{
  "id": 2741240,
  "name": "John S. Bradbury v. Clara A. Helms",
  "name_abbreviation": "Bradbury v. Helms",
  "decision_date": "1879-01",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "35",
  "last_page": "40",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "92 Ill. 35"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill.",
    "id": 8772,
    "name": "Illinois Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 428,
    "char_count": 8819,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.603,
    "pagerank": {
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      "percentile": 0.5613028018235812
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    "sha256": "e35464df461d01dc57123cb2f1778f1f6a501951aff0d9cdd48ed84617a27157",
    "simhash": "1:aeb716156cd90ebb",
    "word_count": 1550
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:16:34.737984+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "John S. Bradbury v. Clara A. Helms."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr\". Chief Justice Craig\ndelivered the opinion of the Court:\nInstruction number one, given on behalf of the plaintiff, and which was excepted to by the defendant, is not liable to any serious objection. If the services sued for were rendered at the instance and request of Bradbury, or were rendered under circumstances showing that he requested and accepted such services, in the absence of all proof of a contract under which the services were rendered the law would imply a promise on the part of Bradbury to pay plaintiff what the services rendered were reasonably worth. The instruction, in substance, announces this principle, and we fail to perceive in what manner the jury could have been misled by it.\nThe point, however, mainly relied upon to reverse the judgment is, that the verdict of the jury was contrary to the evidence.\nThe case originated in the county court of Clark county, where the plaintiff presented a claim against the estate of Peter H. Bradbury, deceased, for the sum of $2710.60. The principal item in the claim was one for eleven years\u2019 services rendered by the plaintiff to Bradbury in his lifetime, from 1864 to 1875. It appears that the plaintiff lived with and kept house for Bradbury, who was a farmer and a man without a family, for the time alleged, and also assisted him in talcing care of his stock and in doing such work as was necessary in the house and on the farm, and it is apparent, from the evidence, that she was a faithful servant, and that her services were valuable. But it is contended, on behalf of the estate, that the services tvere rendered under a contract, by Avhich Bradbury agreed to board the plaintiff and her tAvo small children, and furnish her certain material for clothing for herself and children, for the services rendered, and there was much evidence introduced on behalf of the estate tending to establish the contract.\nAngeline Preston, a witness for the estate, testified, that \u201cplaintiff came to Bradbury\u2019s a few days before I left; she told me all her things had been burned in Crawford county, where she had been living; she said she was going to live Avith Bradbury as one of the family, and work for her board and clothes for herself and children; she had two children, one about four months old and the other four or five years old; I saw her aftenvards, and she told me just what she did before, and she said the reason she did it Avas to get a home for herself and children Avhere she could keep them together.\u201d\nA number of' other Avitnesses were called, Avho testified to conversations Avith the plaintiff Avhile she was with Bradbury, and after she left, which tended to establish the fact that the services she had rendered were under a contract, as sworn to by the witness Angeline Preston.\nFrancis McCue testified: In a conversation with plaintiff \u201cshe told me she got nothing for her work for Bradbury; that her contract Avas, that she got her board and clothing for herself and children.\u201d\nNicholas Whitaker testified: \u201cI had a talk with the plaintiff nine or ten years ago, at Bradbury\u2019s house; she said she had come to Bradbury\u2019s to make that her home for herself and children; I asked her xvhat else she got; she said nothing, \u2014that she Avas a lone Avoman, and came there to get a home for herself and children.\u201d\nAmanda McClure testified she had conversations, at different times, with plaintiff in the fall of 1873, and at other times while she was at Bradbury\u2019s, in reference to the terms on which she was staying with Peter H. Bradbury. \u201cShe told me she was not getting wages for her work; that she only got her board and the boarding for her children, and wool for the woolen clothes for herself and children; that she had time to work up the wool, and Bradbury paid for the weaving, and that was all she was to get for the work, according to their agreement.\u201d\nRobert Plunlcet testified: \u201c I have heard plaintiff say, at different times, that she only got board for herself and two children.