Directors of the Poor v. Worthington
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Common Pleas of Chester county. This was an action by Wilmer Worthington, against the Directors of the Poor and of the House of Employment of the County of Chester, in which, after a trial and verdict, and the filing of reasons for a new trial, the following case was stated for the opinion of the court: Humphrey Broomhall, on the 27th day of October 1856, received a severe injury upon the Pennsylvania Railroad near Oakland Station, in Chester county.
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Error to the Common Pleas of Chester county. This was an action by Wilmer Worthington, against the Directors of the Poor and of the House of Employment of the County of Chester, in which, after a trial and verdict, and the filing of reasons for a new trial, the following case was stated for the opinion of the court: Humphrey Broomhall, on the 27th day of October 1856, received a severe injury upon the Pennsylvania Railroad near Oakland Station, in Chester county. His arm was broken, and he was otherwise seriously injured, so as to require prompt medical attendance. Several physicians were…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered,
by Strong, J.
— The spirit of the poor laws is to cast upon the public the duty of providing for the relief of all helpless poor. This duty is to be performed through the agency of officers selected for the purpose, who are to procure for the proper subjects for relief, sustenance, clothing, medical attendance if necessary, and burial, at the expense of the public. But the legislature, while imposing this obligation upon the different districts in the Commonwealth, have also taken care that the community shall not be defrauded by their official agents, in…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Overseers of South Huntingdon v. Overseers of East HuntingdonSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1838
- Directors of Poor v. WallaceSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1844
3Cited by4 opinions
- Gibson v. Poor Dist. of Plumcreek Tp.Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1888
- Brushvalley Township Poor Directors v. Allegheny County Poor DirectorsSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1904
- Kennedy v. Poor DistrictSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1900
- Temple University—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education v. City of PhiladelphiaCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania · 1997