Hurley v. Fall River Daily Herald Publishing Co.

An averment in a declaration for libel, that the alleged libel was published concerning the plaintiff, is sufficient to identify with him a person of the same name mentioned with others in the publication. An article in a newspaper, alleged in a declaration to be a libellous publication concerning the plaintiff, was headed, “Was his a 'graveyard’ easel” and began as follows: “ The death of D., who was buried on Tuesday, has revived the matter of graveyard insurance. It is reported that several men had policies on his life, knowing when they were issued that he was suffering from consumption, which policies, it is alleged, were obtained through a fraudulent physical examination by Dr. H.” After stating that D.’s father .charged his son’s death to malpractice on the part of Dr. H., and giving the particulars of his illness, it proceeded as follows: “He had been informed that policies on his son's life were held by Dr. H.,” and several other persons named, including the plaintiff. Held, on demurrer, that the publication contained a libel upon the plaintiff.

Two actions OE tort. The declaration in each case alleged that, on December 27, 1883, the defendant caused to be published in a newspaper called the Fall River Daily Herald, published by the defendant, a false and malicious libel concerning the plaintiff, as follows: “Was his a ‘graveyard’ case? Suspicions aroused by the recent death of John F. Downing. — The father’s story. — The death of John F. Downing, who was buried on Tuesday, has revived the matter of graveyard insurance. It is reported that several men had policies on his life, knowing when they were issued that he was suffering from consumption, which policies, it is alleged, were obtained through a fraudulent physical examination by Dr. Hennessey. The father of the deceased, Michael T. Downing, feels thoroughly convinced, from some reason, that his son’s death was brought about by malpractice on the part of Hennessey, to subserve his life insurance schemes. Mr. Downing said yesterday, that in December, 1882, John contracted a severe cold, and, as he was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, he secured medical advice from the society physician, Dr. Hennessey. Instead of improving, the cold grew worse under the doctor’s care, until it developed into consumption, which resulted in the man’s death. The father states, as a reason for his belief that his son’s illness was cultivated, that the medicine furnished was extremely pungent, and its use always followed by acute pains in the breast and stomach. He had been informed that policies on his son’s life were held by Dr. Hennessey, Edward Driscoll, Jr., W. J. Hurley, Patrick Gillan, William Barlow, Stephen Broderick, and Patrick Riley. He also learned that a prominent politician had visited his son, and offered to pay him $2 a week during his lifetime if he would be a party to a fraudulent examination, but that the offer was rejected.” The defendant demurred to the declaration, for the following reasons: “1. Because said declaration does not state a legal cause of action substantially in accordance with the Pub. Sts. c. 167. 2. Because it does not appear that the article relied on as libellous referred to the plaintiff, or was intended to refer to him. 3. Because the alleged libellous words do not by their natural import in any manner charge or impute to the plaintiff crime or wrong-doing of any kind. 4. Because said article is not libellous.” The Superior Court sustained the demurrer, and ordered judgment for the defendant; and the plaintiffs appealed to this court.