Woods v. Sentinel-News Co.

When language claimed to be libelous does not carry a sense supporting the meaning alleged and is not reasonably capable of conveying to the ordinary mind a defamatory meaning, it cannot be the basis of a right to maintain an action. It is the duty of the court in the first instance to determine whether the meaning ascribed by the pleader to the words set forth in the complaint is a natural and proper one, and if it is not, then the complaint must fall. Lubcke v. Teckam, 179 Wis. 543, 191 N. W. 968; Scofield v. Milwaukee Free Press Co. 126 Wis. 81, 105 N. W. 227; Robertson v. Edelstein, 104…