it. Of course a noir movie is supposed to have plot holes, isn't it?