48 Barb. 30 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1866
To maintain this action, the plaintiff was compelled to proye: 1. That the defendant instigated the prosecution against the plaintiff. 2. That such prosecution was without probable cause, 3. That it was accompanied with malice. (Besson v. Southard, 10 N. Y. Rep. 236. McKown v. Hunter, 30 id. 625.)
In support of the first proposition, the plaintiff proved the declaration of the defendant to the witness William Fair-child, who testified as follows : “ I had a conversation with the defendant about Miller’s arrest. I was coming from Poughkeepsie in the cars, and Milligan got into the cars and took a seat beside me in the car; he had a man with him. I said, I hear that you had arrested Miller. My wife had written to me while I was in the army, that you had arrested him, and that he was under heavy bail for helping a deserter to escape. He said yes, that was so. I asked him if it had been tried yet.- He said no. I asked him how he thought it would go; that it must have cost Miller considerable. He said it would go well enough, for he would make it cost him a nice pile before he got through, and he would learn him not to get another deserter off. I told him I did not think Miller had any thing to do with it; he said he did.
James B.. Olney testified, that as counsel for Milligan he accompanied him to New York, where he was arraigned upon the indictment, and when they reached New York they saw the commissioner and district attorney. The witness further testified : “ I was referred to Milligan, and was shown the affidavit which has been read in evidence. ■ I endeavored to get the proceedings stopped, and have -a nolle prosequi entered, but could do nothing without seeing Milligan.”
. In opposition to this evidence, the defendant testified that he was clerk and special deputy of the board of enrollment, and was instructed by the board to draw his own and Shears’ affidavits, which he did, and delivered them to Joshua Fiero, Jr. the provost marshal, who forwarded them to the United States district attorney in the city of New York, and had nothing further to do with it; and did not in any manner ask that a warrant issue against the plaintiff, and was not actuated by any malice in what he did ; that he attended the trial in New York as a witness, under a subpoena, and not by the district attorney by request from him.
On cross-examination, he further stated: “ I presented the ■ case to Fiero before the affidavits were made; don’t know what I told him. I spoke of the unfinished business in the office, and of this in that connection. I don’t know as I urged him to have the affidavits made and forwarded to the district attorney; may have done so; ” “ will not swearT did not go to the district attorney about this case between sending the papers and issuing the warrant.”
Joshua Fiero, the provost marshal, testified that the defendant stated to him the circumstances attending the escape of Shears, and he wrote to the district. attorney for instructions, and directed the defendant to prepare the affida
George T. Pierce, testified that the affidavits were prepared by order of Fiero and himself,-and .that he told Milligan to prepare the affidavits. :
The plaintiff testified that on his way to Hew York,, after the arrest, he, in: company with Milo 0. Osborn, saw Fiero at his store, who told him that the defendant entered the complaint, and that he advised Milligan not to make the com-plaintand that he had had nothing to do with prosecuting the case; that Milligan had: ,
Milo O. Osborn, testified that he. went to Fiero’s store with the plaintiff. That Fiero said Milligan was.the.complaihant in the case, and did not claim .that he, Fiero, had any. thing to do with it. The evidence upon this branch of the case is conflicting ; but, in my judgment, it does .not so elearly preponderate- in favor, of. the .defendant as ¡to justify a refusal to submit the question to the jury.- - The positive admission of the defendant that he caused the arrest of the plaintiff, and that he. would make it cost him a nice sum before he got through with the matter, is proved .by one. witness, and such declaration is consistent with the conduct of the defendant during the whole course of the prosecution.
Again, the declaration of Fiero in the presence .of .the plaintiff and Milo 0: Osborn, is inconsistent with his evidence, and tends to weaken it, and presented a question appropriate for the consideration of the jury.
In regard to the second proposition, whether the; proseen-: tion was without probable cause :
In Foshay v. Ferguson, (2 Denioj 619,) in defining what constitutes probable cause, Bronson, J. remarks, “Probable causó has been defined, a reasonable ground of suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious man in the belief that the person accused
If this view of the evidence is correct, it follows that the plaintiff was entitled to have that question also submitted to the jury.
