Williams v. Cawley
Supreme Court of Alabama
Error to the Circuit Court of Covington. Tried before the Hon. Nathan Cook. To show that the court erred, the plaintiff makes the following points, and sustains them by the authorities cited: 1. Slander consists in the false and malicious charge made, •.of. crime ignominiously punished.
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Error to the Circuit Court of Covington. Tried before the Hon. Nathan Cook. To show that the court erred, the plaintiff makes the following points, and sustains them by the authorities cited: 1. Slander consists in the false and malicious charge made, •.of. crime ignominiously punished. Unless the expressions; or words used, convey to the minds of the by-standers the impression that a charge of crime is made against the person of whom the words are spoken, no action will lie. How are we to ascertain then when the words charge crime, unless the impression made upon the minds of by-standers can…
1Opinion of the CourtDargan, C. J.
This was an action of slander, in which the defendant was charged with having spoken of the plaintiff in the following words: “You did steal money from the county ■treasury.” The cause was tried on the general issue, and the testimony tended to show the speaking of the words by the defendant, and also, that at the speaking them, they were explained by the defendant to have reference to an illegal allowance of money, made to the plaintiff by the commissioners’ court of the county, previous to the time the words were uttered. The defendant offered to prove what allowance of money had been made…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Smith v. MilesSupreme Court of Vermont · 1843
- Dexter v. TaberNew York Supreme Court · 1815
3Cited by6 opinions
- Ferdon v. DickensSupreme Court of Alabama · 1909
- Advertiser Co. v. JonesSupreme Court of Alabama · 1910
- Sternau v. MarxSupreme Court of Alabama · 1877
- Wright v. LindsaySupreme Court of Alabama · 1852
- Lee v. CrumpSupreme Court of Alabama · 1906
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