Bath v. Metcalf

This is an action for false imprisonment against seven defendants, five of whom the jury have found guilty. Of these five, the defendants Hadd and Wheeler made the original arrest, without a warrant, on a charge of felony. We cannot say that the evidence, if believed, showed that Hadd and Wheeler had reasonable grounds to suspect the plaintiff of being a pickpocket, (supposing the justification to be well pleaded,) whether the question was properly one for the jury, or was for the court, like other questions of reasonable cause. Compare Rohan v. Sawin, 5 Cush. 281; Good v. French, 115 Mass.…