A fugitive was wanted for murder. The authorities offered th…
A fugitive was wanted for murder. The authorities offered the following reward: “$20,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of this fugitive.” A private detective knew of the reward, located the fugitive, and brought him to the authorities, who arrested him. The authorities then determined that while the fugitive had, in fact, committed the crime, he had been directed to commit the crime by his boss. The authorities and the fugitive then agreed that in exchange for the fugitive’s testimony against his boss, all charges against the fugitive would be dropped. The fugitive testified and was released. The authorities refused to pay the reward to the private detective on the ground that the fugitive was never convicted. Would the private detective be likely to prevail in a breach of contract action against the authorities?