Watts Detective Agency, Inc. v. Inhabitants of Sagadahoc

The issue in this case, which comes up on report, is whether the county of Sagadahoc is under legal obligation to pay the plaintiff detective agency for services and expenses of its operatives in connection with the investigation of an alleged crime. The county attorney arranged for the employment without consultation with the county commissioners and without their knowledge. After detectives had been at work for about three weeks, an account of the plaintiff of $2,092.00 was presented by the county attorney to the county commissioners. Action on the matter was deferred while the…