Austin v. Supervisors of Milwaukee County
Wisconsin Supreme Court
APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County. The plaintiff presented to the board of supervisors of said county a claim for a reward of $500 offered by the the sheriff of the county (duly authorized thereunto by a resolution of said board), “for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed the murder of August Tesch, near the city of Milwaukee, on,” etc.
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APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County. The plaintiff presented to the board of supervisors of said county a claim for a reward of $500 offered by the the sheriff of the county (duly authorized thereunto by a resolution of said board), “for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed the murder of August Tesch, near the city of Milwaukee, on,” etc. The board rejected the claim, having already paid over the reward to the chief of police of the city of Milwaukee. The plaintiff appealed to the circuit court; where a verdict was found against him, a new trial…
1Opinion of the CourtCole, J.
We shall not consider the question, so fully discussed upon the argument, whether a police officer, whose duty it is to he prompt and vigilant in ferreting out crime, and in bringing criminals to justice, should be allowed to participate in public rewards offered for the arrest and conviction of the guilty party. It was claimed and argued by the counsel for the plaintiff, that it would be contrary to public policy, and a violation of well-established legal principles, to permit a ministerial officer, who is sworn to discharge his duty according to the best of his ability, and who, for all his…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Hatch v. MannCourt for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors · 1835
- Kick v. MerrySupreme Court of Missouri · 1856
3Cited by2 opinions
- Abbott v. StraffordSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1871
- Williams v. West Chicago St. R. R. Co.Appellate Court of Illinois · 1901