In regard to the third proposition, whether the prosecution was accompanied with malice. If such prosecution was instigated by the defendant, and was without probable cause therefor, malice might be implied. In Hall v. Suydam, (6 Barb. 86,) Paige, J. remarks: “ The want of probable cause cannot be inferred from express malice ; but malice may be implied from the want of probable cause.” Again, if Fairchild is to be credited, there is direct evidence of malice. At all events, there was evidence upon that question which the plaintiff was entitled to have submitted to the jury. The plaintiff’s counsel objected to the nonsuit, and requested the court to submit the several questions to the
In Bulkeley v. Keteltas, (6 N. Y. Rep. 384,) Gridley, J. says : “ When there is no dispute about the facts, the question of the want of probable cause is for the determination of the court. Where the facts are controverted or doubtful, whether they are proved or not, belongs to the jury to decide; or, in other words, whether the circumstances alleged are true, is a question of fact.” In Besson v. Southard, (10 N. Y. Rep. 239,) the court, in discussing the question of probable cause, remarks : “ This question is composed of law and facts, it being the province of the jury to determine whether the circumstances alleged are true or not, and of the court to determine whether they amount to probable cause.” (Id. 240.) “ If the facts which are adduced as proof of a want of probable cause are contradicted, if conflicting testimony is to be weighed, or if the credibility of witnesses is to be passed upon, the question of probable cause should go to the jury with proper instructions as to the law.” (See also Stevens v. Lacour, 10 Barb. 66.)
In Masten v. Deyoe, (2 Wend. 426,) Marcy, J. remarks: “If the' testimony, uncontroverted and viewed in the most favorable light, would not authorize a verdict for the plaintiff, a judge is not obliged to submit the case to the jury; but he may, and it is generally conceded he should order a nonsuit. If in the exercise of this duty a judge withholds from the jury a cause which should have been submitted to them, this court always interferes and orders a new trial.” (Id. 428.) “ But nonsuits should only be granted in cases where there is nothing for the jury to pass upon, or where there is no evidence of a want of probable cause.” (Id. 429.) “If, however, tlie facts are controverted, or in any wise the weight of conflicting testimony is to be ascertained, or the credibility of witnesses estimated,.the evidence must go to the jury.”
From a careful examination of this case, I am led to the
■ The essential elements of this, action are well - understood. ' They consist of a previous- unfounded prosecution • of the plaintiff by the defendant,- commenced without probable cause, conducted with malice,- and terminating favorably to the party prosecuted.- . (Vanderbilt v. Mathis, 5 Duer, 304. Foshay v. Ferguson, 2 Denio, 617. Beeson v. Southard, 10 N. Y. Rep. 236. McKown v. Hunter, 30 id. 627.)
In regard to these, the burthen of proof rests on the plaintiff, and he must-'establish each of these several propositions, or fail in his action. It is often said,- in a general way, that malice and the want of probable cause are the ingredients of the cause of action; but it is plain that the other ingredients are implied or understood to exist. ( Vanduzor v. Linderman, 10 John. 106. McCormick v. Sisson, 7 Cowen, 715.
Thus in general, very little is said about the defendant having been the prosecutor, because the question ordinarily is not the subject of. dispute, and because, generally, the defendant was-the: adverse party in the action, or. proceeding which constituted the gravamen of thé action for malicious prosecution.. Buff it plainly lies at the very foundation of this action that the plaintiff must show that the defendant, and not somebody else, has prosecuted him—has been the real party, in fact, who has set on foot and conducted the proceedings against- him. This prosecution may have been in the form of a civil action or of a criminal proceeding; and when not conducted in the name of the offending party, it would doubtless suffice to prove that he was the real party, the mover, and manager and- controller of the prosecution. If he were; the mere cleric ox agent of-others, or. a mere witness .in the transaction, he would not hold the character, nor be liable to the penalties, of a malicious prosecutor. ,
So the plaintiff must aver and prove that the prosecution claimed to be malicious is terminated in his favor. (Gorton v. DeAngelis, 6 Wend. 418. Clark v. Cleveland, 6 Hill, 344. Hall v. Fisher, 20 Barb. 441.)
• Proof that the prosecution complained off was .instituted through actual malice is not enough to sustain the. action. (Foshay v. Ferguson, 2 Denio, 617.) In an action for malicious prosecution the plaintiff must allege and prove both malice and a want of probable cause for the former'suit. If there was probable cause the action cannot be maintained, even though the prosecution complained of was malicious. Want of probable cause and malice must concur, and the former cannot be inferred from any degree of malice which may be shown. (Besson v. Southard, 10 N. Y. Rep. 236. Bulkeley v. Smith, 2 Duer, 261.)
I allude to these familiar rules not for the purpose of
In the present case I was of opinion at the trial that in two at least of the particulars essential to constitute the cause of action, there was a lack of evidence to justify a recovery, and I am still of the same opinion. As there is a difference of opinion on that question, it will be indispensable to recur to the evidence.
