Case Name: Jacob Fulmer v. John Harmon
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1849-05
Citations: 3 Strob. 576
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jacob Fulmer v. John Harmon.
Judges: Wardlaw. J — and Frost, J. — concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 34
Pages: 576–588

Head Matter:
Jacob Fulmer v. John Harmon.
In an action for malicious prosecution, the fact that the grand jury had returned “ no bill” against the plaintiff, is not prima fade sufficient evidence of the want of probable cause for the prosecution which had been brought against him by the defendant, so as to save the plaintiff from a non-suit.
The case of Slider v. Myers, (MSS. Columbia, Spring Term, 1838,) reviewed and reversed.
Before O’Neall, J. at Newberry, Spring Term, 1849.
This was an action of malicious prosecution.
The plaintiff was the overseer of the defendant, in 1847. On the 3d of February, 1848, the defendant, before Daniel Moore, esq. then a magistrate for Newberry district, made oath that “ sometime in the spring of last year, he losed three wagon loads of corn, and about Christmas time he also losed one other load of corn and oats, and has just cause to believe, and verily does believe, that Jacob Fulmer did felo-niously take and carry away the same, except one load, which he, the said J. Fulmer, gave an order to one of my negro men to sell the same.” On this affidavit, a warrant was issued to George Morris, constable of the said district, and he arrested the plaintiff and brought him before the magistrate, who gave him time to procure bail. In the meantime esquire Moore’s term of office expired, and the plaintiff, failing to procure bail, was brought by the constable before James M. Crosson, esq. a magistrate for Newberry, who committed him to jail, where he remained from the 6th of March to the 20th of the same month. At the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, beginning and held for New berry district, on the 3d Monday of March, the 20th day of the month, a bill of indictment for stealing'the defendant’s corn, was presented to the grand jury. The defendant was sworn and sent before the grand jury; they returned the indictment “ no bill,” and thereupon an order was made for the plaintiff’s discharge. The plaintiff proved a good character and closed.
The defendant moved for a non-suit, on the grounds,
1st. That the allegata et probata did not correspond.
2d. That the declaration set out the plaintiff’s cause of action defectively.
3d. That the want of probable cause was not shewn.
As to the two first grounds, the Circuit Judge said he thought there was nothing in them. There seemed to him to be no substantial variance between the allegations of the declaration and the proof. So, it seemed to him, the declaration set out the cause of action well enough. As to the 3d ground, on which the motion for a non-suit was rested, he thought a prima fade case was made out, when it was shewn that the grand jury had thrown out the bill. Such was the language of the Court of Appeals in Slyder v. Myers. But when, to the “ no bill” of the grand jury, was added proof that the plaintiff was a man of good character, there was no longer room to question the proof of the want of probable cause. Express malice is not necessary to be proved in any case, except in indictments for misdemeanors not infamous. In indictments for felonies or infamous offen-ces, the law implies malice from want of probable cause.— The motion for a non-suit was overruled. The defendant, in his defence, proved that, when the plaintiff went to the defendant’s plantation, he, the plaintiff, had no corn ; the defendant had made a large crop the preceding year. The defendant, it seemed, had given his overseer, Meetz, orders not to allow his slaves to make crops; but he said he did allow them; he said they had very little corn, if any. The defendant lived 8 miles from the plantation where the plaintiff overseed; he visited it very seldom. He was to allow the overseer, the plaintiff, a part of the crop made in 1847, as and for his wages.
Decided in 1828, at Col.
In May, ’47, the plaintiff sold to James Gantt, who lived about 15 miles from the defendant’s plantation, and delivered a load of 34 or 36 bushels of corn, at 50-100 per bushel. It was hauled in the defendant’s wagon, by his team, driven by one of his negroes. The plaintiff reached Gantt’s about supper time. He received the money. About the same time some corn from the defendant’s plantation was delivered to David Boozer. It was brought to him, he said, in the village of Newberry. The plaintiff was present. The com was sold to him as the property of the defendant’s slaves, in different parcels, and the money was paid to them. Nathan A. Hunter bought, in three parcels, 28 bushels from Harmon’s slaves, under the permit, in writing, of the plaintiff, and paid the money for the same to the negroes. He said this was in April or May, 1847. He met the wagon of the defendant, driven by one of his slaves, within a mile of the village, (8 or 10 miles from the defendant’s place,) about 10 or 11 A. M.
