Linney v. Maton

13 Tex. 449

Opinion

Wheeler, J.

It must be admitted that, according to the great weight of authorities, the slanderous words charged in the petition, are not actionable at the Common Law, without the proof of special damage. 66 It is now too late (said Ch. J. u Savage, in Bradt v. Towsley) to interrupt the current of au- “ thority adjudging that words charging a female with lewd-6i ness are not actionable, though it is very palpable that the “ presumption of damage is quite as strong as in any case “ in which it is presumed. For instance, damage is presumed “ if one charges a clergyman with intemperance or profligacy, ie because they tend to his temporal damage. So a charge of 66 dishonesty in a lawyer, bankruptcy in a merchant, ignorance 66 in a physician, and many other cases ; but where a charge u of want of chastity is made against a female, which has a “ tendency to destroy her character and prospects in life, no “ action lies unless she can prove special damage. The Courts ci have long regretted that they had not authority to judge differently ; they have not the power; and legislators have not “ the inclination to do justice to injured female innocence. “ The Courts, sensible of the injustice of the law in this re- “ spect, have shown an inclination to lean in favor of such “ plaintiffs; and any damages, however slight, have been held “ sufficient to sustain the action.” (13 Wend. R. 254.)

In some of the States this reproach of the Common Law has been effaced by legislative interposition. (2 Bailey, 115; Litt. Sel. Cas. 187.) And that we have not had similar legislation is, doubtless to be ascribed, not to the cause imputed by Chief Justice Savage, but to inadvertence. The attention of the Legislature has not been called to the subject. The Courts would doubtless go as far, as any warrant can be found in the law, in holding, that “ any damage, however slight, will be sufficient to maintain the action.” What will be sufficient, has been the subject of frequent adjudication. But it is not necessary further to consider the subject here, than to ascertain whether the loss of a marriage engagement will be sufficient. This question was considered and determined by the Supreme Court of Hew York in the case of Baker v. Moody, (5 Cowen, R. 351,) and it was there held, by a majority of the Court, that an action will lie for words not actionable in themselves, in consequence of which a marriage contract between the plaintiff and another was violated by the latter; though the plaintiff had an action against the latter for the breach of the contract.

The remaining ground urged in the support of the demurrer, would have been entitled to more consideration, had it been taken by exception in the Court below. Though the general averment that the slanderous words were “ published,” without averring that they were uttered, or spoken in the presence and hearing of any one, might not be sufficient, if the petition had been excepted to on the ground that the publication of the words was not sufficiently averred, yet we think it sufficient on general demurrer.

The view which we entertain of the merits of the case, upon the evidence, will dispense with the necessity of considering particularly the other questions raised by the assignment of errors.

