Rinehart v. City of Lancaster
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Common Pleas of Lancaster County to review a judgment on a verdict for defendant in an action of assumpsit to recover a reward for the detection of incendiarism. The incendiary was first pursued by one Graeff, but made his escape. A lad about eleven years old saw them running on the street and, after Dungan’s arrest, identified him as the party who had been pursued, and testified to these facts in court. Further facts are stated in the opinion.
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Mr. Justice Gordon:
On the 17th of April, 1879, the city of Lancaster, through its mayor, John T. Maegonigle, Esq., offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of “any party or parties setting fire to buildings of any description within the limits of the city.”
The plaintiff in the present suit claims this reward, alleging that he was principally instrumental in securing the arrest and conviction of one Jerry Dungan for an attempt to fire a stable or barn in said city, belonging to George Hastings.
We agree with the learned counsel for the plaintiff, that the question was…