Hamlin v. Martin

Citations

• 56 Ill. 315

Syllabus

<p>Excessive damages—for an unlawful arrest and imprisonment. A private person procured the arrest of a party on a charge of larceny. The arrest was made about noon, and the prisoner was kept in confinement until about eight o’clock the same day, when he was released on bail. Several days afterward he was examined before a magistrate and dis charged. In' an action by the accused, against the party procuring his arrest, for an alleged unlawful arrest and imprisonment, it was shown by the proof that the defendant fully believed the plaintiff was guilty, and had some strong circumstantial grounds for so believing, and caused the arrest in entire good faith: Held, a verdict for the plaintiff for §2,000 was altogether unreasonable and excessive, and for that cause the judgment was reversed.</p>