Watson v. Hampton

OPINION of the Court, by

Ch. J. Boylt

This is a writ of error with supersedeas to a judgment in an action of slander. The only question is, whether the words, as laid in the declaration, are actionable.

The declaration consists of one count only, which the defendant in the action with having spoken of the plaintiff the following words, viz. “ that he, the said Thomas, hud sworn to a lie.” These words do not convey an imputation of the crime of perjury, and without such an imputation they are not in themselves actionable. A distinction is taken in the books between a charge of perjury, and a…