1. Was there sufficient evidence on the point that the defendant was the party who had prosecuted the plaintiff ? The charges in the complaint in substance are,
(1.) That Miligan appeared before United States Commissioner Osborn and charged Miller with having procured and enticed Shears to desert from the service of the United States.
(2.) That Milligan afterwards caused his arrest and imprisonment.
(3.) That Milligan afterwards appeared before a grand jury, at a circuit court in New York, and charged him as aforesaid, and caused him. to be indicted for the aforesaid offense of enticing Shears from the service, and to be arrested and imprisoned therefor.
All these allegations were put in issue by the defendant, and I regard them as toholly unproved. There is no evidence whatever that Milligan ever appeared before the United States commissioner for any purpose, or there, charged Miller with having enticed away Shears; or that he ever caused his arrest or imprisonment; or that he ever appeared before the grand jury, or on the trial of the indictment, otherwise than as a witness. Indeed there is no evidence that he ever appeared and testified before the grand jury, although there is evidence that he was subpoenaed to attend the grand jury and the trial and went both times. . There is nothing whatever in his conduct on either of these two occasions which tends to implicate him in any way beyond any other witness. Moreover, what was done at the trial was not in the nature of a malicious prosecution ; he was not the party, nor could
(I.) The defendant swears that he drew up the affidavits (his own and Shears’) by the instruction of the board of enrolment (being their clerk and special deputy;) that he delivered the affidavits to the board; that he had nothing further to do with it, and did not in any way or manner ask a warrant to be issued; that Fiero, the marshal, sent the affidavits to New York."
(2.) Fiero, the marshal, expressly swears that he instructed Milligan to make his affidavit, and draw that of Shears, and that he acted under the instructions of the district attorney.
(3.) Pierce, the commissioner of the board of enrolment, swears that he told Fiero to prosecute Miller, and that the affidavits were prepared by order of Fiero and Pierce.
This testimony is substantially uncontradicted. A reference is made to the testimony of Fairchild and Olney as furnishing counter evidence, but its weakness and inconclusive character show it not to amount to a contradiction. Fairchild is one of those witnesses who is shown to have enlisted three or four times, when he was in each instance legally disqualified. He testifies to a conversation with Milligan in which he says to Milligan ; “ I heard that you had arrested Miller and that he was under heavy bail for helping a desrter to escape.” Milligan said, “Yes, that is so.” I regard this testimony as wholly inconclusive. The phrase “you had arrested Miller” might well refer to the action of the board, for whom Milligan was clerk, and not to the individual .action of Milligan himself. Moreover an arrest by one party does not imply that the prosecution is by the same
■ The- other testimony relied'on is that of a highly respectable "Witness, Mr.- Olney. ■ But his -testimony^ which was as to the conversations of Mr. Milligan, tends directly to exculpate -the latter.- ‘ In’that conversation, Milligan uniformly says he is not the prosecutor—that he- had nothing to do with it, and "tvas only a passenger : it is the board, (not himself.)-
The only additional evidence is evidence admitted for another1 purpose, and wholly inadmissible as.against Milligan, to wit, the evidence of Miller and Osborn, tending to shotv declarations of Fiero to them- that' Milligan toas the complainant. However pertinent these might be to contradict Fiero, who Swore that' he had not made them, - they were of no force whatever against Milligan. ■ 1 - ■
It-is therefore upon ’the flimsy evidence of Fairchild, susceptible of an entirely different and innocent construction, that the claim is- taade that it must carry the cause to the jury. I am clear, that it would not support a-verdict, even-if uncoritradicted by thrée respectable men ;; and that therefore the plaintiff was rightfully nonsuited, because he had not shown that the defendant had prosecuted him.
! 2. But I think the plaintiff failed on another point equally fatal to his cáse, to wit, in showing that- there was a lack of probable cause for the prosecution.- ■ I am not quite satisfied with the definition of probable cause,’ contained in Munns v. Nemour, (3 Wash. C. C. 37,) and only quoted (not: necessarily approved) in Foshay v. Ferguson, (2 Derate, 619,)"to wit, “a reasonable ground of suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant á cautious' man in the belief that - the person accused- is guilty of the offense with which he is charged.” If by cautious man is meant one df ordinary caution or prudence, the definition is well enough, but if it means- anything more, I"dissent from it. But in
Some stress is laid in argument upon the fact that the defendant in his affidavit stating the transaction does not profess to found the charge or his belief of the plaintiff’s guilt in part or at all upon information obtained from Shears. But it was not necessary to make that reference. Shears’ affidavit was cotemporaneously taken, and both were used together, and not either alone, as the foundation of the criminal prosecution.
