Winans v. Chapman

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Marshall, J.:

The, defendant appeals from a judgment against him for slander. The petition set out three causes of action; each charged that the defendant had spoken slanderous words of the plaintiff. In the first and second causes of action, the language used by the defendant accused the plaintiff of stealing chickens, and in the third, of stealing other personal property. Each charged the use of language that was actionable per se.

1. Complaint is made of the introduction of evidence on behalf of the plaintiff, tending to show the defendant’s wealth,…