76 Mo. App. 159 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1897
This action was brought to recover damages for an alleged libel, published by the defendant concerning the plaintiff in the defendant’s newspaper, called “The Star Sayings.” The libel as set out in the petition reads as follows: “Prank Arnold, a lineman, who is wanted in Evansville.
The petition contained the other usual averments in actions for libel, and prays judgment for $5,000 actual damages, and $5,000 for punitive or exemplary damages. The answer, after a general denial, pleaded the following special matter: “That the statement which defendant published in said paper, the Star-Sayings, was furnished to defendant in the due course of its business as the publisher of such newspaper by the police authorities of the city of St. Louis, who had been requested by the police authorities of the city of Evansville, Indiana, to locate Frank Arnold. That the publication recited in the petition herein was merely a reproduction of matters communicated to this defendant by the said police authorities of the city of St. Louis as having been communicated to them by the police authorities of Evansville, Indiana. That the statement so communicated to the defendant by the police authorities of St. Louis was published by the defendant in good faith and without either malice or negligence, and without any purpose to injure or damage the plaintiff. Further answering, and in mitigation of damages, defendant says that the statement set forth in the plaintiff’s petition herein, was inserted in the Star-Sayings newspaper by one employed by the
At the trial, and before submission to the jury, the court permitted the defendant in mitigation of damages to add the following amendment to its answer: “Further answering, and in mitigation of damages, the defendant says that on the said 29th day of October, 1894, the same being the day on which the publication was made by the defendant, which is the subject of this action, took place, four other reputable daily newspapers published in the city of St. Louis, namely, the St. Louis Republic, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Westliche Post, and the Anzeiger des Westens, acting independently of each other, and without any concert of action, published of and concerning this plaintiff statements similar to those published by this defendant for which the plaintiff now sues; that thereafter the plaintiff brought actions for libel against the proprietors of each of the said newspapers, which actions were settled by said proprietors by paying to the plaintiff a great sum of money, namely, an aggregated sum of twenty-one hundred dollars ($2,100). Wherefore the defendant says that in so far as the plaintiff has sustained damage in his character and reputation, he has sustained it by all the aforesaid' publications, and this defendant ought not to pay for any damage sustained by the defendant (plaintiff) by
“$1,100 Robbery.
“On October 4th a man came to St. Mary’s Hospital, of this city, claiming to be an electric lineman. Said he was sent to St. Mary’s Hospital to trace the trouble with some of the wires, they being out of order. He got into the Sister Superior’s room and stole $1,100 in money — $800 of which was in paper and $300 in gold. Most all the money belonged to inmates. This man was evidently a professional crook. Description: About thirty-five years old; weight 150 pounds; five feet eight inches high; dark hair; dark mustache; large white teeth; large round eyes; blue shirt with white buttons; dark pants, and dark vest; wore a cap. Very fluent talker. Please keep a sharp lookout for a suspicious person with large amount of money, and address all information to “Geo. L. Covey,
“Supt. of Police.
“Evansville, Ind., Oct. 6, 1894.”
Witness also testified to the following letter:
“Evansville,Ind., Oct. 22, 1894.
“Laurence Harrigan, E-sq., Chief of Police, St. Louis, Mo.
*171 Testimony. *170 “Dear Sir: — Inclosed find postal card of robbery which took place on the 4th of this month. Previous to this robbery there worked at this hospital a man by the name of Frank Arnold, who, I am told, is now at*171 the U. S. Hospital in your city. One of our detectives was at this hospital sick while Arnold was there. He thought that Arnold was a slick citizen.- Arnold had free access to all parts of St. Mary’s Hospital and was familiar with the Sister Superior’s room, and we thought he probably, after leaving the hospital, posted the party who done the job as to the surroundings at St. Mary’s Hospital. Arnold is not supposed to have had any money when he left the hospital. I don’t know where he is from, but am informed that he is now in your city at U. S. Hospital, either as a patient or employee. Arnold is about five feet nine inches tall, about thirty years old, light mustache, dark hair, weighs about 150 pounds and slender build.
“Have one of your detectives investigate him and find out all possible about him. Also if he has now or has had any great amount of money whilst there. If, on investigation, you find it important enough, I will send a man to see you about this matter. It could not be Arnold who done this job, as he was too well known at St. Mary’s, but he may have got some one to do it and got part of the money.