Stress is also laid upon the fact that three or four witnesses, besides the plaintiff, contradicted the defendant on the trial, in regard to material portions of his affidavit which was laid before the grand jury. The answer to this is, I think, twofold. (1.) Assuming this contradiction to exist, there are nevertheless abundant facts remaining to repel the imputation of want of probable cause. (2.) The contradiction, except in the case of the plaintiff himself, is rather apparent than real. Milligan swears to certain facts ; for example, that Miller said Shears was a d—d fool to go back into the army and fight for Abe Lincoln and his nigger war, and he would not do it, and that he was a democrat and Shears had a plenty of friends there. It must be conceded that Miller denies these statements, in an unqualified manner ; but as to the other witnesses their testimony is liable to
. -" This,1, so fár as' I know, is' the whole evidence upon-which the allegation1 of a want .of probable cause-rests. -1 think it would' be unsafe as á matter of-practice, and' inconsistent with the theory upon which- this action, is based, to allow a-recovery in a case of this i description. The defendant has, I -think; shown probable cause-for the prosecution if>he is its author; and'the plaintiff (which is the real question) has not shown the want of-probable-cause, for the-charge. On both of the grounds, the absence of proof to show that-the defendant was the real prosecutor, and if so, that he was without evidence'or circumstances justifying- a reasonable suspicion of the truth of the. charge;-1 am of "opinion- that the plaintiff was properly nonsuited,' and had no legal right to "ask a submission'of the facts to the jury. 1
On the other ingredient which enters as. a component part into this cause 'of action, that of malice, I have not thought it necessary to dwell. Perhaps there is evidence -justifying the submission of that question to the jury, whether or not it would be sufficient' to carry-a verdict. ■ There is more evidence on that point, I think, than on the. others, but. as- the action requires each and aE of the • three • supports before named, in order to stand, and lacks two of - -them, I think it must/a?Z. : .
The evidence - of Shears’ declarations to Milligan oh and ■after his re-arrest, tending to show the' truth of the charge
- ¡Nor was-the objection to. the admission of evidence of the U. S. District Attorney’s declarations that Shears’ character was notoriously had, and that he would • not hang a dog on his evidence, erroneously overruled. The district attorney could not by his declaration make or unmake a character for Shears ; especially to- affect Milligan- thereby. So far as the evidence could possibly be regarded as pertinent (if at all) it was allowed to he introduced to show the act of the district attorney as a proceeding on the trial dispensing with proof of impeachment of the character- of Shears.
I think no legal error was committed at the circuit, and that a new trial should he denied, and the defendant have judgment. ...
■ As there is a difference of opinion among-my brethren upon the questions arising in this case, I purpose to examine briefly the points of disagreement between them.
The first question which arises is, whether the defendant instigated the prosecution against the plaintiff. The main testimony, I think, to sustain this view of the case is the evidence of the witness Fairchild. According to his testimony, the defendant stated to him that he had assisted the plaintiff, which would not alone imply that he had orginated the prosecution, because the arrest may have been made at the instigation of others, and in the discharge of an official duty. But he went a little further, and said that he would make it cost him a nice pile before he got through, and he would learn him not to get another deserter off. In this last
The evidence to contradict Fiero only, bears upon the weight to be given to his evidence, and cannot be considered as controlling.
Laying aside, then, the other testimony, we are driven to consider the evidence of Fairchild as bearing upon the question now under consideration. It is not to be denied that he does not present himself in a very advantageous light, as it appears that he had several times enlisted, and been discharged for physical defects not apparent to others, but known to himself, and. which he must have concealed before he could have passed inspection, and been admitted into the service. This, however, is a matter which affects his credibility and the weight which should 'be given to his testimony-. As it stands, I am not' prepared to say that it is so glaringly inconsistent with the truth,' and palpably false and untrue, that we are at liberty to disregard it for that reason. The mpst that can be claimed, I think, is, that this was a question for the consideration of the jury. It was mere evidence at least, and its strength and weight should be determined by the jury, and not by the court. So long as there was any evidence' whatever, however slight it might be, the court was not authorized to nonsuit and take the case from the jury.
As there was some evidence, then, upon this point, I think the plaintiff did not fail in establishing this branch of his case.
