Case Name: Means et al. v. Hendershott & Burton
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1867-01-28
Citations: 24 Iowa 78
Docket Number: 
Parties: Means et al. v. Hendershott & Burton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 24
Pages: 78–80

Head Matter:
Means et al. v. Hendershott & Burton.
Reward! arrest by peace opeicers. Where peace officers arrest a criminal for whose apprehension a reward is offered, under a warrant issued by a magistrate upon the information of a third party who actually discovered the criminal, for which the officers receive their full legal fees, and retain, of money found on the prisoner, a sum to pay their expenses in delivering him to the sheriff of the county where the crime was committed, such officers are not entitled to the reward, unless clearly included within the terms of the offer.
Appeal from Wapello District Court.
Tuesday, January 28.
Plaxntiees claim, that, in 1860, a number of citizens of Wapello county offered a reward in writing, pledging therein the payment of $500 for the arrest of McComb, the murderer of Laura J. Harvey; “ that in March, 1864, plaintiffs found the said McComb in Davenport, arrested, brought and delivered him to the sheriff of Wapello county, where the murder was perpetrated, and where he remained until tried, sentenced and executed, etc., whereby they were entitled to the reward,” etc. It is further stated “that defendants, claiming to act under some pretended assignment or authority, obtained said subscription, and have collected thereon said reward, and refuse to pay the same over,” etc.
The answer is in denial, and also avers that plaintiffs were, at the time of the alleged arrest, peace officers; made the same in the line of their duty, under a warrant issued on information filed by one Cleaveland, who discovered McCornb, and caused his arrest and apprehension, and who was thereby entitled to said reward, and being so entitled, transferred his right therein to defendants, whereby they were entitled to receive and collect the same, etc.
Trial to the court, judgment for defendant, and plaintiffs appeal.
Stiles, Hutchison c& Dixon for the appellants.
Hendershott & Burton for the appellees.

Opinion:
Wright, J.
The only point made in appellants' argument is, that, under the testimony, the judgment should have been in their favor.
Under the proof, we are inclined to the opinion, that plaintiffs, two of them at least, arrested McCornb, as peace officers, under a warrant issued by a magistrate on the information filed by Cleaveland; that they were paid their full legal fees therefor, and, in addition, retained for their expenses, in delivering him to the sheriff of Wapello county, fifty dollars found on the person of the prisoner; that Cleaveland actually discovered the murderer, and caused his arrest. And, thus believing, we hold, that, unless the terms of the offered reward clearly included plaintiffs, or persons acting as they were, this judgment was right.
The record recites, that plaintiffs offered in evidence this " subscription list or reward," but it is not embodied in the record, nor its contents or conditions in .any other manner brought to our attention. We cannot say, that persons acting as plaintiffs were clearly included in its terms. Indeed, we do not know but that its terms expressly excluded officers acting under process. We cannot presume a state of facts to show error. Presumptions are to be indulged in support of, but not against, a judgment. If plaintiffs had no right to the reward, it matters not what the rights of Oleaveland or his ássignees, the present defendants, may be.
Affirmed.