v.
W. L. Henkle
On February 6, 1906, the appellee filed an information before a justice of the peace of Lee County, Iowa, alleging: That four pictures, “The Hough Eiders,” “Warships,” “An English Scene,” and “Eock of Ages,” had been “feloniously taken” from the schoolhouse in district No. 1 in Yan Burén township in said county; that there was good reason for believing that Martha Eichardson had said pictures in her- possession; and that they were “supposed to be secreted at or about the house of Jacob Krehbiel,” the appellant herein. Upon strength of these allegations, the informant deinanded that a warrant issue for the search of the dwelling of .said Xrehb'iel. A warrant was issued for the search of appellant’s home for the discovery of the pictures and containing the following directions: “If the pictures are supj)osed to be locked up in a trunk and the key is not "delivered, bring the trunk.” These words were inserted in the warrant at the request of the appellee, who went with the constable to the home of the appellant and assisted in making the search. Upon their demand they were admitted ' to the room which had been occupied by a boarder, one Martha Eichardson, where were found certain pictures which appellee claimed to identify as having been stolen from the schoolhouse, and the officer took them into his possession. Upon application for change of venue, the justice issuing the warrant transferred the proceedings to the court of the next nearest magistrate, who, upon hearing the evidence, and finding the charge made in the information to be without sufficient support, dismissed the same and ordered a restoration of the property.. Thereafter appellant instituted this action for damages, alleging that in suing out said warrant and causing the search of his premises for alleged stolen property the appellee acted wilfully, maliciously, and without probable cause. On trial to a jury the plaintiff introduced evidence tending to show the state of facts hereinbefore set [*679] forth. It also tended to show that Martha Eichardson had been teacher of the public school in said district and at some time during the term she had decorated the walls of the schoolroom with cheap pictures, some of which were furnished by herself and her friends, and some had been brought to her by the pupils from their homes. -Among them were three or four brought by a son of the appellee, none of which are shown to have any material or substantial value. At the close of the term, Miss Eichardson burned most of the pictures she had placed on the walls, and upon asking the pupils what should be done with those furnished by themselves, and receiving no request for their preservation, burned them also. As she was at the railway station about to leave the neighborhood, she was accosted by the appellee, who insinuated that she had appropriated the pictures and demanded to know the contents of the grip she was carrying. The appellant, being present and rebuking him for his insolence, was told to keep still, and that he would hear from appellee later. The pictures taken under the warrant were identified by a third person as having been given .to the teacher by himself. The appellee is shown to have been quite officious in urging the issuance of the warrant and dictating its terms and in leading the invasion of the appellant’s premises. At the close of the testimony upon the part of the appellant, the appellee moved for a directed verdict in his favor on the ground that the showing made was insufficient to sustain a finding of malice on his part or want of probable cause in suing out the writ, and on the further ground that there had been shown no arrest of plaintiff’s person, no-seizure of his property or search of his premises, and no damages sustained by him. The motion was sustained, and judgment thereupon rendered against the appellant, who prosecutes this appeal therefrom.
[*680]
tution. Constitution, Iowa, art. 1, section 8. That a violation of this right without reasonable ground therefor gives the injured party a right of action is thoroughly well settled. Reed v. Legg, 2 Har. (Del.) 173; Lawton v. Cardell, 22 Vt. 524; Dougherty v. Gilbert, 1 Tapp. (Ohio) 38; Whitson v. May, 71 Ind. 269; Doane v. Anderson, 60 Hun, 586 (15 N. Y. Supp. 459); Gardner, v. Neil, 4 N. C. 104; Miller v. Brown, 3 Mo. 127 (23 Am. Dec. 693); Olson v. Tvete, 46 Minn. 225 (48 N. W. 914).
It follows from what we have said that the cause must be reversed at the cost of the appellee and remanded for new trial. — Reversed.