3 Blackf. 155 | Ind. | 1832
This was an action.of malicious prosecution', brought, by Lamb against Rogers. The declaration charges that Rogers, maliciously and. without probable cause, procured Lamb to be indicted for forgery; and that', he was afterwards acquitted. Plea, not guilty; Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff below. , ' •
-At the trial, three of the jurors were challenged by Lamb, because they had been on the grand jury--that found the indictment against him; and- the Court sustained the challenge. The cause of challenge, in this case, was good. The jurors objected to, must be considered as having expressed an opinion’ unfavourable to Lamb's right of action.
The. Court permitted the plaintiff below to .read to the jury an affidavit, which Rogers' had made in the cause, to obtain security for costs. The record does not show for what purpose this evidence was offered. It may have been to explain testimony given by the defendant;' Circumstances may easily be conceived of, under which this-affidavit was admissible; and,- in support of the judgment below, we must presume that such circumstances existed.
The defendant below offered several witnesses to sustain his character for truth. The defendánt’s character was not in issue; and the witnesses called to support it- were correctly excluded.
The Court instructed the jury, that the conduct of Rogers, in making the affidavit to obtain security for costs, might be considered, and that, if the affidavit, was false, it was a circumstance against him'. As.we do not know what testimony there was on the subject of this affidavit, we cannot say the instruction was improper.
The defendant below moved the Court to-instruct.the jury, that ifit was altogether uncertain, so that the jury could not form an opinion, whether the plaintiff was innocent or guilty o.f the forgery for which he was prosecuted, they ought to find for the defendant. The Court refused this instruction. The record does not show whether there was any evidence before the jury,
Rogers moved the Court to instruct the jury, that unless they believed he had committed perjury in giving his evidence on the prosecutiorij they.could not infer malice, and must find for him; it being proved that his evidence was necessary to'the finding of the indictment. The motion for this instruction was properly oyerruled.- Rogers may have sworn truly as to some material fact in the case,' and yet have had no probable cause for the prosecution, and been influenced by malicious motives, The indictment, for example, may-have been found, principally, on the evidence of other witnesses procured by Rogers, and whose evidence he knew to be unfounded. . '■
Rogers also asked for the following instruction: — that if Lamb alleges that it was by Rogers’ authority, that he affixed Rogers’. ñamé to the instrument which Lamb was charged with forging, Lamb must prove that fact, or the jury will presume otherwise. This instruction was refused. The Court may have refused this instruction, on the ground that Lamb did not allege the fact stated, If there was no evidence before the jury to which the. instruction asked for was applicable, the Court' could not be ' required to givethe instruction. If there was any such evidence, the record should show if
The judgment is affirmed with costs.
The Supreme Court of the' United States, on this subject, says: — “It is objected, that there was no evidence in the case, conducing to prove the facts on which the above instruction was founded. - •
“ The Court ought not to instruct, and indeed cannot instruct on the sufficiency of evidence; but no instruction should be given, except upon evidence in the case; Where there is evidence On tire point, the .Court may be called on to instruct the jury as to the law,-but it is for them to determine on .the. effect of the evidence.” Chesapeake, &c. v. Knapp et al. 9 Peters, 568.