In reference to the facts presented upon the trial, it cannot be denied that the testimony as to most, if not all, of them, is conflicting and contradictory. The plaintiff swears cluite positively to a history of the transaction which occurred at the time of Shear's escape, which e~tablishes that he was entirely innocent of the charge~ made against him. He is supported in his statement by the tertimony of several witnesses. The defendant contradicts the plaintiff, and the statement of his witnesses in every material part. There is a direct conflict which cannot well be reconciled and in such a case the question arising as to whether there was probable cause, must go to the jury. (Besson v. Southard, 6 Seld. 240.) In the light in which I view the undisputed facts, they establish that Shears was a desert~r, and that he was arrested by the defendant, and taken to the plaintiff's public house. He was in the bar room of the plaintiff' s hotel, where a number of persons, including the plaintiff, were present. He took a seat by the side of the plaintiff, and a brief conversation took place between them. So far all the witnesses agree, and the facts are not controverted. But here the conifict in the testimony commences. According to the plaintiff's
Among .other-facts, the defendant swears that the plaintiff made a motion with, his hand towards the door of the room out of which the deserter escaped, as if to indicate that he could leave- in that direction. The plaintiff distinctly denies this very important fact, which might well be considered, if true, as warranting a belief that the plaintiff was engaged in assisting Shears- im getting out of the custody of the officer-. And,.I understand the plaintiff’s witnesses, corroborate his statement. . The .plaintiff .having positively- denied the defendant’s.,statement .in this respect, I do not well see how it can be considered as -an undisputed fact; and I think.as the evidence .stood, upon that point, it .was a fair .question for the jury to:.determine , whether any such occurrence had ever transpired. . If the plaintiff -had previously .passed, .through •the same door,, as is claimed, leaving it. open, :in the absence of. any act of his, confessedly.proven, that. circumstance was of-but little consequence. It would not. establish his guilt or connivance in the deserter’s .escape, or furnish; a reasonable ground of suspicion;; . ; 1
If we consider, then, -the facts : which were not contradicted., they do - not, -in my opinion, establish a state of facts which would authorize a belief, that the plaintiff was guilty. He was,in his own house, where he had a perfect right to be. ..
The, fact that the deserter conversed with.the plaintiff, as he did with- others present upon ;that occasion, would not furnish a reasonable, ground of suspicion, or authorize any action on the part of the defendant, against the plaintiff. So far as the undisputed facts show the acts and conduct of the plaintiff at the time in question, they were not of a character to warrant a belief of guilt, or to authorize, the plaintiff’s arrest; and the defendant cannot sustain his defense upon any such basis.
This information, with the circumstances surrounding and connected with the escape of Shears, if believed and acted upon by the defendants, would no doubt justify the arrest. The affidavit of Shears furnished positive proof of the fact. The defendant swears that he believed the truth of his statement, and if he proceeded against the plaintiff upon that proof, and under a belief in its truthfulness, then he had probable cause for so doing.
The inquiry suggested itself, whether it can be said that he did not thus proceed, because he testifies to knowledge of the plaintiff’s acts, which is contradicted by other proof P Conceding that his statement as to what he actually witnessed himself is contradicted, the information which he received from Shears under oath still remains, which alone would have justified the action of the defendant. I do not well see how this can be stricken out of the case, and that we are bound to assume that because the defendant may have made a- mistake in his evidence, and his testimony is contradicted as to what he actually saw and heard, he is for that reason to be deprived of the benefit of the information thus communicated to him.
It certainly would be going very far to say that because Shears was a desperate character, for that reason the affidavit which he made must have been procured by the defendant unfairly and for the very purpose of instituting this prosecution.
In the absence of any direct evidence that such was the case, I am inclined to think that the information communicated by Shears to the defendant furnished a reasonable ground for a belief that the plaintiff was guilty, and probable cause for this prosecution.
I am not aware of any rule by which the statement made by Shears can be considered as balanced, outweighed or rendered of no effect because the statement of the defendant may have been impaired by other testimony.
It is sufficient, I think, that there was such information furnished to the defendant, which, of itself/ would authorize and justify his action. And its force, strength and efficacy are not diminished because evidence is introduced to show probable cause for his. action upon other and different grounds.
While either would have been sufficient, a failure to establish one does not necessarily destroy the effect of the other.'
Whatever may be the circumstances of aggravation attending a case of this character, and however unjust the accusation towards an innocent person, the rules of law which apply connot be disregarded. And as it is clear that the information communicated was enough to justify a belief of the guilt ‘ of the plaintiff, and furnished probable cause for his arrest, the nonsuit was properly granted at the circuit.
As the plaintiff failed to establish one of the most essential ingredients of this cause of action—a want of probable cause— it is not necessary to discuss the question whether there was evidence of malice.
I discover no error in the admission of evidence upon the trial, and I think a new trial must be denied, with costs.
Hew trial denied.
Miller, Ingalls and Sogebom, Justices.]