question of punitory damages, it is deemed proper to order a retrial of this action with costs to abide the event. In doing so, however, we think it appropriate to express our opinion concerning the excessiveness of the verdict, as the question is so fully argued and the expression now may serve to obviate another appeal.
The evidence goes to establish that the defendant Underwood is a man of considerable means; that he had long occupied the office of police magistrate and had occasionally appeared in justice court in the capacity of attorney; so that he had acquired a standing as one connected with the administration of the law. If the responsibilities of his honorable position are not properly met, his conduct is more culpable than that of the ordinary layman. It appears here that he was the principal actor and is perhaps more to blame than anybody else for inflicting upon the plaintiff the indignities incident to the arrest and imprisonment. The plaintiff had resided in Enderlin but a short time before the occurence of the events leading to this suit. Probably the evidence does ‘not show him to have been a man of delicate sensibilities in regard to his standing in the community, but it does not appear that he is a person who would not have been grievously affected by the indignities suffered. It was shown that he had at various times been engaged in the following occupations: Bartender, oil stock salesman, pool hall keeper, brakeman, and, lastly, switchman; and that he had lived in half a dozen or more places since his marriage. We cannot assume from these facts, however, that he would not naturally aspire to a respectable place in the community, and that he would not be seriously damaged by a conspicuous introduction to the community as one worthy of occupying the city bastile. While he might not have been seriously damaged in the loss of a reputation because one had not yet been acquired in his new abode, he would certainly be seriously handicapped in his efforts to establish himself upon a plane of respectability. The jury must necessarily be accorded considerable latitude in measuring damages in cases of this character, and particularly in fixing upon an amount to be assessed as punishment for the wrong done. In view of all the circumstances disclosed inthis record, we cannot say that the verdict is so large as to shock the conscience, nor can we say that the trial court erred in exercising its discretion in favor of the plaintiff on the motion for a new trial.
The order appealed from is reversed, and a new trial ordered; costs to abide the event.
