Lansing v. Carpenter
Wisconsin Supreme Court
APPEAL PROM CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY. This is an action for libel brought under the code by Lansing against the defendants, as publishers of “ The Daily Wisconsin Patriot,” for publishing the following, which was set out with innuendoes, applying the article to the plaintiff: “Old Habeas Corpus Lansing” — “ Old Lansing” — “Old blear-eyed toady, and supe to the Forty, is a creation of Judge Collins; and Judge Collins was supported by the Journal, Jlrgus, and Forty Thieves…
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APPEAL PROM CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY. This is an action for libel brought under the code by Lansing against the defendants, as publishers of “ The Daily Wisconsin Patriot,” for publishing the following, which was set out with innuendoes, applying the article to the plaintiff: “Old Habeas Corpus Lansing” — “ Old Lansing” — “Old blear-eyed toady, and supe to the Forty, is a creation of Judge Collins; and Judge Collins was supported by the Journal, Jlrgus, and Forty Thieves generally.” “It is intimated that Lansing will let off all witnesses who are sentenced for contempt by either house of…
1Opinion of the Court
*542 By the Court,
Paine, J.
The order in this case must be affirmed, as the publication complained of is clearly libelous. The counsel for the appellants seemed to assume, on the argument, that in order to constitute a libel, the publication must impute a crime, or charge something, which, if uttered verbally, would have been actionable in itself as slander. But the distinction between slander and libel, in this respect, is well established; and it is settled that an action for a libel may be sustained for words published which tend to bring the plaintiff- into public hatred, contempt or ridicule,…
2Cited by7 opinions
- Bradley v. CramerWisconsin Supreme Court · 1884
- Smith v. UtleyWisconsin Supreme Court · 1896
- Singer v. BenderWisconsin Supreme Court · 1885
- Gottbehuet v. HubachekWisconsin Supreme Court · 1875
- Logan v. . HodgesSupreme Court of North Carolina · 1907
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