State v. Powell

This is an action for criminal libel under the provisions of sections 3869 and 3870 of the Revised Statutes of 1889, which, as far as they apply to the case at bar, are as follows:

“Section 3869. A libel is the malicious defamation of a person made public by any printing, writing, sign, picture,'representation, or effigy, tending to provoke him to wrath or expose him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or to deprive him of the benefits of public confidence and social intercourse, * * *,

*600" Section 3870. Every person who shall make or compose, dictate or procure the same to be done, or shall…