Farmer v. Alton Building & Loan Ass'n

The defendant, The Alton Building and Loan Association, owned a lot located in the village of East Alton and by verbal arrangement leased it to one Fentress from month to month. He took possession and occupied it as a family residence. Fifteen days after he began to occupy the premises, Lloyd Warner Farmer, plaintiff’s intestate, a boy five and a half years old, while playing on the lot with Fentress’ children, fell into a cesspool located on the back of the lot and was drowned. Plaintiff started this suit to recover damages for said alleged wrongful death.

The jury returned a verdict for the…