Campbell v. Campbell
Wisconsin Supreme Court
APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Outagamie County. This is an action for damages for speaking of- and concerning the plaintiff the words “ She is slow poisoning her husband,” thereby meaning that- she was feloniously and maliciously administering poison to her husband, a brother of the defendant, and then very sick, with the intent to kill and murder him.
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APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Outagamie County. This is an action for damages for speaking of- and concerning the plaintiff the words “ She is slow poisoning her husband,” thereby meaning that- she was feloniously and maliciously administering poison to her husband, a brother of the defendant, and then very sick, with the intent to kill and murder him. There was a verdict and judgment for the plaintiff; and defendant appealed from the judgment. 1. The court erred in admitting the evidence of the plaintiff as to who was referred to in the conversation testified to by her. Townshend on S.…
1Opinion of the CourtCassoday, J.
It is urged that the words spoken were not slanderous per se/ that their meaning could not be enlarged by innuendoes; and that, as there was- no proof of special damage, the verdict must be set aside as against evidence. j
It was held by Lord Holt, O., J., that the conrt “ woulii give no- favor to words, and would give satisfaction to them whose reputation is hurt; and would take words in a common sense according to the vulgar intendment of the bystanders. The rule <ie mitiori sensu is to be understood, where the words in their natural import are doubtful,'and equally to be understood in the…
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3Cited by21 opinions
- State v. ArmstrongSupreme Court of Missouri · 1891
- Keithley v. WoodIllinois Supreme Court · 1894
- Muetze v. TuteurWisconsin Supreme Court · 1890
- Earley v. WinnWisconsin Supreme Court · 1906
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