3 Wend. 395 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1829
By the Court,
What may be offered in mitigation of damages in actions of slander and for libels, was much considered in the case of Root v. King, (7 Cowen, 613,) and it seems to be there settled, “ that the defendant in such actions, if he has not attempted to justify the charge, may prove under the general issue, by way of' excuse, any thing short of a justification which does not necessarily imply the truth of the charge or tend to prove it true, but which repels the presumption of malice.” The defendant here offered, with a view to mitigate damages to prove that the plaintiff, Mrs. Wormouth, was in possession of the property alleged
New trial denied.