2 Pin. 42 | Wis. | 1847
The action in the court below was on the case, for verbal slander, brought by White against Eaton, and decided at the May term, 1846. The declaration contains but one count, and alleges the same slander, in various modes of expression, and a demurrer was filed to the declaration. It was objected that the declaration was multifarious, repugnant and uncertain. Upon inspection of the record we find that the crime imputed to White by Eaton is that he, White “keeps a whore house,” an indictable defense-if true, and words of slander actionable in themselves. This offense is imputed in various forms of expression, in the present and past tense, and so varied and alleged in the declaration.. Some of the forms of expression alleged, may not by strict construction be
The general issue and a special plea were pleaded after the overruling of the demurrer. The plaintiff demurred to the special plea, and assigned as causes of demurrer, “that the plea, though professing to, does not answer the whole declaration: that the facts set forth in the plea do not amount to a justification; and that the plea is argumentative.” Either of these reasons is sufficient to sustain the demurrer. The doctrine of pleading is too well settled on these points to require comment. The plea is liable to all the objections taken. The substantial part of the plea avers, that “ before the said first day of September, eighteen hundred and forty-five, at Calumet (the time and place of-the speaking) the plaintiff did have and keep in a certain house, which the plaintiff then and there occupied, a certain married woman by the name of S. D., who was a lewd woman, and the said S. D. did, while in the house of the said plaintiff, at divers and frequent times, commit the crime of fornication with one C. L. A., then and there being an unmarried man, whereupon the said defendant saitk that afterward, to wit, on the said first day of September, eighteen hundred and forty-five, he did speak and publish in the presence of William H. Blodgett and Jacob B. Atkins the following words, that is to say, ‘ You call George White a gentleman ; a man that allows whoring to be carried on in his house night after night in succession, and never takes any measures to put a stop to it. If such are your gentlemen, I wish to be delivered from the style and title as
The court below decided correctly in sustaining the de murrer to the plea. 1 Chitty’s Plead. 494.
On the trial, one John Hofscheldt testified on behalf of plaintiff, that among other things, he was present at a conversation, at the blacksmith shop of Mr. Jacob Atkins at Calumetville, between JEtufus P. Eaton, and Hr. Wm. H. Blodgett; that said Eaton appeared very much exasperated at certain proceedings had at a school meeting that day at which the said Blodgett presided; that said Eaton insisted that said Blodgett was not a legal voter. Said Blodgett said he knew nothing about the business; that he went into the meeting and a gentleman asked him to take the chair; that Mr. Eaton exclaimed, “What! do you call that a gentleman, a man who keeps a whore house day after day and night after night ? ” George W. Peatherstonaugh also testified on behalf of the plaintiff, and on cross-examination by defendant testified that soon after the commencement of the present suit, the witness, John Hofscheldt told him (at his request) the language used by the said Eaton at the'shop of Mr. Atkins, but said that the language used by Eaton was, “ He kept a whore house and would do it again.” On examination by defendant’s counsel, he was asked, “What was the character of the said John Hofscheldt for truth and veracity ? ” To this question the defendant’s counsel objected, for the reason that the witness Hofscheldt had not been impeached. The objection was overruled and the question answered. Error is assigned on this ruling of the court below. The defendant attempted in his cross-examination of the witness Peatherstonaugh to weaken or impair the testimony of the witness Hofscheldt and unquestionably the defendant had a perfect right, and it was his duty to the witness to
The question by defendant’s counsel is not embraced in either of these rules. It certainly does not seek to elicit any words of explanation given by defendant at the time of speaking the words ; nor does it tend to show that the words spoken were in reference to a transaction understood by and known to all the hearers, which was not criminal. If it has been proposed by defendant’s counsel to prove by all the witnesses who heard the speaking of
The defendant, by his counsel, .offered to prove on the trial by John J. Briggs, William McGee and Rev. Henry Coleman, “ that the plaintiff did allow criminal intercourse between Mr. .and Mrs. B — —, at his house with full knowledge of the facts, and without making any objection ; and further, the defendant offered to prove by the same witnesses that the above fact was charged against the plaintiff at an ecclesiastical trial of the plaintiff, had long before the alleged speaking of any slanderous words by the defendant, and upon that trial the plaintiff was found guilty of the above charge and was suspended from the ministry. And further, to prove that plaintiff boarded and supported one of the parties to this intercourse after it had taken place, and endeavored to elevate him to office.”
The court, upon objection being made, refused to permit the defendant to make such proof, deciding “that it would not justify the language used by the defendant, if proved; and that it could not be proved under the general issue.” The proof offered is justification if any thing, and cannot be received under the general issue. The court below decided correctly that the facts would not amount to justification if proven. There is no plea of justification in the case. The ruling was proper. 1 Chitty’ s Plead.