On sale day, in December, 1847, the plaintiff sold to David Amick, in the village of Newberry, 15 bushels and 1 peck of corn, and 3 or 4 bushels of oats. To Porter Stockman, on the 21st December, 1847, the plaintiff sold 12^ bushels of corn, and told him not to pay the money to the negroes. He sent the corn in the night — 11 or 12 o’clock when the negroes, with the com, reached his house. The plaintiff told him he should have to send at night, he was busy. Fifteen or twenty bushels were to have been sent — part was lost on the way. By his son, John W. Harmon, the defendant proved that the plaintiff acknowledged that he helped to take the com Hunter got out of his (witness’) father’s crib. He acknowledged also, he said, that other loads had been carried otf. Ned (one of his father’s slaves, who had run away from the place where the plaintiff overseed, and had come to his father’s residence, and for whom the plaintiff had come,) said, in the presence of the plaintiff, that he, the plaintiff, was to have his share of the money for the com which the negroes let Hunter have. Two dollars of this money had got into Ned’s hands; he (the plaintiff) could not get that from Ned; he beat him and he ran away. Ned said Fulmer threatened to shoot him, if he ever told about the corn. On his cross examination he said he was at Court last spring; he was not sworn or sent before the grand jury. He said Ned said to Fulmer, “ you have carried off master’s cornto this he replied he put in 2 or 3 basketsfull of the corn that went to Hunter. He said the plaintiff tried to deny the $2 bill, and at last acknowledged it. This witness behaved strangely on the stand ; he either was drunk or had been very recently. The jury did not seem to believe a word he said. He behaved in such a way as not to meiit credence. William Golding was with the plaintiff when he went to the defendant’s for the negro Ned. He said he did not remember what the negro said. The plaintiff asked the defendant if he protected the negro ? The defendant told the plaintiff “ he would have to turn him off, — he understood the big crib was nearly gone.” The plaintiff said he knew nothing about how it had gone. The defendant asked him “ if he did not lock the crib ?” He said “ he did.” The plaintiff complained of the sick headache, and lay down. He was not sick before. Pierce Harmon, another son of the defendant, a decent, well behaved man, said that his father, on visiting the place where the plaintiff overseed in the spring or summer of ’47, went to him where he was ploughing in the bottom, and on talking to him about the corn, the plaintiff said to him, “ he had done wrong — he would make the corn good if he would let him stay." In reply the plaintiff, by Elder James Wilson, James B. Wilson, Capt. James Spence, Christopher Rikard, and Jacob Baker, proved a most excellent character. By one of these witnesses, Christopher Rikard, it was proved that th'e plaintiff, in ’45 and ’46, had overseed for the defendant at his home place.
The nature of this action was carefully explained to the jury. They were told that any facts, circumstances, or even information, which would, in the mind of a reasonable man, create a belief of the existence of the offence charged, would be probable cause. They were told to make that inquiry here, and if they found any such probable cause, in this case, to find for the defendant. They were told, if the plain tiff hauled off and sold his employer’s corn, or connived at his slaves doing so, then, that there would be abundant probable cause. The sales to Boozer and Hunter might be fairly considered as sales of the slaves’s corn. The sales to Amick and Stockman in December, 1847, might be fairly considered as of and part of the plaintiff’s share of the crop of that year. The only parcel which could not thus be satisfactorily accounted for, was that sold to Gantt. The plaintiff’s counsel urged to the jury, that that was a sale for the defendant, by his orders, and accounted for to him. The jury were told such a thing might be; and when the plaintiff had proved as good a character as he had done, every fair presumption ought to be in his favor. The fact, too, proved by Pierce Harmon, that the defendant knew, in the spring or summer, whatever was wrong, (if, indeed, there was any thing beyond a mere attempt oí the defendant to make the plaintiff pay for the negroes’s corn which had been sold,) and on the plaintiff’s promise to make it good, continued him to the end of the year as his overseer, and even, then, did not set on foot the prosecution until February, might satisfy them that he knew there was no larceny.
Col. Spring Term, 1828.
