Klein v. Pollard

1. Arrest — Without Warrant — Propriety. A police officer is not justified in arresting without a warrant a woman quietly walking on the street at a late hour of the night, though she has just emerged from a disreputable saloon, there being nothing to indicate that she is plying a prostitute’s vocation, or intends to do so, by solicitation.1 2. False Imprisonment — Damages — Mitigation — Evidence — Police Orders. In an action against a policeman for false imprisonment in arresting plaintiff without a warrant on suspicion that she was a prostitute, defendant is entitled to show in mitigation of damages that his superior officers ordered the arrest of all women found on the street at an unusual hour who failed to give a satisfactory account of themselves, though such arrest was unlawful.

Error to Wayne; Donovan, J. Case by Anna C. Klein against Edward J. Pollard for an assault 'and battery and false imprisonment. There was judgment fór defendant, and plaintiff brings error. Plaintiff is the wife of one William C. Klein, who kept a saloon at 227 Jefferson avenue, in the city of Detroit. In the back part of his saloon was a room with tables for drinking and a bed. The saloon was one of ill repute and the resort of prostitutes. On one occasion a policeman found in this bed the bartender and a prostitute undressed, ánd arrested them. Mr. Klein kept his saloon open during the night, in open violation of the law, and apparently without any effort on the part of the city authorities to compel him to obey the law. The saloon is located in what is known as the “central precinct,” in which are located many, if not most, of the disreputable houses of the city, and where common prostitutes and other criminal classes resort. Counsel for defendant in his brief says: ‘ ‘ Practically all disorderly places, houses of prostitution, etc., in the city of Detroit are in the central precinct, which embraces the territory between Hastings street and Fourth street, and running north to Charlotte avenue and Brewster street. Previous to the year 1905 (the time not being disclosed by the record) the number of lewd women plying their vocation on the streets and sitting in saloons waiting for company became so great that, to discourage the trade, a general order was issued to the officers and men of the central precinct to frequently visit all saloons catering to women trade and to bring in all women of known bad repute, or such as might be found on the street at an unusual hour and who failed to give a satisfactory account of themselves. As a result of this order over 400 women were brought in during the year 1905.” The proofs establish the above statement. The defendant is a policeman, and his beat in February, 1905, in- . eluded Mr. Klein’s saloon. Plaintiff and her-sister, a girl 16 years of age, after spending the evening upon the streets, went to this saloon about 10:30 o’clock. The sister had made an appointment to meet one Nuss at Klein’s saloon, where he played the piano. The women remained in the saloon until about midnight, when plaintiff’s sister and Nuss went out. A few minutes afterwards plaintiff came out of the saloon, stood for a moment at the door, looking up and down the street, and then with her head” hanging down walked out along the street. The defendant saw her, went to her, and asked her who she was. She testified that she told him who she was. Defendant testified that she told him it was none of his business. She testified: “ Is it not a fact, Mrs. Klein, that when you came out ' of that saloon you looked first right and left when you came to the door to see if the coast was clear, and then came down the avenue, with your head hanging down, that you went down Randolph, turned north on Randolph on the east side, and that the officer came along behind you, intercepted you by coming diagonally across Randolph, and intercepted you about half way between the alley and the corner — is that true ? “A. Yes, sir.” He then, in accordance with his instructions, took her to the police department before the lieutenant in charge. She told the lieutenant who she was, satisfied that officer that her statement was true, and was promptly dismissed. She brought this suit to recover damages for assault and battery and false imprisonment. The case was submitted to the jury who found a verdict for the defendant. The charter of the city of Detroit confers upon the common council power to— “ Provide for the general peace, order and good government of said city. To ‘ prohibit and suppress the keeping and leasing of houses of ill-fame, or assignation, or for the resort of common prostitutes, disorderly houses, and disorderly groceries. It may restrain, suppress and punish the keepers thereof, and the owners and lessors of such premises; it may punish, restrain and prevent common prostitutes, vagrants, mendicants, street beggars, drunken or disorderly persons.’ To enact all ordinances necessary to carry into effect the powers conferred by law upon said council, and to provide for the punishment of all persons offending against this act, or any law relating to said city, or any ordinance of the common council enacted under this or any other act of the legislature, by imposing fines, penalties, forfeitures and costs, and by imprisonment in the house of correction of said city.” Charter of Detroit (1904), §§ 171, 183,190. The charter (§ 665) also provides: “It shall be the duty of the commissioner of police and of the force hereby constituted, at all times of the day and night, within the boundaries of said city, to preserve the public peace and prevent crime, arrest offenders and protect the rights of persons and property, guard the' public health, preserve order and enforce all the laws of the State and the ordinances of said city.” Acting under this power the common council enacted the following ordinances: “All able-bodied persons who, not having visible means of support, are found loitering or rambling about or lodging or loitering in drinking saloons, tippling houses, beer houses, houses of ill-fame, houses of bad repute, vessels, sheds or barns, or in the open air, and not giving a good account of themselves, * * * shall be deemed disorderly persons, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as hereinafter provided. “No person shall keep, within the limits of the city of Detroit, any house of ill-fame, house of assignation, or house for the resort of common prostitutes, or a disorderly saloon, bar-room, tavern, beer hall, grocery, theater; room, ordinary, house or building of any kind, or any house, room or building for gaming with cards, dice, billiards, nine or ten-pin alleys, wheels of fortune, boxes, machines or other instruments or devices whatever, or shall in any manner contribute to the support, carrying on or keeping of any such house or place.” The case was submitted to the jury who, after deliberation, returned a verdict for no cause of action.