Sheely v. Biggs
Court of Appeals of Maryland
Appeal from Frederick County Court. It was an action ©f Slundcr, and the declaration stated, that the plaintiff, (now the appellee,) was a good, true, honest, and faithful citizen, and had always lived free and wholly unsuspected of and from all manner of peijury, &c. yet the defendant, • (the appellant,) maliciously intending to injure the plaintiff" in his good name, and to bring him into public scandal, ignominy and disgrace, and to subject him to the pains and penalties,…
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Appeal from Frederick County Court. It was an action ©f Slundcr, and the declaration stated, that the plaintiff, (now the appellee,) was a good, true, honest, and faithful citizen, and had always lived free and wholly unsuspected of and from all manner of peijury, &c. yet the defendant, • (the appellant,) maliciously intending to injure the plaintiff" in his good name, and to bring him into public scandal, ignominy and disgrace, and to subject him to the pains and penalties, by the laws amt statutes of this state, made and provided against those who are guilty of false sweating, on, &c. spoke…
1Opinion of the Court
Chase, Ch- L
delivered the opinion of the cgyrt. There are some principles well established in actions of slander,, which govern the court In determining this pase.
First. No words are actionable unless they impute a crime to the plaintiff, which subjects liim to punishment, 5 Bill. Com. 123. Holt vs. Scholefield, 6 T. R. 691, 694.
Secondly. The office of the innuendo is to explain doubtful words, where there is matter sufficient ip the declaration to. maintain the action; and if the words in them» sélves are not actionable, their meaning cannot be extended by it to make them actipnqble, Holt…
2Cited by2 opinions
- Fowle v. RobbinsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1815
- Hackett v. Providence Telegram Publishing Co.Supreme Court of Rhode Island · 1894