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35 Me. 472

Murdock v. Ripley

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1853

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1853-07-01

On Exceptions from Nisi Prius, Howard, J., presiding. Assault and Battery. An officer held a warrant for service against one Bridgham, and employed the defendant to aid in serving it. In attempting to arrest Bridgham, the officer was resisted by this plaintiff. To repel that resistance, this defendant inflicted the violence for which this suit is brought.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently April 2024

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1853-07-01

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Wells J.

¶1— The defendant, acting as the aid of the officer in making the arrest of Bridgham, was justified in using such force as was necessary to overcome the resistance of the plaintiff. If he used more force than was necessary to accomplish that purpose, he b.ecame a trespasser. 1 Chit. Plead. 164. Cockroft v. Smith, 2 Salk. 641.

¶2The plaintiff, by his resistance, may be considered as contributing to the injury, which, it is alleged, he received, but *475that resistance could not justify unnecessary violence. The fault of the plaintiff in the first instance would afford no justification for the defendant in transcending the line of his duty.

¶3It fell within the province of the jury to determine whether the defendant exercised a proper judgment in repelling the resistance of the plaintiff, and if his own judgment led him astray, he must be responsible for the consequences.

¶4Exceptions sustained, verdict set aside and a new trial granted.

Shepley, C. J., and Tenney and Appleton, J. J., concurred.
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