Underhill v. Welton
Supreme Court of Vermont
Case for slander. The first count in the declaration alleged that the defendant falsely and slanderously said that the plaintiff was a whore, and set forth as damages that by reason of such slander the plaintiff had “been injured in credit, suffered loss of character, loss of hospitality among friends, loss of peace of mind and health, and had been subjected to great distress in feeling, loss of time, and had been otherwise greatly injured.”
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Case for slander. The first count in the declaration alleged that the defendant falsely and slanderously said that the plaintiff was a whore, and set forth as damages that by reason of such slander the plaintiff had “been injured in credit, suffered loss of character, loss of hospitality among friends, loss of peace of mind and health, and had been subjected to great distress in feeling, loss of time, and had been otherwise greatly injured.” The second, count alleged the utterance of substantially the same slanderous words, and set forth, among other damages not of a pecuniary character, that…
1Opinion of the CourtPoland, J.
Words imputing unchaste conduct to an unmarried woman are not in this State actionable per se, because such conduct does not subject her to any criminal punishment. A charge of sexual connection with a married man, or a charge of unchaste conduct of a character that would amount to open and gross lewdness, would be actionable for the reason that either *42would subject her to corporal punishment for a crime involving moral turpitude.
In all those States where it has been held actionable to charge a single woman with a want of chastity, they have statutes against fornication, and these decisions…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Bradt v. TowsleyNew York Supreme Court · 1835
3Cited by3 opinions
- Barnett v. PhelpsOregon Supreme Court · 1920
- Nott v. StoddardSupreme Court of Vermont · 1865
- Hoar v. WardSupreme Court of Vermont · 1875