Finnish Temperance Society Sovittaja v. Finnish Socialistic Publishing Co.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Tort for libel. Writ dated December 1, 1913. In the Superior Court the action was referred to an auditor, whose findings of fact were “to be final as [to] all matters except the truth or falsity of the alleged libellous articles and the matter of malice in the publication thereof and as to the damage, if any, to the plaintiff.” The description by the auditor in his report of the plaintiff corporation and of its activities is given in the opinion.
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Tort for libel. Writ dated December 1, 1913. In the Superior Court the action was referred to an auditor, whose findings of fact were “to be final as [to] all matters except the truth or falsity of the alleged libellous articles and the matter of malice in the publication thereof and as to the damage, if any, to the plaintiff.” The description by the auditor in his report of the plaintiff corporation and of its activities is given in the opinion. As to the circumstances of the publishing of the alleged libels, the auditor found as follows: “The writer of the two letters, one Bjorldund who was…
1Opinion of the CourtBraley, J.
The defendants, to which we shall severally refer as the socialistic company and the publishing company, are charged with defamation of the plaintiff, a corporation without capital stock, organized under R. L. c. 125, §§ 1, 2, “for the pur*350pose of promoting temperance and morality in this Commonwealth, and of owning, establishing and maintaining a place for a reading room and library and for social meetings of its members.” It owns and occupies a building in the city of Worcester, fitted with a bowling alley and halls, gymnastic equipment, a small library of plays and Finnish books, and rents…
2Cases cited29 opinions
- Louisville, Cincinnati, & Charleston Rail-Road v. LetsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1844
- Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad v. QuigleySupreme Court of the United States · 1859
- Burt v. Advertiser Newspaper Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1891
- National Bank v. GrahamSupreme Court of the United States · 1880
- Reporters' Ass'n of America v. Sun Printing & Publishing Ass'nNew York Court of Appeals · 1906
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- Merrimac Chemical Co. v. MooreMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1932
- Comerford v. MeierMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1939
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