“I am respectfully,
“GI-eo. L. Covey,
“Supt. of Police.”
The postal card and letter were offered and read in evidence. Smith testified that the postal card and letter were received by Chief of Police Harrigan, through the mail; by him turned over to Chief of Detectives Desmond; that the letter had been given to witness by Chief Desmond about the twenty-fifth of October, 1894, to investigate; that he did make the investigation and made the following report to Chief Desmond:
*172 St. Louis, Oct. 26th, ’94.
“Wm. Desmond, Chief of the Detectives:
“Sir: — I report that I investigated attached letter from George L. Covey, superintendent of police, of Evansville, Ind., asking us to investigate one Prank Arnold working at U. S. Marine Hospital, as it was thought that he may have assisted the chiéf (thief) in locating the $1,100 stolen at St. Mary’s Hospital at Evansville, Ind., October 4th, 1894.
“On investigation, I find that Arnold went to work for the U. S. Marine Hospital September 22, 1894, and worked until October 1, 1894, for his board and bed, and on and after October 1,1894, he is under pay. He bought an old uniform , coat and vest and was unable to pay for them up to this time, and has not been seen with any money, and was working here for twelve days before the robbery, and had a good recommendation from St. Mary’s Hospital, Evansville.
“Respectfully,
“James H. Smith,
“Detective.”
The witness testified that he pasted this report to the letter from Evansville and laid therd on the private desk of Chief Desmond; that he did not lay it on the reporters’ table in the press room at the Pour Courts, and did not know how the newspaper reporters got hold of the letter. The witness further testified that these letters were kept pasted in a large book with blank pages called “Foreign Record K,” and did not know what became of the letters after he laid them on the desk in the private office of Chief Desmond; that the custom was to keep such letters secret, and not to give them out to the reporters. The reply of Chief of Police Harrigan to the Evansville chief was read in evidence by defendant, and reads as follows:
*173 "October 26, 1894.
"George L. Covey, Esq., Superintendent of Police, Evansville, Ind.: .
"Referring to the matters of Frank Arnold working at U. S. Marine Hospital here, I find that Arnold went to work at; the hospital September 22nd,' 1894, and worked until October 1st, 1894, for his bed and board. On and after October 1st he was put on pay and bought an old uniform coat and vest, but up to the present time he has been unable to- pay for it. Arnold has not been seen with any money since. He was working here for twelve days before the robbery, and has a good recommendation from St. Mary’s Hospital, Evansville, Ind.
"Very respectfully,
"L. HABRIGAN,
"Chief of Police.”
George E. Garrett, a witness for defendant, testified that at the date of the publication he was city editor of the Star-Sayings, and testified to the rules practiced in the office in regard to the verification of items of news brought in by their reporters which reflected upon private character; also exemplified the haste which attends the making up of the Sunday morning edition of a daily paper, and the amount of time allowed for making verification of news items; and stated that news items affecting the character of an individual were invariably investigated locally, and where possible also by wire at the home or former home of the accused, and that'no avenue was left uncovered to verify or disprove any item; that the item published in this instance was brought in by Mr. Smith, a reporter, and that he endeavored to verify its accuracy by sending out two other reporters, Mr. Green and Mr. Galvin, one of them to the Marine Hospital; he did not remember that they telegraphed to Evans
In rebuttal Chief Harrigan testified in substance, that the practice of his office with regard to showing communications to reporters depended upon the communication ; that he did not think he gave the Evansville letter to the reporters; he did give it to Chief Desmond; that there was no reporters’ table in his office or in the office of Chief Desmond, and that the letter was never on the reporters’ table by his direction.
The defendant offered to prove that the plaintiff had brought suit against the St. Louis Republic, the St. Louis Rost Dispatch, the Westliche Post and Anzeiger des Western, for libels oh account of publication of articles similar to the one in question and published on the same Sunday morning, and that on compromises of these several suits.he had received $2,100. This proffered testimony was objected to by plaintiff; the objection sustained, and exceptions to the ruling
“The court instructs the jury that it stands admitted that the defendant made the publication set out in the plaintiff’s amended petition, of and concerning the plaintiff. Therefore, the court instructs the jury that if you find from the evidence that the publication complained of is libelous and false, you should return a verdict for the plaintiff in such sum as you 'believe from the evidence, and under the instructions, will be a fair compensation for the injury, if any, naturally and probably done to the plaintiff’s reputation and character by the publication in question.”
