The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-17
SHERIFF HELD
/. LIABLE FOR A
FALSE ARREST
MAN ARRESTED AS A FUGITIVE
FROM JUSTICE FROM FLORIDA
GETS 5000 JUDGMENT AGAINST
SAVANNAH OFFICERS.
The Savannah Morning News says:

The Savannah Morning News says
Robert ]. Watson, organist of the
Church OF the Good Shepherd. Augusta,
and a dealer in pianos, won his case
In the United States court here yester-
day against Sheriff James Hester and
nine bondsmen, the jury finding in ia
vor OF the plaintiff for $1,000.
Mr.. Watson sued for exemplary
damages for false arrest. He was in
Montgomery county April 8, 1910, ne
gotiating the sale Of a piano to the
Baptist college at Mt Vernon, when
he was arrested on suspicion of being
fugitive from justice wanted in Flor
ida. Locked In Jail Mr.. Watson was
held for two days, cash bail being de-
MED him
Didn't Answer Description.
Az soon as the officer from Florida
arrived Mr.. Watson was liberated as
he was not the man wanted, the only
mark of similarity In the description of
the man wanted and Mr.. Watson being
that both were engaged In the piano
business A postal card describing
tho fugitive Offering q reward Of $25
had been received by the officers of
Montgomery county, and It was upon
this that Mr.. Watson was held when
he went from Augusta to Mt. Vernon
on a business trip.
The suit was fled for Mr.. Watson
by c. Henry and R S. Cohen, and J.
n. Talley. The suit was Ror $4,000
damages. In his charge to the jury
Judge Speer discussed the practice OF
oncers arresting persons without war
rant OF law, and made II very clear
that he disapproves OF n
Life and Liberty.
The preservation Of life, liberty and
property. and the consequent advance
ment Of mankind are not only the CHIEF
concern Of those who are entrusted
with the administration and enforce
ment OF law, and by these / mean the
courts and jurtea. but they are also
the prime concern Of the making
body, whether this IL occupied with
those organic laws, which are called
Legislature, IN pursuance OF such con-
stitutions," said Judge Speer In the
course of his charge.
The Judge commented Significantly
upon the fact that no state more than
our own seems to have mede careful
provision by its laws to secure person
al liberty. At the same time" he said
lit had also made equally careful pro-
vision for the protection Of the sheriff
or other executive officers, who law
fully and In good faith, proceeds with
the performance Of his duty
Arrest Without Warrant.
-Since the law OF Georgia, in con-
! nection with false Imprisonment, points
| out expressly how the ofticer. who N
good fnftn. arrests with warrant. may
be protected. It follows by the appn-
cation Of a familiar rule of construc-
| ton that save with rare exceptions
which arc clearly pointed out by oul
| law, arrest and imprisonment withou,
warrant Is wholly untusttfiabla, and u
false imprisonment for which an &C
| ton may be maintained"
The court instructed the Jury that I.
they found the facts to be as the plain
tin contended, namely: that the sher.
III. or the deputy sheriff of Montgom-
cry county, acting alone or with the
chief OF police, arrested and Jailed the
plaintiff, the sheriff and his suretie.
for the wrong and injury are liable or