Case Name: Reeder vs. Anderson's Administrators
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1836-06-11
Citations: 4 Dana 193
Docket Number: 
Parties: Reeder vs. Anderson’s Administrators.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 34
Pages: 193–193

Head Matter:
Reeder vs. Anderson’s Administrators.
Assumpsit»
[Mr. Ilord for plaintiff: no appearance for defendants.]
From the Circuit Court eor Mason County.
June 11.
When a man loses a piece of property, there is an implied request from him to every body else; to aid him in recovering it; and any one who finds and restores it, may recover of the owner, upon the implied assumpsit, at least an indemnity for his time and expenses-.

Opinion:
Chief Justice Robertson
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
The only question to be considered in this case, is whether the law will imply a promise by the owner of a runaway slave, to pay a reasonable compensation to a stranger, for a voluntary apprehension and restitution of the fugitive. And, though such friendly offices are frequently those only of good neighborship, which should not be influenced by mercenary motives or expectations—nevertheless* it seems to us that,|£here is an implied request from the owner, to ail other persons to endeavor to secure to him lost property which he is anxious to retrievé; and that, therefore, there should be an implied undertaking to (at least) indemnify any person who shall, by the expenditure of time or money, contribute to a reclamation of the lost property.^
Whether, according to the proof, there was any such claim to reparation or indemnity in this case, is very doubtful: but, because it is doubtful, the Circuit Court erred in instructing the jury to find as in case of a non-suit.
And therefore, it is considered by the Court that, the judgment be reversed, the verdict set aside, and the cause remanded for a now trial.