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15 Jones & S. 494

Arteaga v. Conner

The Superior Court of New York City

Decided December 5, 1881

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1881-12-05

Conner,_ Brb and Watson. This case has been tried before, when verdict was directed for defendants. On appeal the verdict was set aside (46 Super. Ct. 91). The action was for alleged false imprisonment. The deceased Conner had been sheriff, and during his term, arrested plaintiff by virtue of an order of arrest. The plaintiff gave the usual underbaking with sureties.

Decided 1881-12-05

Per Curiam.

¶1There is a question made as to the liability of deféndant Watson. It is argued that his action in detaining plaintiff in jail was justified by the fact that the remand was regular in form or on its face, and he was therefore protected, as officers are, who execute process that is regular and valid in appearance. The remand was not a judicial process. The sheriff was no more than any other person would be who had become bail (Code of Pro. §§ 188, 189). His assertion of the existence of a fact, viz., that the bail had failed to justify, did not have any special force. It was the existence of the fact that would give authority to surrender. The jailer was bound to know that the person making the surrender had authority to make it.

¶2It was also urged that it should have been left to the jury, as to whether notice of making the stipulation had reached the sheriff or any of his agents. In the first place, the letter containing the notice was admissible as affecting the measure of damages. There would have been ground for urging that, if the sheriff had received such notice, his action in arresting was *497so willful or malicious, that the plaintiff was entitled to exemplary damages. The objection to the letter was properly overruled. Afterwards, when the court held, that on the whole case, the plaintiff was entitled to only compensatory damages, it became immaterial for the jury to ascertain whether the notice had reached the sheriff.

¶3The damages are not so large that the court can declare them to be excessive.

¶4Judgment affirmed, with costs, and order denying motion for new trial, made upon the minutes, affirmed, with $10 costs.

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