Estate of Clyde Davis, Deceased, William H. Davis, Administrator v. Marguerite Johnson

PELL, Circuit Judge.

Clyde Davis, a fifty-nine year old and evidently senile man, was murdered by a fellow detainee after the two were placed in a single “holding cell” at the City of Decatur, Illinois, police department headquarters. Clyde Davis’ son, acting in his capacity as administrator of his father’s estate, brought this action in federal district court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaint alleged that defendant Marguerite Johnson, an information clerk at the Decatur police headquarters, deprived Clyde Davis of rights secured by the Eighth Amendment to the federal Constitution.…