Ring v. Wheeler — 7 Cow. 725

Majority

p. 725

Ring against Wheeler.

ALBANY,

Oct. 1827.

Headnote

Words cr.arg“5,a w'lt.ness with perjury. uttered by a , party or his counsel, in the course of a trial, may or may not be actionable, accordingly as they were, or were not spoken maliciouuly, were or were not pertinent to the issue; as there was or was not color for making the imputation; or as they were or were not spoken with a design to slander the witness, &c.

The privilege of a party is the same on such an occasion as that of counsel. And if either of them speak slanderous words of a witness or party, impertinently and without proper cause, an action of slander lies.

A declaration, therefore, charging an imputation of perjury to have been, made in addressing referees by a party, upon the plaintiff, a witness in the cause against the party; and that it was made falsely and maliciously, the verdict being for the plaintiff, is good on motion in arrest ofj'udgment.

On a motion in arrest, for defects in a declaration, the court cannot look out of the record,

Motion in arrest of judgment, on the ground that several counts of the declaration, which contained 16 counts in

the whole, for verbal slander, were defective in substance.

except for the purpose of seeing whetner tile verdict may not he applied-to, and a judgment rendered upon good counts, though some are had. For this purpose only can the judge’s notes at the trial be used.

The 1st count charged, that, before the grievances complained of in the first seven counts, at a hearing before referees appointed by this court, in a cause wherein the present ^defendant was plaintiff, and Meach and Allendorf were defendants, the plaintiff in this-suit was examined on oath as a witness for the defendants;' that his' evidence was material to the issue; and that the plaintiff there, (the present ^defendant,) in addressing the referees while assembled for the purpose of hearing the cause, with intent to injure and defame the present plaintiff, falsely and maliciously published of the present plaintiff, and of the evidence given by him, these false, scandalous, malicious and defamatory words: “ The perjured scoundrel has- sworn that I had charged him with money, which he had handed me to" pay for him at the banks and elsewhere. This is false.” The 2d count charged, that in the hearing of the referees, while convened for hearing and examining the matters in controversy, and after the plaintiff had given material evidence before" them, the defendant, in the presence and hearing of them and others, said of the plaintiff and his evidence, “What he swore is false, and I can prove it.” The 3d count charged these words to have been uttered under similar circumstances: “ The facts the perjured villain has sworn to, are false, and I can prove it.” The 4th count, (with similar circumstances,) charged these words: “ I shall prove to you, that what he has sworn to is false.” The 5th count, (under similar circumstances,) charged these words to have been spoken of the plaintiff: “ That villain has perjured himself.” The 6th count, (charging similar circumstances,) was, “ The perjured villain has sworn to facts which I shall prove to you to be false.” The 7th count, (charging similar circumstances,) was, “ Yeti (the plaintiff meaning,) are a perjured scoundrel.” None of the counts except the first, charged the words expressly as having been addressed to the referees; and, after the first seven,

p. 726

none were questioned on the motion as defective. All .the first seven, however, stated the words to have been pronounced in the hearing of the referees, while they were convened for the purpose of hearing and examining the matter in controversy; and charged the words to have "been spoken falsely and maliciously.

A general verdict was found for the plaintiff at the Dutchess circuit, before Emott, 0. Judge ; a copy of whose notes were now produced by the plaintiff, to show that the evidence was applicable to the counts following the 7th; and it was insisted, that, if the other counts «should be considered bad, the verdict might be sustained, by this court so amending the postea, that it should apply to the good counts only. But it will be seen, by the opinion of the court, that they did not deem "it necessary to consider this branch of the case.

T. J. Oakley, for the defendant.

The question is, whether a man acting as counsel, or advocating his own cause, may speak harshly of a witness against him, the remark being pertinent to the cause. We contend that he is accountable at no tribunal other than the one which he addresses. Counsel should not be embarrassed by continually balancing in their minds, whether the remark he is about to make be slanderous or not. Suppose that in opening the case of a defendant, he tells the jury that a witness for the plaintiff has sworn falsely; that "he knows what he has sworn to be false; and will prove it to be so; are this court prepared to say, that an action of slander will lie, whether the remark be well or ill founded ? This is an ordinary occurrence. Yet was a witness ever known to "bring an action, and put the counsel to prove the truth of what he said in another place? Ought this to beso? Such a doctrine will present a very serious embarrassment in the trial of causes. If Mr. Wheeler had simply used the language suggested, there can be no pretence that he would have been liable. And shall he be so, because he saw fit to put the case in stronger language ? The rule of law cannot be changed by such a circumstance; and we think the autho

p. 727

rities will sustain this motion in arrest. Bul. N. P. 8, 10; 1 Bin. 178 ; 2 Burr, 807; Stark, on Slander, 207; Cro. Jac. 90; Anth. N. P. 182; 1 B. & A. 232, 236.