\u201d\nThe evidence of these several witnesses, introduced by the defendant for the purpose of establishing a contract under which the services of the plaintiff were rendered, does not seem to have been impeached or in any manner overcome by the plaintiff. She, it is true, denies some of the conversations testified to, and does not remember others. We find, however, no direct proof in the record that the deceased ever promised to pay the plaintiff anything for services.\nThere was evidence of declarations of Bradbury, after plaintiff left his place, which tended to establish that he was indebted to her. James Hall testified: \u201cI had a conversation with Bradbury the day plaintiff left him; he said he wanted to overtake her and help her drive her stock; he said she had his note, and he wanted to get it; he said he owed her $1500 besides.\u201d\nThere was some other evidence proving admissions of Bradbury, after plaintiff left him, to the effect that he owed her $1500 or $1600, but they, doubtless, referred to a note she held against him for money loaned, and which he subsequently paid, and which is not involved in this case in any manner whatever.\nThe question, then, is, whether all the proof of the defendant which we have referred to, tending to prove a contract between the plaintiff and deceased under which she rendered the services, was fairly overcome by the plaintiff\u2019s evidence. If it was, then it was proper for the jury to allow for services rendered,\u2014otherwise it was not. If Bradbury was indebted to the plaintiff, at the time she left, in the sum of $1500, over and above the note she held against him for money loaned, as testified to by Hall, then it was doubtless proper for the jury to find for the plaintiff for her services. But we can not believe all the proof of defendant tending to establish that deceased was not to pay plaintiff for services, other than furnishing a home and board for her and her children, and material for clothing, was overcome by the proof of the mere declaration of deceased, in the presence of Hall. The great preponderance of the proof is so clearly with the defence upon this branch of the case, that we can not but believe the jury has misapprehended the testimony.\nThat the plaintiff was a true and faithful servant to Bradbury during the eleven years she remained with him, is not denied. That a short time before Bradbury\u2019s death he took shelter in plaintiff\u2019s house, and during his last sickness was watched over and nursed by her until he died, is not controverted. For these last services she should be well paid ; but as to the other services, if rendered under the agreement which the preponderance of the proof seems to establish, then she has been paid, and no other compensation can be allowed. During the eleven years the plaintiff was with Bradbury, she had a home for herself and children, and the material from which they obtained clothing. When she went to his house, as the proof shows, she had nothing; but when she left she took away a mare and colt, one cow, and two loads of household goods. These things were not obtained from her pension money, as that had been loaned out to Bradbury, and she held his note for the same. These facts would seem to indicate that Bradbury had dealt fairly with the plaintiff, and although she labored well for him she has been compensated for her services.\nIn conclusion, we are of opinion the verdict is not sustained by the evidence, and the cause ought to be submitted to another jury.\nThe judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.\nJudgment reversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr\". Chief Justice Craig"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Messrs. Wilkin & Wilkin, and Messrs. Dulaney & Golden, for the appellant.",
      "Messrs. Whitehead & Jones, for the appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "John S. Bradbury v. Clara A. Helms.\n1. Contract\u2014when implied, to pay for services. If services are performed for one at his instance and request, or are rendered under circumstances showing that he requested and accepted the same, in the absence of all proof of a contract under which such services were performed t.he law will imply a promise on his part to pay what the services were reasonably worth.\n2. Measure of damages\u2014under special contract. If services are rendered under a special contract, and the compensation therein provided has- been received, the party performing the services can not recover anything further, no matter what such services were worth.\nAppeal from the Circuit Court of Clark county; the Hon. Oliver L. Davis, Judge, presiding.\nThis was a suit by the appellee against John S. Bradbury, administrator of the estate of Peter H. Bradbury, deceased, upon a claim filed in the county court of Clark county for services, etc., and taken by appeal to the circuit court, where, a trial being had, it resulted in a verdict and judgment in favor of the claimant for the sum of $1000, to reverse which this appeal was taken.\nMessrs. Wilkin & Wilkin, and Messrs. Dulaney & Golden, for the appellant.\nMessrs. Whitehead & Jones, for the appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0035-01",
  "first_page_order": 35,
  "last_page_order": 40
}