MILLIKEN TRUST CO., ADMINISTRATOR, ESTATE OF S. H. BAILEY, DECEASED v. STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Case summary
The administrator of the estate of S. H. Bailey, who died after being choked by another patient at Peoria State Hospital, claimed compensation. The court found no legal liability but recommended the legislature appropriate up to $2,000 for the widow and minor children as a matter of social justice.
AI-generated summary from the opinion text — may contain errors. The opinion text and PDF above are the official record.
Headnotes
- SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-when award will be made. Although no
MILLIKEN TRUST CO., ADMINISTRATOR, ESTATE OF S. H. BAILEY,
DECEASED
v.
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Opinion filed April 20, 1921.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-when award will be made. Although no legal liability exists against the State the Court as a matter of social justice and equity may recommend to the Legislature an appropriation to claimant, to be used only for the support of herself and minor children.
Edward J. Brundage, Attorney General, for State.
Samuel H. Bailey, a man of about forty-five years of age, while an inmate of the Peoria State Hospital for the Insane, and on the night of April 21, 1920, he was attacked by another insane person by the name of Dale and choked by that patient in such a manner that he died at the hospital of that institution on the morning of the 23rd. It appears that the inmate Dale was incurably insane and was recognized by the authorities as a troublesome and quarrelsome patient, and was known to step up behind other patients and strike them. And it further appears that the inmates Bailey and Dale were quarreling less than an hour before the trouble occurred, and that they were not put into separate rooms. It appears that the patient Bailey at the time of his death was in good physical health, and was expected to recover his normal mental condition. He left a widow and seven children and very little property.
The attorney for the claimant made no contention of a legal liability on the part of the State. It is believed, however, by the Court, that as a matter of social justice there should be an allowance made to the widow of said deceased. It is therefore recommended by this Court that the Legislature of this State appropriate a sum not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) to be paid to the widow of said deceased, to be used only for the purpose of herself and the minor children of said deceased.