Miles v. Harrington

1. Slander; Justification; Mitigation. Where slanderous words wbicb are per se actionable are spoken in a moment of beat and passion, induced by some improper conduct immediately preceding on tbe part of tbe plaintiff, tbe said circumstances under wbicb tbe words were spoken are not a complete defense to tbe action for slander, but should be considered by tbe jury only in mitigation of damages. 3. Damages; General; Compensatory. In an action of slander for words spoken wliicb are p&r se actionable, where tbe petition does not allege any special damages, tbe jury may give a verdict for sucb general damages as the plaintiff may have sustained; and all damages which are the necessary and natural result of tbe words spoken are general damages. 3. -Nominal; Exemplan’y. And in sucb an action damage is presumed without any proof of actual damage; and if no special damage is pleaded, no general damages proved, nor exemplary damages allowed by the jury, still tbe jury should allow nominal damages for tbe plaintiff. Tbe law permits exemplary damages; but whether such damages should be allowed is a question for tbe jury under all the circumstances of tbe case.

Error from Brown District Oourt. Action of slander, brought by Bcvrrington against Miles. Miles had been prosecuted before a justice of the peace for an assault and battery, and on the trial thereof Harrington had testified as a witness on the part of the state. The petition alleged that Miles, in speaking of Barrington, and of the testimony given by him on the trial of said assault-and-battery ease, said — “Harrington swore to a damned lie — that’s all there is about that;” and that in speaking to Bcurrmgton in the presence and hearing of divers other persons Miles had said— “You are a perjured scoundrel — you swore to a lie.” The petition averred that the words were spoken by Miles falsely and maliciously, and with intent to injure and defame the plaintiff. No special injury or damage was alleged. The petition contained the usual averments that the plaintiff, “ by means of the speaking and publishing of said false and scandalous words is injured in his good name and reputation,” “to Ms damage, three thousand dollars,” for which sum judgment was demanded. The defendant answered, setting up two defenses— first, a general denial; second, plaintiff under the guise of pretended friendship had sought his confidence respecting the facts in said assault-and-batter'y case, before the trial thereof, and then had gone upon the stand and testified erroneously concerning his (defendant’s) admissions; and that in heat and passion, and smarting under Ha/rrvngtom’s erroneous testimony, he had told the plaintiff “ that he lied.” The action was tried at the April Term, 1871. The testimony was not preserved. At the request of plaintiff the court gave the jury the following instructions: “ 1st. — If you believe from the evidence that the defendant spoke and published either set of words as charged in the petition of and concerning the plaintiff, and of and concerning the testimony given by said Harrington as to the admissions made by Miles upon the trial had before D. K. B., a justice,” etc., “ you will find for the plaintiff, and assess his damages in any sum not exceeding the amount claimed.in the petition. “ 2d.-If the jury find from the evidence that the defendant spoke to and concerning the plaintiff and in the presence and hearing of any other person or persons, the words, to-wit— ‘ You are a perjured scoundrel — you swore to a lie ’ — they will find for the plaintiff and assess his damages in any sum not exceeding the amount claimed in the petition.” The court also gave the following instruction: “ If the jury find that the defendant spoke the words charged in a moment of heat and passion induced by any improper conduct immediately preceding on the part of the plaintiff, then the jury will take such circumstance into consideration in determining whether defendant spoke the words maliciously; and if they find that such words were not spoken maliciously, or in a moment of heat and passion so induced, then the jury will tal&e these ci/rcumistcmces into consideration i/n mitigation of damages.” <. Defendant Miles had asked this last instruction except that, in lieu of the words in italic, he had written — “ not find for plaintiff any other than the actual damages by him sustained from the publication of such words.” The court refused to give the instruction as asked by defendant, to wbicli refusal, and to all tbe instructions given, defendant excepted. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff for $100. New trial denied, and Miles brings tbe case here on error. 1. When one has provoked another into doing a wrong, the law does not require such person to be fined for1 the benefit of such other person. Unless some actual injury is inflicted the parties are vn pcvri delicto, and there is no action. And it matters not how or to what extent one provoked another, the law will not insist that he shall reap benefit from his willful wrong. This principle was fully held in Allen v. Bull, U. S. C. 0. forE. I., Nov. 1870; see Am. Law, Eeg. for April, 1871, p. 272. And not denied in Dwiean v. Brown, 15 B. Mon., 198. Anri is sustained in principle in Flmt v. Olarh, 13 Conn., 369. 2. The instructions given were wrong. The jury were told that they were at liberty to punish the defendant for his wrong, to any extent within plaintiff’s demand; and they were so told this in a manner which almost forbid the jury’s considering the fact that their verdict was to result to the exclusive benefit of the plaintiff who had induced the wrong. The instructions asked by plaintiff were especially wrong. They told the jury in substance that “ if the defendant under any circumstances had told what was not true of plaintiff they were at liberty to punish him by giving plaintiff vindictive, punitory, or exemplary damages.” See Townsend, page 380, §289; 15 B. Mon., 200. The instruction asked by defendant and refused contained the law as favorably as plaintiff could ask it; and it was error to refuse it. 3. The damages are excessive. The words were used in a sudden passion, just after a trial wherein defendant had been fined mainly through Harrington’s evidence. There was no damage done; no intention to injure; no malice — nothing for which to punish Miles, unless there was a contempt of court, or a breach of the peace, and these give no action to Harrington for damages. 1. There is no proof of insulting words or bad faith on the part of Harrington. The record shows merely that — “ some evidence was offered tending to show ” the speaking of the words by Moles as charged — as if the facts were uncontroverted on the trial. 2. The bill of exceptions does not purport to set out all the instructions given. In the absence of the testimony, and of all the instructions, the court cannot say the instructions given were wrong: 5 Kas., 58, 280; 7 Kas., 339. 3. The instruction asked by defendant was double, vague, and indefinite, and calculated to mislead the jury. It leaves the jury to judge what is, and what is not “ improper conduct.” Improper conduct, that which would justify a slander, is a question of law, to be determined by the court. Again, the instruction asked was in effect, that plaintiff could not recover at all because special damages were neither claimed nor proved. The charge as given states the rule more strongly than defendant was entitled to. The rule is that such facts go in mitigation only: 1 Hill, on Torts, 405, § 70; Sedgw. on Ham., 568. The verdict shows that defendant had the full benefit of all mitigating circumstances, and is not excessive.