Sloan v. Petrie

This was an action for slander, brought byPetrie against Sloan. The words laid in the declaration imputed the crime of perjury. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and a special plea of justification. On the trial, the plaintiff proved the speaking of the words, and the defendant offered evidence tending to sustain the justification. At the instance of the plaintiff, the court charged the jury, “ that the defendant having justified the speaking of the slanderous words, if the jury believe that the proof has failed to sustain that defence, such plea of justification is in. law an aggravation of…