City of Houston v. Dancer

CHADICK, Chief Justice.

The injured plaintiff had been convicted in a city court of violating a City of Houston penal ordinance and fined twenty dollars, and upon failure to pay was taken into custody by appropriate authority and held as a prisoner at the City penal farm. He, as a member of a detail of some fifty *859prisoners, was assigned to clearing storm scattered debris from City parks in Houston. Under guard this work gang was transported from park to park. Immediately before injury the bus carrying the prisoners arrived at Mason Park and the prisoners were ordered out of the bus. As the…