D. B. Tallmadge, contra.

It has generally been supposed by community, and still more generally by the profession, that the character of counsel protects him in making any charge ; and it is well that a case is before the court in which the question is to be settled. We concede that where counsel speak pertinently to their cause, they *are in general protected. Where there is probable cause, they may animadvert on witnesses and their testimony with much freedom. But we deny that a case can be imagined in which they may, falsely, wilfully and maliciously do this. Such is the charge in the seven first counts of the declaration; and the jury have found it to be true. Courts will not examine particularly. The rule is the same as in actions for' malicious prosecution. Probable cause is a protection. Counsel should keep themselves within the bounds of official duty. They are to examine the facts; and address the understanding of the court and jury in communicating these facts. They cannot go beyond this. The example put of opening counsel goes too far. The counsel impeaching the witness should qualify his address by referring it to instructions from his client. But even with instructions, I ask whether an action should not lie for calling a witness a perjured scoundrel ?

In this case the court will not take notice that the defendant was counsel. He does not appear to be so in any part of the declaration. He was a party ; and other counsel might have been engaged in conducting the cause for him. The privilege contended for should not be extended to a party, even if it belongs to counsel. If it be, all a man wishing to slander his neighbor has to do, will be to bring an action, call him as a witness, and then he may publish him to the world as a perjured scoundrel with perfect impunity.

Oakley, in reply.

The rule for which we conténd, was established with a view to secure freedom of discussion on

p. 728

trials at law. The words “ falsely and maliciously,” used in the declaration, are of no avail, if the facts set forth in the declaration rebut such epithets. The court will, I think, find the privilege for which we contend,, very well established, and very broad in its application.

The counts in the declaration charge the speaking of the words in various ways; and the weight of evidence, as derived from the judge’s notes, is, that they were spoken while the defendant *was summing up to the referees. There is, therefore, no sufficient ground for entering the verdict on any of the counts which state the speaking of the words without reference to the hearing.

The words proved are actionable in themselves, unless justified by the occasion and manner of speaking. If the 4th and 6 th counts are defective in substance, the evidence will warrant the application of the words to the 1st, 2d and 3d counts, which are indisputably good. There is, however, no necessity of confining the verdict to any one or more of the counts which charge the speaking before the referees. They are substantially the same.

The question then arises, whether these counts state a valid cause of action. It is proper to remark here, that as the judge’s notes can be looked into for the single purpose of ordering a judgment upon particular counts, their office is performed when that object is answered or denied. On the motion in arrest, we cannot look out of the record and are, therefore, not in a situation to determine whether the charge made by the defendant, was pertinent to the cause or not, or whether there was anything in the evidence given at the hearing, in the slightest degree to warrant or call for the imputation made. The defendant has placed himself under this disadvantage by omitting to put the facts constituting his defence upon record; and thereby presenting to the court a view of the whole ground. We cannot take notice of anything more than that, in the course of a trial before referees, after the plaintiff had testified, the now defendant made a charge amounting to perjury. Such, is the

p. 729

import of any .set of .these words when applied to testimony material to the issue. The declaration also shows, that the defendant was acting in the capacity of a party, he being -plaintiff in the cause: and perhaps we may -recoge nize him as a counsellor of .this court, (which is the fact,) although he is not stated to be so in the pleadings. But if acting as a party only, I consider that the privilege claimed for counsel equally attaches; apd therefore the emission is not material.

*1 think it follows, from this state of the cage, that in order to arrest the judgment, the court must be satisfied .that counsel are protected for words spoken by them .on the trial of a cause, although they may have been false, and uttered wilfully and maliciously, and were irrelevant; and although neither the evidence nor circumstances afford a •suspicion to warrant the accusation. Admitting, as I do, ■thegreat latitude allowable to counsel, which may frequently ■be .abused with impunity, I do not think the rule can legaly be carried to the extrayagant length, for which it .seems necessary the defendant should contend.