INSTRUCTIONS. “And the court further instructs the jury that if you believe from the evidence that the defendant in causing the publication to be made, acted recklessly and in wanton disregard of the plaintiff’s right, then in addition to the compensation for' an actual damage done, you .may allow such exemplary or punitive damages, as under all the- circumstances, you think the defendant ought to be punished with.”
‘ ‘The court instructs the jury that the law presumes that a man intends the natural consequences of his acts. If, therefore, the jury believe and find from the evidence that the natural consequences of the publication complained of was to defame and injure plaintiff in,his reputation and character, they may properly infer that such was the intention of defendant; and if you further believe and find from the evidence that the publication complained of was libelous and false, you may infer that it was maliciously made.”
The court instructed the jury for defendant as follows:
“The court further instructs the jury that it is proper for them to consider the whole publication*176 complained of, for the purpose of determining the meaning of any word or statement therein, and for the purpose of determining whether the said publication, or any part of it, is a libel or not, either in law or in fact.”
“If the jury find from the evidence that, at or about the time of the publication of the article for which this action is brought, four other reputable daily newspapers published in the city of St. Louis published the same statements concerning the plaintiff, in substance or in form, they are at liberty to take that fáct into consideration as bearing upon the question whether the publication was malicious or the result of an honest mistake.”
“If the jury find from the evidence that the statements made in the article for which this suit is brought, were found, by a reporter of the Star-Sayings newspaper, on the files of the chief of police in the city of St. Louis, in the form of a communication from the superintendent of police of the city of Evansville, lnd., to the chief of police, detailing that statements there made concerning the plaintiff; and if the jury further find from the evidence that the statements thus communicated by the public authorities of Evansville, lnd., to the chief of police of St. Louis, were fairly and faithfully put in writing by said reporter, in the form of the article stated in the plaintiff’s petition, and inserted in said Star-Sayings newspaper, in good faith and in the bona fide belief that they were true, and that said statements were printed and published in said newspaper merely as an item of news, and without any ill will toward the plaintiff — then the jury are at liberty to take these facts into consideration in mitigation or reduction of damages.”
“In the event the jury find that the publication in question was a libel, they are instructed that, in estimating the damages which the plaintiff ought to receive,*177 it is proper for them to take into consideration, as tending to mitigate or diminish such damages, the following facts, if proven to their satisfaction: 1. The fact that the publication in question was made by the defendant in the Iona fide belief that it was true. 2. The fact that the publication related to a matter affecting the public rights and the public interests, and was made by the defendant without any ill will toward the plaintiff, but simply as an item of news, believing that the statements therein contained were true, after investigating the truth thereof.’3. The effect of other publications relating to the matter in other newspaper publications in the city of St. Louis — excluding from their estimate of the damages to be awarded in .this case any and all damages they may deem to have been caused to the plaintiff in his character or reputation by such other publications, and giving to the fact of such other publications, in abating the damages to be awarded to the plaintiff in this case, such weight as the jury may deem right and just.
“The court instructs the jury that, while the law furnishes no accurate rule or guide to the jury in assessing damages in a case of this kind, yet the plaintiff is not entitled to recover any damages except those which have probably accrued, or which' will probably accrue from the injury complained of, and that the jury are not warranted in giving damages based upon remote contingencies which may or may not happen, or upon mere speculation or surmise.”
“The court further instructs the jury that there is no rule of law which obliges a jury in any case to give damages by way of punishment to the defendant or example to the public, or to give any damages beyond what may be necessary to compensate the plaintiff for any injury which he may have sustained, but that,*178 although the state of the pleadings and evidence in this case may, under other instructions of the court, warrant the jury in giving exemplary damages, yet it is nevertheless a matter resting in their sound discretion whether they will do so or not.”
The defendant also requested the court to give the following three instructions:
“The jury are further instructed that, under the constitution of the state of Missouri (it is exclusively for the jury to determine the law of libel; that), upon the question whether the publication for which this action is brought was or was not a libel and consequently is or is not properly the subject of this action for damages, the jurors are the sole judges of the law as well as of the facts (and are not conclusively bound by the instructions, given them by the court, though they may properly consider those instructions as guides in determining the issue, and though they are bouüd by the instructions given by the court, upon all other questions; and), that, before the jury can find a verdict for the plaintiff, they must find that the article published by the defendant, is a libel in point of law.”
