Miller v. Butler

Two persons having participated in the composition of a libellous letter written by one of them, which was afterwards put into the post-office, and sent by mail to' the person to whom it was addressed; such participation was held to be competent and sufficient evidence to prove a publication by both. In proving the application of the language of an alleged libel to the person who is the subject of it, witnesses may be asked their opinion, as to the meaning and intent, and what is their understanding, of particular expressions. The responsibility of the writer of a private letter, for the publication of a libel contained therein, is not limited to the consequences of a communication of it to the person to whom the letter is addressed, but extends to the probable consequences of thus putting it in circulation. In judging of the malicious character of an alleged libel, the jury may take into consideration the whole publication; and if it contains statements concerning other persons, which are malicious, the jury may infer therefrom, that what is said of the plaintiff is also malicious. In order to constitute a libel, for which an action may be sustained, the publication need not import a criminal charge; it is sufficient if it tends to subject the party to whom it refers to ridicule or contempt.

This was an action on the case for a libel, tried before Wells, C. J., in the court of common pleas. The alleged libel was contained in a letter, signed “ Co. & Son,” dated at Ludlow, January 5th, 1847, and addressed and directed to A. H. Bartlett, Esquire, New York. It was in evidence, that the letter in question was written by Jencks, one of the defendants, on the day of the date thereof, in the presence of Butler, the other defendant; that one of them proposed to the other to write a letter to Bartlett; and that Butler assisted in composing the letter, encouraging the writing of it, and suggesting some of the expressions. The letter was found in the post-office at Ludlow, two days after its date, addressed to A. H. Bartlett, at New York, where he resided, and was sent to him by mail and received by him. The defendants objected, that this was not sufficient proof of publication by Butler; but the objection was overruled, and the question of publication by him was left to the jury upon the evidence. The defendants also contended, that they were not responsible for any further publication of the letter by Bartlett, to whom it was addressed, or by other persons, after it came into his hands; but the presiding judge ruled, that if such further publication was a probable consequence of sending the letter to Bartlett, the defendants were responsible for such consequences. To prove that the plaintiff was the person referred to in the letter, as “ the doctor,” witnesses were called, who testified that they resided in the neighborhood, and were acquainted with the persons living there ; that the plaintiff was a doctor and his father a colonel; that he had a sister Minerva, who was married to Bartlett; and that there were other persons in the family corresponding to those mentioned in the letter. One of these witnesses was inquired of, whether he had any doubts, that certain words in the letter, relating to “ Minerva,” referred to Bartlett’s wife, to which he answered, that he could not tell. He was then asked, “ Have you no opinion who it refers to ? ” and answered, “ I think it must be Bartlett’s wife.” Another of the witnesses was asked, to whom the phrase “the colonel” referred; to which he answered, that he supposed “the colonel” meant colonel Miller. He was asked to whom the words “ the doctor” referred. He answered he supposed they meant the plaintiff. The defendants objected to these questions as incompetent, and also to the answers; but the objections were overruled. The defendants contended, that the letter contained nothing libellous towards the plaintiff, unless it charged him with fornication ; but the presiding judge ruled, that if it did not contain such a charge, yet if it contained imputations derogatory to the plaintiff, or calculated to lead to a breach of the peace, so that the defendants would be liable to an indictment for a libel on the plaintiff, the action might be maintained, although no criminal offence was imputed to the plaintiff. In arguing the case to the jury, the plaintiff’s counsel insisted, that the reference in the letter to Bartlett’s wife implied that Butler had had improper intercourse with her, and was designed to create jealousy in Bartlett’s mind towards her; and that the references to colonel Miller, and the other persons named, were made from malicious motives; from which he argued that the jury ought also to consider, that the expressions relating to the plaintiff were malicious. The defendants objected to this course of argument, but the presiding judge ruled, that it was for the jury to decide, whether the letter was written from malicious motives or not; and that if the expressions in the letter alluding to colonel Miller and others were malicious, the jury might thereupon infer that the expressions relative to the plaintiff were also malicious. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, and the defendants excepted. 1