Hotz v. Alton Telegraph Printing Co.

Appellants, as plaintiffs, filed their complaint against appellees, as defendants, for damages for publishing in the editorial column of a newspaper, two articles alleged to be libelous. Motion to dismiss the complaint was sustained. After the court ruled the plaintiffs to “plead over,” they elected to stand by their complaint. The suit was dismissed, with judgment for defendants in bar of the action and for costs. From this judgment, plaintiffs have appealed to this court.

The chief issue in the case is whether the allegations in the article or articles, either or both considered together,…