108 Mo. App. 223 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1904
(after stating the facts). —
4. The libelous matter charged in the second count of the petition is not contained in the body of the article taken from the “Iron Age,” but is contained in the following italicized headline of the article, to-wit: “Mr. Crooked K. Beifsnider gets it in the neck again.” The petition, by innuendo, undertakes to apply these words to plaintiff by alleging that Reifsnider was the responsible manager of plaintiff’s business and the editor of its journal.
In Naulty v. Bulletin Co., 206 Pa. St. 128, it is said: ‘ ‘ The purpose of an innuendo is to define the defamatory meaning which the plaintiff attaches to the words; to show how they come to have that meaning and how they relate to the plaintiff. But it cannot be used to introduce new matter, or to enlarge the natural
In Bundy v. Hart, 46 Mo. 460, it is said: “It is not the office of an innuendo to make averments, but to apply the words or. explain their meaning. ’ ’
In Hudson v. Garner, 22 Mo. 1. c. 426, quoting Chitty, it is said: “An innuendo is only explanatory of some matter already expressed; it may apply to what is already expressed, but cannot add to or enlarge or change the sense of the previous words.”
There is no covert meaning in any of the words used in the headline. They are not ambiguous and do not require an innuendo to explain thé meaning of any pf them or to apply them. Any ordinary reader can understand them. They charge Reifsnider with being-“crooked,” that is, dishonest. If Reifsnider and the-plaintiff corporation were one and the same person, or if the general public, when it heard the name of Reifsnider mentioned in connection with “Farm Machinery,” understood the plaintiff corporation was referred to and not Reifsnider individually, these facts might possibly, have been alleged and proven, but it was not so alleged nor was any evidence offered showing or tending to show that Reifsnider is the corporation. Nor was it alleged or shown under the evidence that at the mention of the name of Reifsnider in connection with “Farm Machinery,” it was understood by the general public that the corporation was referred to. The publication itself and the evidence show that the libel was of and concerning Reifsnider individually. ■If so, then the plaintiff was not the proper party to-bring suit, although it may have been indirectly injured by the publication of the libel. We think the instruction in the nature of a demurrer to the evidence on the second count should have been given, and conclude that the judgment on the first count should be affirmed but that the judgment on the second count should be reversed and it is accordingly so ordered. All concur.