Scott v. Fletcher

Dec 6, 1809
Reporters:
Before:
Overton

Lead Opinion

Appeal. — Case for malicious prosecution. In questions of tort, or quasi tort, where the injury alleged is doubtful, character may be given in evidence. The ‍‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍injury, either wholly or in some degree, must depend upon intention, and, to ascertain this in doubtful cases character becomes a material ‍‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍inquiry.1

Upon this point POWEL, J., doubted.

HUMPHREYS, J., having been employed, was absent.

STEWART, arguendo, admitted that depositions taken in the County Court, and used there, ‍‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍might be used here without proof of notice.

Notes

Addendum

after argument, stated that copies of depositions used in the court below cannot be read ‍‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‍here. The originals should have been sent up under seal.

Notes