“The jury are further instructed that the bill of rights in the constitution of the state of Missouri provides that no law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech; that every person shall be free to say, write or publish 'whatever he will on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty; and the jury are instructed that, before they can find a verdict for the plaintiff in this case, they must find that the defendant has been guilty of an abuse of that liberty; and of this the jury are the sole judges (as explained in the last previous instruction).”
“The jury are further instructed that, in determining whether the publication complained of was or was not a libel, and whether the defendant is or is not*179 liable to pay damages to the plaintiff by reason thereof; and in determining the further question whether, in publishing said matter, the defendant was guilty of an abuse of the liberty of the press guaranteed by the constitution of this state (as explained in the two last previous instructions) ; and in determining any and all questions of fact presented by the evidence in the case — the jurors are the exclusive judges of the weight to be given to the evidence and. of the credibility of the witnesses; and that they should give to each portion of the evidence and to the whole of it taken together, the weight and value to which they think it fairly entitled.”
The court refused to give instruction “A” as tendered, but erased the words included in brackets, and as thus modified gave it. And gave instruction “B” after modifying it, by adding the words embraced in brackets; and modified instruction “C” by adding the words included in brackets and gave it in its modified form. The defendant asked ten other instructions, all of which were refused by the court. The first of these refused instructions was as to the form of verdict the jury should return; as blank forms of verdict were furnished the jury, there was no harm done by the refusal of the instruction. The sixth was as to the privileges of a newspaper in the publication of news and undertaking to bring the publication of the article in question, under the head of what is known in law as a privileged communication, or occasion. The seventh is of the same purport. The tenth asked the jury to deduct from plaintiff’s damages (if any), the amount lie had received from other newspapers for a like publication. The eleventh is the same proposition in a different dress. The fourteenth tells the jury that damages can not be given against an employer for the wrongful acts done by his employee; unless such
The court gave the jury the following blank forms of verdict:
“Frank Arnold, plaintiff (99,862), The Sayings Company.
“We, the jury in the above entitled cause, find the issues therein joined in favor of the plaintiff and assess his compensatory damages at the sum of- and further assess his exemplai’y or punitive damages at the sum of-, making a total of-
“--, Foreman.”
“Frank Arnold, plaintiff, v. (99, 862) The Sayings Company, defendant. We the jury in the above entitled cause, find the issues therein joined in favor of the defendant. ' -, Foreman.”
Instruction “A” as modified and given by the court is in harmony with dhe cases of State v. Armstrong, 106 Mo. 395, and Arnold v. Jewett, 125 Mo. 24. The additions made to instructions C. and B. simply notified the jury that these instructions should be read in the light of other instructions.
It was their duty to do this, and we can see no harm in calling their attention to this duty. A correct instruction was given on both compensatory and exemplary damages, and it would have served no good purpose to repeat the instruction, couched in other language,, as the court was asked to do by defendant’s refused instructions. By refused instruction number 16 the court was asked to instruct the jury that to authorize the finding of exemplary damages, it was necessary that they find the publication was made with express or actual malice. This is not the law in this state in actions for libel; malice with us is malice, and it matters not whether it be actual or that other kind which is inferred from the doing of a wrongful act without justifiable cause or excuse; the jury may upou the proof of either give exemplary damages. Buckley v. Knapp, 48 Mo. 161; Clements v. Maloney, 55 Mo. 359; Callahan v. Ingram, 122 Mo. 355; Ferguson v. The Evening Chronicle Pub. Co., No. 6933 St. Louis Court of Appeals, decided at the present term.
Appellant complains of the first one of the blank forms of verdicts. Upon what ground or for what reason, we are unable to see; there were two distinct kinds of damages the jury were required to pass on, should they find for the plaintiff, compensatory and exemplary; the verdict left a blank space for the amount of each, should they find both kinds, they were not told to find both kinds, nor did the verdict intimate that they should find both; if they found one kind, it was their duty to pass upon the claim for exemplary damages, and if they should have found none, it would have been their duty to so say by their verdict, by filling in the blank with a nought, or the word nothing. The practice of furnishing jurors with correct forms of verdict on their retirement is a common