Case Name: Robinson v. Morgan, &c.
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1897-01-27
Citations: 100 Ky. 529
Docket Number: 
Parties: Robinson v. Morgan, &c.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 100
Pages: 529–530

Head Matter:
Case 73 — PETITION ORDINARY
Jan. 27.
Robinson v. Morgan, &c.
APPEAL FROM CLAY CIRCUIT COURT.
1. False Imprisonment — De Facto Oeeicer. — A petition wbieb alleges that the plaintiff was arrested by one of the defendants, who pretended to be, and was acting as town marshal, and taken before another defendant who was pretending to be and was acting as judge, and was by his order taken to and confined in jail, when in fact neither of them was such officer; and alleging that they acted unlawfully, willfully, maliciously and without right, does not present a cause of action for false imprisonment.
In order to make the pleading good against such de facto officers, it must be alleged that they were not duly elected and qualified as such officers, and were therefore without legal right, and as usurpers holding and exercising the functions of the offices.
A. W. BAKER for appellant.

Opinion:
CHIEF-JUSTICE LEWIS
delivered the opinion of the court:
Appellant's cause of action, as stated in his petition, is that appellees, A. L. Morgan, pretending to be and acting as police judge, John G. White and others, pretending to be and acting as trustees, and Joseph I-Iacker, pretending to be and acting as marshal of the town of Manchester, when in fact neither of them was such officer, concerted and agreed with each other to do so, and did unlawfully, willfully, without right and maliciously cause appellant to be arrested and brought by said Hacker before said Morgan, who was pretending unlawfully to act as a court, and who unlawfully, wrongfully, maliciously and without right or authority caused him by his order to be taken by Hacker and put in jail, where he was confined four days.
Though uot in terms, so stated, there is no other meaning to be given to the language of appellant's petition than that he was arrested by Hacker acting as marshal, and was taken to and confined in the jail under an order or judgment of the police court, of which A. L. Morgan was de facto judge, and nothing to the contrary being stated after an examination or trial in due form of law. '
If it was intention of appellant to sue for malicious prosecution his petition is defective, because there is no statement contained therein that the charge upon which he was arrested, if upon any, was false or unfounded, or that the arrest was even without probable cause.
If he intended to sue for false imprisonment there was something necessary to be stated besides the general allegation that arrest and order of imprisonment were made unlawfully, maliciously and without right. After admitting, as appellant in his petition does do, that Hacker and Morgan were respectively marshal and police judge de facto, it was necessary for him, in order to make it appear they acted unlawfully, to further allege they were neither duly elected and qualified as such officers, and were, therefore, without legal right, and as usurpers holding and exercising functions of the two offices. As the petition does not contain a statement of facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, the general demurrer was properly sustained.
Judgment affirmed.