His Honor said he thought the plaintiff ought to have a verdict for moderate damages, though he sedulously kept his opinion from the jury. The defendant is a rich, hard man. He thought a verdict of about $500 would punish him as he deserved. The jury, however, who knew him to the full as well and possibly better than he did, found a verdict for the plaintiff for $1,375.
The defendant appealed on many,grounds, but it is unnecessary to report more than the first, as that makes the only question decided by the Court of Appeals, viz :
That there was no evidence to shew the want of probable cause for the prosecution set on foot by the defendant-against the plaintiff.
Pope & Fair, for the motion.
Swmmer, contra.

Opinion:
Richardson, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question is, whether the return of the grand jury, of " no bill" againsl Jacob Fulmer, is prima facie sufficient evidence of the want of probable cause for the prosecution brought by John Harmon against the said Jacob Fulmer, so as to bring the present action before the jury, and save the plaintiff from a non-suit.
In the MSS. case of David Myers ads. John Slider and wife, the same evidence of " no bill" by the grand jury, upon an indictment for perjury, was held by the presiding Judge to be prima, facie sufficient evidence of the want of probable cause; and the motion for a non-suit was overruled. And upon a verdict being found for the plaintiffs, the case was carrje(j †0 the, then, Court of Appeals, upon that ground 'among others, to wit: 1. Because the warrant was not prov-ecp g. Because the plaintiffs did not shew a want of probable cause. 3. Because there was no evidence who was the prosecutor. 4. That on the plea in abatement, his Honor erred in instructing the jury, that the marriage between Platt and the plaintiff, Ann, was not sufficiently proved. 5. That the verdict finding the plaintiff to have been lawfully married, is contrary to law and evidence. 6. That the Verdict on the merits, is contrary to law and the evidence.
The decision in the Court of Appeals, in this case, has never been published. But it appears endorsed upon the report of the case, in' these words, to wit: " This case presented a mixed question of law and facts, proper for the consideration of the jury, under the direction of the Court, and this Court do not feel authorized to interfere with the verdict. Motion refused." Not a word more is said ; and it is difficult to perceive, in these terms, that the Court of Appeals decided the precise point, to wit: that the Circuit Judge was right in law, in deciding that the return of " no bill" was sufficient proof of a want of probable cause for the prosecution, so as to bring the case before the jury.
That, was a question of law, for the Judge, exclusively.— And yet the Court of Appeals say, " the case presented a mixed question of law and facts, proper for the consideration of the jury," &c. and the appeal is dismissed; which would seem, to a common intent, to overrule all the grounds of the appeal. And yet there is not a word relating to the precise question, made in the present case — not a word that " no bill" indicates want of probable cause. But in practice, perhaps, by all the Judges, such has been the construction.
How, then, are we to treat the decision now, that its uncertainty is manifest, but by considering the present question as still open ? This is the construction put upon it by the Court. We are obliged, therefore, to consider the question now made, de novo.
I here take the occasion to remark that I was, myself, the presiding Judge in the case of Slider and Myers ; and it so happens that I am now to review my own decision in that case. And I propose to shew that it was erroneous; and ought to have been overruled, as we now overrule the present Circuit decision, for the following reasons :
In order to maintain an action for a malicious prosecution, it must appear that the defendant had instituted the prosecution without any probable cause, and also through malice.— This is the law without dispute. The plaintiff must, therefore, of course, shew the state of facts that indicates malice; and also shew a want of probable cause; or he subjects his action to a non-suit. So that the question for decision is, whether throwing out the bill by the grand jury — that is, t returning it "no bill," indicates such a want of probable' cause. Throwing out the bill by the grand jury, is entirely at their discretion. They are by no means bound to find the bill, although probable cause exist, and is laid before them.
4 Taunt. 7.
Taunt. 187.
qE _ ^47.'L
It is not unfrequent that one grand jury ignores a bill, and another grand jury finds it " true bill." And although " true bill" infers prima facie probable cause for the prosecution, yet " no bill" does, by no means, indicate the converse; or that there is no probable cause. " No bill" is a mere stop in the prosecution ; which may be again resumed, and proceeded in, even before the same grand jury.
