Murphy v. Harty

This is a libel action in which the plaintiff had a verdict and judgment for $10,000 compensatory damages. Defendant appeals.

Plaintiff is a former minister of the Baptist Church. Defendant, during the period involved, was clerk and later pastor of Hillcrest Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. The alleged defamatory statements are contained in two letters written and published by the defendant, one, under date of October 23, 1961, to Elder Charles Potter, Pastor of Gospel Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kansas, the other, under date of August 30, 1961, to John P. *231Saunders, Pastor of…