Adams v. Lawson
Supreme Court of Virginia
*This was an action on the case for a libel in the Circuit court of Patrick county brought in Hovember, 1857, by William Lawson against Notley P. Adams.
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*This was an action on the case for a libel in the Circuit court of Patrick county brought in Hovember, 1857, by William Lawson against Notley P. Adams. The’ declaration after the usual colloquium set out the latter (omitting the references to the defendant and plaintiff), as follow: “Mr. William Lawson, I understand by one of the grand jury (meaning the grand jury that presented the defendant for perjury) that you appeared before the jury (meaning the said grand jury) and made oath, that at the farthest there was not more than eight trees cut in the two fields (meaning thereby the two fields…
1Opinion of the CourtJoyjstes, J.
The first question- to be decided in this case is that which arises upon the demurrer to the declaration. The ground of demurrer assigned in the petition is, that the innuendoes give a meaning to the letter upon which the action is founded which its language does not authorize. But we need not trouble ourselves with this question. Where the writing on its face relates to the plaintiff, and the words are libellous in themselves, the innuendo is unnecessary and may be rejected as surplusage. 4 Rob. Prac. 733, -and cases cited. T think this is a case of that sort.
It is not necessary to…
2Cited by16 opinions
- Johnson v. BrownWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1878
- Chaffin v. LynchSupreme Court of Virginia · 1887
- Hedgepeth Ex Rel. Hedgepeth v. ColemanSupreme Court of North Carolina · 1922
- Moss v. HarwoodSupreme Court of Virginia · 1904
- James v. PowellSupreme Court of Virginia · 1930
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