It would, therefore, be highly dangerous to prosecutors, if throwing out of the bill were to be proof of the want of probable cause for the prosecution. It would not only be perilous to prosecutors, but such a consequence would introduce an influence to constrain or restrain the grand jury, in their high and necessary discretion, to find or not to find the bill as the public good or good policy points out. " No bill" returned by the grand jury, is precisely like a nolle prosequi by the solicitor. It merely suspends the prosecution, but leaves it in expectancy. Let me illustrate this by adjudged cases.
In the case of Sinclair v. Eldred, the Court decided that, in an action for a malicious arrest, the plaintiff can recover no damages, unless malice be proved, of which the first action being non prossed, is not of itself evidence. In the case of Byne v. Moore, where, in an action for maliciously indict-5 ing for an assault, the plaintiff gave no other evidence than the bill returned " not found," and was thereupon non-suited, the Court refused to set aside the non-suit. In deciding this case, C. J. Mansfield says: "If this action could be maintained, every bill which the grand jury threw out, would be ground for an action." And Chambers, J. says : " It would be a very mischievous precedent, if the action could be supported on this evidence." [See also 1 Camp. 203, 204, in note; Hammond's N. P. 244, post 580 ; Burley v. Bethune, Yelv. 105, a note.] See also the well considered case of Williams v. Taylor. The Court say: "In an action for a malicious prosecution, the plaintiff is to give prima evidence of want of probable cause, which the defendant may rebut, if he can." " The plaintiff must take the first step , because it is not to be presumed that any one has acted illegally." " There must, therefore, be some evidence of want of probable cause, before the defendant can be called on to justify his conduct in prosecuting."
Here we have the established rule of practice. But how is it possible to transmute a mere suspension of the prosecution, by " no bill," which is a mere non pros. as in the first case quoted, into affirmative evidence that there was no probable cause 1
But again, want of probable cause is the legal foundation of an action for a malicious prosecution : inasmuch as the inference of malice may be presumed, from a total want of probable cause. It would follow, therefore, of course, that if "no bill" indicated want of probable cause, then, "no bill" might prove, by inference also, that there was malice. And thus, would be verified what has been said, if the decision in the case of Myers ads. Slider were really as has been supposed, to wit: that every prosecutor would go before the grand jury, in terror of a malicious prosecution, — that is, if the grand jury should see proper to suspend the prosecution, by returning " no bill."
If, then, such a decision had been truly made, this Court would be obliged to consider it as bad law, and to reverse it. These views are so convincing to my understanding, that I readily give up my former error; and would be happy if the. present Circuit Judge, who was led to follow it, would likewise be convinced.
Finally, let it be once more observed, that although the action for a malicious prosecution lies at law, on account of the malignity that someties induces prosecutions: yet, such actions are not to be encouraged. As to. the question, whether the Court ought to order a non-suit or a new trial, this Court is not to speculate upon the consequences of a rehearing. The jury must be left without the smallest, bias. We merely decide a strict law point, and no moxe, and leave the c.ase. But this Court deems it more just and proper to order a new trial, rather than a non-suit; because the Circuit Judge adjudicated upon the apparent decision in Myers and Slider ; and it is very possible that the plaintiff's counsel arranged his evidence and. restricted it in virtue of the same decision. If so; it would be unfair to non-suit the plaintiff under such circumstances.
A new trial is, therefore, ordered, with the least possible prejudice to either party, or even alluding to the merits or demerits of the action. In all those respects, the jury are not to be biased pro or con.
Wardlaw. J — and Frost, J. — concurred.
New trial ordered.
Evans, J.
To say that the single fact that the grand jury returned " no bill," will of itself be evidence of both malice and the want of probable cause, would, I fear, greatly impede the course of justice, and be a great temptation to prosecutors to commit perjury. But if to that be added proof, either direct or inferential, that the prosecution was influenced by sheer malice, and not by the honorable motive of punishing a real or supposed crime, that I think would be sufficient. And I will not undertake to say that proof of an unquestionably good character, which placed the accused high above suspicion of guilt-, would not, with the finding of the grand jury, be sufficient. There should be something in addition, and this I think is well supported by authority.
5 Taunt. 187.
In this case I agree with the majority of the Court, that there should be a new trial. What is probable cause, is, when the facts are ascertained, a question of law; and in this cake the evidence discloses so many suspicious facts, which are unexplained, that I think there should be another investigation before anqther jury.