West Memphis News, Inc. v. Bond

Grieein Smith, Chief Justice.

The action was for damages resulting from libelous matter written by Paul and John G. Coughlin and printed in West Memphis News, a weekly publication they own. The cause was transferred from Crittenden to Craighead County on a change of venue requested by the defendants. The plaintiff, C. H. Bond (who is County Judge) asked for $10,000 to compensate actual and punitive damages. Prom a judgment for $500 in his favor the publishers have appealed.

The defendants, admitting responsibility for the editorials in question, sought threefold avoidance: (1) All reasonable…