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100 Ind. 121

McCasland v. Kimberlin

Indiana Supreme Court

Decided January 28, 1885

Indiana Supreme Court · decided 1885-01-28

<p>Malicious Prosecution. — Instruction.—Malice.—Probable Cause.^ln an action for malicious prosecution, an instruction informing the jury that malice may be inferred from the want of probable cause, but that the want of probable cause can not be inferred from malice, is right.</p> <p>Same. — Evidence.— Witness. — Impeachment, Credibility After. — In such case, if the defendant testifies as a witness, and impeaching testimony, regarding his reputation for truth and veracity, has been offered against him, it is not erroneous for tlie court to instruct the jury that they are to determine his credibility under all the facts and circumstances as proved, and that if he “ gave a fair, candid and honest statement ” of the whole transaction in controversy, they should not disregard his testimony.</p>

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently December 1970

3 state decisions

Relies on Oliver v. Pate · Hays v. Blizzard · Lacy v. Mitchell

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1885-01-28

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Best, C.

¶1The appellant brought this action for an alleged malicious prosecution. Issue, trial, verdict and judgment for the appellee. A motion for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict was contrary to the evidence, and that the court erred in charging the jury, was overruled, and this ruling is assigned as error.

¶2The evidence is in the record, and we conclude from an examination of it that the verdict is fully supported by it. "We can not, therefore, disturb the judgment upon such ground.

¶3No substantial objection is urged to the sixth, seventh and eighth instructions. These define probable cause, and are substantially such as were approved in Lacy v. Mitchell, 23 Ind. 67, Hays v. Blizzard, 30 Ind. 457, and Richter v. Koster, 45 Ind. 440.

¶4The ninth instruction informs the jury that malice may be inferred from the want of probable cause, but the want of probable cause can not be inferred from malice. This was right. Oliver v. Pate, 43 Ind. 132; Benson v. Bacon, 99 Ind. 156.

¶5The tenth instruction does not inform the jury that the fact that an indictment was found against the appellant was conclusive evidence of probable cause, and it is, therefore, not in fact subject to such objection.

¶6The first, second and third instructions, given at the instance of the appellee, are questioned. No specific objection-is made to either of them, and an examination of them leads us to the conclusion that none exists.

¶7The fourth instruction asked by the appellee informed the *123jury that while the law permitted the impeachment of a witness by proof that his reputation for truth and veracity was bad, they were to determine his credibility under all the facts and circumstances as proved upon the trial, and that if the appellee, who testified as a witness, and against whom such impeaching testimony had been offered, “ gave a fair, candid .and honest statement of the facts and circumstances surrounding the whole transaction in controversy, then they should not disregard his testimony.”

Filed Jan. 28, 1885.

¶8This instruction was not erroneous. If the jury believed the witness notwithstanding his attempted impeachmént, it was their duty to consider his testimony. Smith v. Grimes, 43 Iowa, 356.

¶9This disposes of all the questions in the record, and as the judgment is not erroneous, it should be affirmed.

¶10Pee Cueiam. — It is therefore ordered, upon the foregoing -opinion, that the judgment be and it is hereby in all things .affirmed, at the appellant’s costs.

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