It appears from the evidence that the father of the plaintiff, and the defendant were engaged in an angry and excited controversy. Their quarrel was so loud and angry as to induce a witness at a distance to run np, as he said, expecting to see a fight. During this quarrel, the plaintiff1 interposed, calling the defendant a negro; and it was upon this, the witness, her father, states that the defendant uttered the slanderous words for which the action is brought. But another witness, and it seems, the only dispassionate witness of the dispute and quarrel, did not hear, and when appealed to at the time, stated he did not hear the words imputed to the defendant; though he did hear the epithet applied by the plaintiff to the defendant, and other opprobrious epithets used by the defendant. The defendant at the time positively denied using the words, , and the witness did not hear them; though he testified distinctly to having heard the language used by the plaintiff, which seems to have provoked them. It is quite certain that, if the defendant did use the words ascribed to him, he instantly retracted them ; they were uttered when under the excitement and heat of passion; in a bandying of epithets which seems to have been begun by the plaintiff herself; retorted without time for reflection, while smarting under the lash of the tongue, repelling, in kind, an assault of the tongue. Under such circumstances, can it be supposed that the words were used with any reference to the character of the plaintiff for chastity; or that it was even thought of; or that the plaintiff or her father for a moment really believed the words were used with the intention or design of affecting her reputation in the community. Such language used to a female, upon any provocation, however great, shows the defendant to have been shamefully de void of a sense of decency, and even self-respect; but, under the circumstances, it is far from showing an act of wilful, deliberate slander. But it seems the father, under the influence of passions excited by his quarrel with the defendant, immediately held a consultation with the parents of the intended husband ; and it was resolved by these three persons, even before the provocation was known to the son, that it would not be proper for the intended marriage to take place, “ in consequence of the slanderous words spoken,” until the matter was u cleared up.” And what was there then which it was so important to have cleared up, as that such consequences must ensue ? No slanderous report had been put in circulation. 'No shade had been cast upon the young lady’s reputation. That was as fair, and it seems, notwithstanding the publicity, which those having charge of it, have given to the quarrel, continues as fair as before. The words, if uttered, had been instantly retracted: no one one else had heard them: and, since their publication by the parties themselves, no one has ever believed them; or suffered them to influence their conduct towards the lady; except the intended husband; whose conduct it was necessary should be influenced in order to sustain a suit for damages: and whose conduct, therefore, was determined upon for him, before it was made known to him. It having been determined by the parents that the marriage must be suspended, until the matter was “ cleared up,” the mother communicated the words spoken to her son; and he, as a dutiful son, although, as he testifies, not himself believing them, and knowing they were not believed by any one else, or Indeed known out of the family, “ broke off the marriage:” Ms father became next friend of his intended bride in bringing the suit; and he, the son, thought they might yet marry, after the charge was “ cleared up by a decree of the Court.” And, upon this testimony, and such a state of case, the matter was, accordingly, cleared up, by a verdict and judgment for the plaintiff for a thousand dollars damages. The conduct of the parties, in first giving publicity to the slander, and then making it the ground of violating the most solemn and sacred of all personal engagements, a marriage contract; when it had not, and but for themselves never would have obtained publicity or been known even to the party, who, it is alleged, was thereby induced to break off his engagement, is, to say the least of it, very remarkable. If a key had been needed to solve any apparent mystery in so strange and unnatural a procedure, it might have been found in the testimony of Mrs. Hardin; who testified that, on the morning after the quarrel, the plaintiff stated that she was advised by Mr. Brashear (the name of the father of her intended husband, who sues as her next friend) to bring a suit for ten thousand dollars; that she preferred his property to certain other terrible revenge which she spoke of, and that she intended having his cattle branded with her brand. If the conduct of the parties, was extraordinary, it must be conceded of the finding of the jury, with this exposition of the motive which actuated the parties in bringing the suit, and under the charge of the Court, which sufficiently indicated the apprehension of the presiding Judge, that such was the motive, that the verdict, is, perhaps, entitled to be considered as extraordinary, as anything which has often occurred in the history of judicial proceedings. The jury were probably influenced to find for the plaintiff by their sense of the shamelessness and enormity of using such language to a female. But they seem not to have duly considered for what purpose, and to what end it is that the law has given this action ; or to have viewed, in its true light, the conduct and motives of the party plaintiff. To add comment upon the testimony would be an ungrateful task: it might do injustice to those who appear to have been mislead by the misguided counsel of others, whose seniority, and sense of paternal duty, should have taught them more discretion. It will suffice to say, that it is difficult to resist the conviction, that the counsel which prevailed, was dictated more by a spirit of vindictiveness, or cupidity, or both, than by a just sense of paternal regard and duty, or a desire to vindicate the claims of injur ed innocence, and to obtain redress for real or supposed injury done to the fair reputation of the plaintiff; that it was as reckless of the best interests of those who were governed by it, as it was in every point of view, injudicious and unwise: and that the suit was as malicious, as it was unfounded and causeless.

If the defendant had really been guilty of uttering or giving publicity to a wilful, deliberate slander, of so grave a character as that charged, there are scarcely any damages, which an unprejudiced jury would give, which the law would deem excessive. But to permit a verdict, for any amount, to stand, which perverts the beneficent principles, and the process of the law, to such purposes, as the record in this case discloses, would ill comport with the character of a Court of Justice. There is a salutary principle of law and justice, which will avert such a consequence. That is, that if slanderous words spoken are immediately retracted, in the same conversation, and in the hearing of all who heard them spoken; so as to show that the speaker meant no imputation, and to leave none on the minds of the hearers, it does not amount to slander, and no action can be maintained. (Trabue v. Mays, 3 Dana, 138.) There can be no question that such was the case in this instance. The use of the words was denied by the defendant, the moment he was accused of having used them. If uttered, they were instantly retracted. The injury, if any has resulted, was not occasioned by the speaking of the words; but by the folly and wrong of attempting to convert them into a legal weapon to wreak vengeance upon another. The verdict was manifestly against law and evidence, and should have been set aside. The judgment is therefore reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.