The rule, a? laid down by Buller in his treatise of the law of nisi prius, appears to be just .and reasonable. He observes, The defendant may, by way of justification, plead that the words were spoken by him as counsel in .a cause ; and that they were pertinent fo the matter in question.” (Bul. N. P. 10.) In Brook v. Montague, (Cro. Jac. 90,) the extent ¡of the privilege claimed was commented on, apd some print resolved. It is there laid down that, “.a counsellor hath a privilege to inforce anything which is informed him by his client, and fo give it in evidence, it being pertinent to the matter in question; and not to examine whether it be true or frise; for a counsellor is at his -peril, to give in evidence that which his .client informs him, .being pertinePt to the matter in question; but matter not pertinent to the issue, or the matter in question, he need pot deliver; for he is tp discern in his .discretion what he is -to deliver, and what not; and although i:t be false, he is excusable, it being pertinent fo the matter, But •if he give in .evidence anything not material to the issue,

p. 730

which is scandalous, he ought to aver it to be true; otherwise he is punishable; for it shall be considered as spoken maliciously, and without cause, which is a good ground for an action. The court further observe, “so if counsel object matter against a witness, which is slanderous, if there be cause to discredit his testimony, and it be pertinent to the matter in question, it is justifiable, what he delivers by information, although it be false.” The rule thus guarded and restricted, *is undoubtedly salutary, and necessary. In the case of M'Millan v. Birch, ( 1 Bin 178 ,) this doctrine was considered. It was there held that words spoken by a party in defence, are actionable, if he does not designedly wander from the point in question, for the purpose of uttering the slander.- Chief justice Tilgham observes, “ that if a man should abuse this privilege, and, under pretence of pleading his cause, designedly wander from the point in question, and maliciously heap slander upon his adversary, I will not say that he is not responsible in an action at law.” We are not called upon in this case, to decide upon the particular circumstances which took place at the hearing; whether they would or would not justify the defendant. They are not before us. There is no explanation. The jury found the defendant guilty; and we are to presume the law was correctly laid down by the judge. On this motion in arrest, we are not authorized to say, what does not, and cannot appear; that the words were not spoken maliciously, that they were pertinent to the issue, that there was color for making the imputation, and that they were not spoken with design to slander the plaintiff. In the absence of all this, the conclusion must be, that the words are actionable; and that the motion in arrest be denied.^[1] ,^[2] Motion denied,

(a) (a) In Wood v. Gunston, (Sty. 462,) Glyn, C. J., said, “If a counsellor speak scandalous words of one in defending his client’s causo, an action doth not lie .against him for so doing; for it is his duty to speak for his client; and it shall be intended to be spoken according to his client’s instructions.” But *731 in Hodgson v. Scarlett, (1 B. & A. 232,) Ld. Ellenborough said Wood v. Gunston carried the privilege too far; and he puls it upon the pertinency and good faith of the remarks, and allows such coloring as counsel may think justified by circumstances. Bayley, J., adopts Brook v. Montague, as laying down the true rule. The judges examine the circumstances, delivering their opinions seriatim; and the result of the case is, that “an action for defamation will not lie against a barrister for words spoken by him as counsel in a cause, pertinent to the matter in issue.”

[1] [1] See the observations made by Holroyd, J., in the case of Fairman v. Ives, 1 B. & A 645 In the case of Hodgson v. Scarlett, 2 B. & A., the same *731 learned judge observed, with a view to the due administration of justice, counsel are privileged in what they say; unless the administration of justice .is to be fettered, they must have free liberty of speech in making their observations, which it must be remembered may be answered by the opposing counsel, and are commented on by the judge, and are afterwards taken into consideration by the jury, who have an opportunity of judging how far the matter uttered by the counsel is warranted by the facts proved; therefore, in the course of the administration of justice, counsel have a special privilege of uttering matter even injurious to an individual, on the ground that, such a privilege tends to the administration of justice. And if a counsel, in the course of a cause, were to utter observations injurious to individuals, and not relevant to the matter in issue, it seems to me that he would not therefore be responsible to the party injured, in a common action for slander, but that it would be necessary to sue him in a special action on the case, in which it must be alleged in the declaration, and proved at the trial, that the matter was spoken maliciously and without reasonable and probable cause. This may be illustrated by the common case of a false charge of felony exhibits.' before a justice; of the peace: there an action upon the case, as for defamation, will not lie, because the slander is uttered in the course of the administration of justice; but the party complaining is bound to allege that it was made without reasonable or probable cause. I Starkie on Slander, pp. 254, 255, note (k.)

p. 731

Sutherland, J., not having heard the argument, gave no opinion.