People Ex Rel. Douglas v. Barrett

Warren B. Douglas had served from 1917 to 1928 as a representative in the Illinois General Assembly. At the general election held on November 6, 1934, he was again elected a representative in the Fifty-ninth General Assembly. He died December 3, 1934, before the legislature convened on January 9, 1935. On April 23, 1935, the General Assembly, by House Bill 13 (Laws of 1935, p. 157) appropriated $3500 to his widow, Sadie Douglas, the appellant. The Auditor of Public Accounts refused to draw a warrant in her favor, whereupon she filed her mandamus petition in the superior court of Cook county…