Haskins v. Lumsden
Wisconsin Supreme Court
APPEAL PROM CIRCUIT COURT, MILWAUKEE COUNTY. This was an action for libel, brought before the code took effect, by Joseph W. Haskins, against Samuel Lumsden, William G. Halpin, and Edward Kennibeck, for publishing a handbill, headed “Jackson Hadley ,” and addressed to "Democrats of the first district of Wisconsin, and Irishmen and Germans in particular,” which was published by the defendants the evening preceding the general election of 1856, at which election Hadley was a…
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APPEAL PROM CIRCUIT COURT, MILWAUKEE COUNTY. This was an action for libel, brought before the code took effect, by Joseph W. Haskins, against Samuel Lumsden, William G. Halpin, and Edward Kennibeck, for publishing a handbill, headed “Jackson Hadley ,” and addressed to "Democrats of the first district of Wisconsin, and Irishmen and Germans in particular,” which was published by the defendants the evening preceding the general election of 1856, at which election Hadley was a candidate in that district for member of Congress. The plaintiff counted upon that portion of the handbill which read as…
1Opinion of the Court
By the Court,
Dixon, C. J.
Although the appellant’s counsel makes several points in their brief, yet as only one was insisted upon in argument, and as the others seem clearly untenable, we shall dispose of the case with reference alone to the point argued. The question may be stated thus: Is evidence of the existence at and before the time of the publication of a libel, of public and common rumors and reports to the effect, that the plaintiff was guilty of that with which he was charged in the libel, which rumors and reports were before the publication communicated to the publishers, admissible…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Henson v. VeatchIndiana Supreme Court · 1825
- Bailey v. HydeSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1820
3Cited by5 opinions
- Earley v. WinnWisconsin Supreme Court · 1906
- Campbell v. CampbellWisconsin Supreme Court · 1882
- Eviston v. CramerWisconsin Supreme Court · 1882
- Delaney v. KaetelWisconsin Supreme Court · 1892
- Gagen v. DawleyWisconsin Supreme Court · 1916