Lally v. Emery — 36 N.Y. St. Rep. 294

Majority

p. 294

Peter J. Lally, App’lt, v. Jonas A. Emery, Resp’t.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Fourth Department,

Filed February 20, 1891.)

Headnote

1. Slandeb—Intent.

In an action for slander where the words spoken do not necessarily impute a crime or an attempt at a crime, the question of intent is for the jury.

2. Same.

In such an action where the plaintiff and defendant were United States soldiers and the words were spoken to a member of the same company, Meld, that the words were not absolutely privileged, and that the questions of good faith, belief in the truth of the statement and malice were for the jury.

Appeal from a judgment, entered in Jefferson county, dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint, with costs, and from an order-denying a motion for a new trial made on the minutes of the trial judge. The action was for slander. The plaintiff alleged the speaking of certain words of and concerning him by the defendant which were alleged to have been intended to charge the plaintiff with having committed the crime of rape, or attempting to commit that crime. Both the plaintiff and defendant were soldiers in the

p. 295

United States army, and the person to whom the words were spoken was a member of the same company with the defendant. On the trial the court held that the words alleged and proved were privileged, and dismissed the plaintiffs complaint.

Hannibal Smith, for app’lt; F. H. Peck, for resp’t

Whether the words alleged and proved to have been uttered by the defendant of and concerning the plaintiff were spoken with the intent to charge the plaintiff with the crime of rape, or of an attempt to commit a rape, was, we think, for the jury. Weed v. Bibbins, 32 Barb., 315 ; Upton v. Upton, 4 N. Y. Supp., 936 ; 21 N. Y. State Rep., 559.

We think the court erred in holding that the words alleged and proved were absolutely privileged, and in dismissing the complaint on that ground. Under the circumstances developed by the evidence in this case, the questions whether the defendant uttered the words proved in good faith, and without actual malice, were for the jury. If it were assumed that the words spoken were privileged, still the privilege, if any, was a qualified one, and if they were not spoken in good faith, or were uttered with actual malice, it would constitute no defense to the action.

Admitting that the court might properly have held that prima facie the speaking was privileged, yet the question of the defendant’s good faith, his belief in the truth of the statements made, and whether actual malice existed, were all questions for the jury.

In Klinch v. Colby ( 46 N. Y., 427 ), Judge Eolger, in speaking of the question of privileged communications, says: “ As a general proposition, it may be said that the question of whether a publication is a privileged communication is one for the jury. That is to say, the court may determine. whether the subject matter to which the alleged libel relates, the interest- in it of the defendant, or his relations to it, are such as to furnish the excuse. But the question of good faith, belief in the truth of the statement, and the existence of actual malice remains; although the court should hold that, prima fobcie, the communication was privileged. And this question is one for the jury.” The same doctrine was held in Hamilton v. Eno, 81 N. Y., 122 ; Byam v. Collins, 111 id., 143 ; 19 N. Y. State Rep., 581.

We are of the opinion that the case should have been submitted to the jury, and that the court erred in dismissing the complaint.

Judgment and order reversed on the exceptions and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.

Merwin, J., concurs.

In the opinion delivered in this case, when it was here on a former appeal (28 N. Y. State Rep., 127), it was assumed that the motive and intent of the defendant in using the' words proved were for the jury to ascertain upon all the evidence; that assumption is still applicable to the case, and, therefore, I join in a reversal.