73 Pa. Super. 533 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1920
Opinion by
Watson L. Hoch was declared a weak-minded person and the Commercial Trust Company was appointed guardian. At the time the decree was entered, Hoch was living at the home of the plaintiff and he continued to reside there. A demand was made upon the trust company by Keller for compensation for board and lodging furnished to Hoch. The learned president judge of the court below apparently was not satisfied that the claim was proper, but deemed it fair, instead of refusing the application, to suggest that the matter be submitted to a jury by way of an issue to be framed. This was accordingly done and the trial resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff. It was shown at the trial that the trust company informed Keller that a home had been provided for Hoch with his father and that anything that Keller would do for the ward would be without compensation. It however appears that when someone was sent to take Hoch away from Keller’s home, he declined to go. He told the party that he had “nothing at home like this in
The trust company was appointed to take charge of the estate of the weak-minded person. The writer does not think that the acts of assembly relating to feeble-minded persons contemplate that such persons should be entirely deprived of all volition as to where they desire to live or that they should be compelled to reside in uncongenial surroundings at the mere direction of their guardians. This however is apart from the present inquiry. As long as Hoch lived with Keller certainly it was .necessary for him to have his food and a place to sleep. .The question, whether the accommodations afforded were necessaries, was left to the jury and they having found for the plaintiff we see no reason why the verdict should be disturbed. Hoch was a ward of the court. _ If his well-being required his removal to some other place than the one in which he resided, no doubt' some lawful means could have been resorted to by the court to accomplish it, but it certainly was not incum
The judgment is affirmed.