Ewell v. Boutwell

This is an action for common law libel, in which the trial court sustained a demurrer to the second count of the declaration and gave judgment for the defendants. The original declaration also contained a count for insulting words, under the Virginia statute, but upon motion of the plaintiff that count was struck out and he relied solely upon the second count of his declaration.

Omitting the formal introduction, it reads thus: “That before the committing of the grievances by the said defendants, as hereinafter set forth, he had been elected by the duly qualified voters of Princess Anne county,…