Arnold v. State Ex Rel. Burton

This is a suit for false imprisonment brought by the appellee, L. V. Burton, against Naldo Arnold, a former sheriff of Sharp County, and the surety on his official bond. Trial before a jury resulted in a verdict for $1,500 compensatory damages and $100 punitive damages.

Burton proved by several witnesses that on the evening of November 5, 1949, he was sitting in a cafe in the city of Hardy. Arnold, visibly intoxicated, entered the cafe and sat down near Burton. When Burton offered a light for Arnold’s cigarette the sheriff cursed him, displayed his badge, leveled his pistol at Burton, and…