People Ex Rel. Schmidt v. Yerger

This is an appeal from a judgment in a mandamus action directing the trustees of the Firemen’s Pension Fund of the city of Rock Island to pay increased benefits to the widow of a deceased fireman.

August Schmidt served as a fireman for the city of Rock Island for over 41 years and contributed to the pension fund. He retired as chief of the department in 1944 at which time his salary was $215 per month. He received a pension until his death on November 7, 1958. At the time of Schmidt’s retirement section 6 of the Firemen’s Pension Fund Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1943, chap. 24, par. 923), provided…