Shafer v. Ahalt
Court of Appeals of Maryland
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Frederick County. This was an action of slander instituted by the appellees against the appellant, for words spoken, concerning the appellee Jeannette, wife of the appellee John D. Ahalt, alleging that she had committed adultery with the defendant.
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Appeal from the Circuit Court for Frederick County. This was an action of slander instituted by the appellees against the appellant, for words spoken, concerning the appellee Jeannette, wife of the appellee John D. Ahalt, alleging that she had committed adultery with the defendant. The declaration alleged that in consequence of the slanderous charge, the plaintiff Jeannette had become sad and dejected in mind and enfeebled and languid in body, for a long space of time, during which time she suffered and underwent great pain and anguish, and was hindered and prevented from transacting her…
1Opinion of the CourtRobinson, J.
In suits for slander, pecuniary loss to the ■ plaintiff is the gist of the action. Whether it was necessary at first, to prove in all cases such pecuniary loss, it is not now necessary to inquire. The Courts at an early time, recognized a distinction between words actionable, and ivords not actionable in themselves. In the former, the law presumed. pecuniary loss, while in the latter, it was necessary in addition to the words, to prove special damage to the plaintiff. Whatever difficulty there may be in defining the precise line of demarcation between these actions, it is well settled, that…
2Cited by4 opinions
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