Case Name: Margaret Ball, by Guardian, Resp't, v. Jeremiah Harrigan, App'lt
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1892-07-22
Citations: 47 N.Y. St. Rep. 384
Docket Number: 
Parties: Margaret Ball, by Guardian, Resp’t, v. Jeremiah Harrigan, App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 47
Pages: 384–385

Head Matter:
Margaret Ball, by Guardian, Resp’t, v. Jeremiah Harrigan, App’lt.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,
Filed July 22, 1892.)
1. False imprisonment.
As plaintiff, with other girls, were running by defendant’s premises one of them stumbled over a beer barrel. Defendant arrested and detained plaintiff in a police box until police wagon came and then had her taken to the station and charged her with kicking the barrels over. The evidence showed that this was done by some boys. Reid, that plaintiff was entitled to recover damages for such false imprisonment.
2. Same—Damages.
In such, case a verdict of $450 is not excessive.
Appeal from judgment in favor of plaintiff, entered upon a verdict for $450.
Action for false imprisonment.
. Ellis & Harrigan, for app’lt; R. E. & A. J. Prime & Burns, for resp’t.

Opinion:
Barnard, P. J.
—The proof entirely failed to show any justification for the arrest of the plaintiff. The defendant had some empty beer barrels in the street at night and the plaintiff, with two other girls, passed by. They were running, and one of the barrels was so placed as to cause one of the girls, not the plaintiff, to stumble over it. The defendant came out and arrested her and subjected her to great indignity ; she was made to go into a police box and wait for the police wagon, and when it came she was compelled to get in the same and go to a police station. The defendant accompanied her and made complaint that she kicked over his barrels, but stated that he did not see her do it. All the others deny that they kicked over the barrels, and a witness, Brenner, testified that some boys had knocked down the kegs and that the girls came along and ran over the barrels afterwards. No •crime was proven against the plaintiff and none was committed by her. The defendant had no right to arrest her without a warrant. Code Crim. Pro., § 183.
No objection can be taken to the rule of damages. " Taking this testimony as you have it and all the circumstances, what should be paid to this girl for what she has suffered by being deprived of her liberty?" There is no question raised as to vindictive damages. Humiliation, insult, wounded sensibilities, are all subjects of compensation, not as vindictive damages, which depend on malice. The compensation given is little .enough as actual damages if the jury said so.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.
Cullen, J., concurs; Dykman, J., not sitting.