Case Name: JOHN J. GRACE v. THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII
Court: Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii
Jurisdiction: Hawaii
Decision Date: 1901-07-05
Citations: 13 Haw. 465
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOHN J. GRACE v. THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII.
Judges: Frear, C.J., Galbraith and Perry, JJ.
Reporter: Hawaii Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 465–466

Head Matter:
JOHN J. GRACE v. THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII.
Original.
Submitted June 17, 1901.
Decided July 5, 1901.
Frear, C.J., Galbraith and Perry, JJ.
A Sheriff cannot bind the Territory to pay -a surgeon for an operation upon a private citizen made necessary by am. unauthorized act of a polieeman.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT BY
FREAR, C.J.
This is a submission without action on the following agreed facts:
In February, 1901, a policeman at Hilo, Hawaii, without authority, justification or extenuation by law, shot and wounded a private citizen. It immediately became necessary to extract the bullet from the wounded man. The Sheriff of Hawaii requested the plaintiff, who was a licensed physician and surgeon practicing in Hilo-, to perform the operation, promising him reasonable compensation for the service by the department of' the Attorney-General. The plaintiff performed the service im a skillful manner and rendered a bill therefor to the said department. The question is whether the Territory is liable.
In our opinion the Sheriff was without authority to bind the-Territory to pay for an operation upon a private citizen made- necessary by an unauthorized act of a policeman. Judgment for tbe defendant.
Tbe plaintiff in person.
Attorney-Qmeral E. P. Dole for tbe defendant.