Case ID: ny-st-rep_32/html/0270-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Corlett, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Emily J. Ward, Resp’t, v. Benjamin S. Deane, App’lt.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth Department
    
    
      Filed June 19, 1890.)
    
    1. Libel — Evidence.
    Defendant published two libelous articles concerning plaintiff in his newspaper, and also on subsequent days two articles referring to a threatened action and demand for retraction, in which he stated that the previous publication was well founded. The complaint set out the first two articles in full and portions of two of the others. Held, that as all the articles, including one not set forth in the complaint, were published before the commencement of the action, related to the same subject and were substantially a repetition of the same charge, they were admissible in evidence on the question of malice.
    2. Same.
    Evidence of plaintiff’s character in the building where she lived is available only in mitigation of damages,and is inadmissible, unless pleaded.
    3. Same — Parties—Waiver of objection.
    It appearing on the face of the complaint that plaintiff was the wife of one W., and no objection having been taken by demurrer or answer, the objection to his nonjoinder was waived, and could not be taken advantage of on the trial.
    4. Same — Damages.
    In such an action it is not error to refuse to charge that plaintiff cannot recover for mental anxiety.
    Appeal by defendant from a judgment in favor of plaintiff entered in Chautauqua county.
    
      JE. R. Booiey, for app’lt; I<\ W. Stevens, for resp’t.
   Corlett, J.

In March, 1888, the defendant was the editor and publisher of the Morning News, a newspaper, in the city of Jamestown, having a large circulation. The plaintiff is the wife of James H. Ward, to whom she was married in February, 1881. She resided with her husband in Schenectady until they moved to the city of Jamestown in April, 1886, where they kept an art wall paper and artists supply store at Ho. 13 West Second street in the new Allen block. Their residence was at Ho. 11 of the same block. The family consisted of the plaintiff, her husband and Ethel Claire Ward, her step-daughter, who, at the time she went to Jamestown, was thirteen years of age. The plaintiff gave instructions in painting and drawing, for which she received compensation.

On the 8th of March, 1888, an article was published, in the defendant’s newspaper, which was a morning issue, headed, “ An Outrage.” It was to the effect that the plaintiff had improperly treated her step-daughter in depriving her of society, proper schooling and clothing, and beating her, subjecting her to drudgery and unreasonable labor, and also improperly treating her in ether respects. It purported to be based upon information derived from reliable sources. Another article to the same effect was published in the same paper in another column on the same day. On the 9th of March another article was published, headed “ A Bluff Pure and Simple,” which was to the effect that the defendant had been threatened with a libel suit, and that it would not withdraw the first publications, the substantial accuracy of which were based upon reliable data.

On the 12th of March another article was published headed r A Weakening Bluff,” which contained a communication signed by the plaintiff and her husband, written by B. A. Barlow, the [plaintiff's attorney, claiming great injury by the previous publicaItions, and asking a withdrawal of the charges. After inserting (this request, it stated in substance that the previous publications kvere well founded, that there would be no withdrawal or retraction, and that if vindication was desired resort must be had to the courts. On the morning of the 12th another article was published, entitled “ We Are Seven,” in which appeared a communication from seven ladies stating in substance that the articles previously published were not well founded and were unjust to the plaintiff, her husband and her daughter. This communication was commented upon at some length, to the effect that the ladies-labored under a misapprehension and that the previous articles, were well founded and inflicted no injustice.

The plaintiff brought an action to recover damages for libel. The complaint contains the first two articles in full and a portion of those published on the 9th and 12th, but the one containing-the letters from the ladies was not -inserted in the complaint. The answer admitted the publications alleged in the complaint,, denied malice and justified.

The cause was tried in May, 1889, before the court and a jury in iMayville, Chautauqua county. On the trial the first two-articles were read in evidence. That of the 9th of March, headed “An Outrage,” was offered in evidence by the plaintiff. Its reception was objected to by the defendant, because only a portion was set out in the complaint, and that it was not material to the issues. The objection was overruled and the defendant excepted, The plaintiff also put in evidence the. article entitled “A Weakening-Bluff," published on the 12th. The plaintiff offered in evidence the article headed “We Are Seven,” which was objected taon, the ground that it was not pertinent to the issues, was hearsay, and was not set out in the complaint. The objections were overruled, the articles admitted, and the defendant’s counsel excepted. The plaintiff was sworn as a witness on her own behalf, and she-was asked: “ What was your condition of health immediately prior to the publication of these articles?” This was objected to by the defendant on the ground that it was not proper evidence, that no damage could be given for such a cause, and that the plaintiff was not the proper party to recover such damages. The objections were overruled and the defendant’s counsel excepted.

The answer was: “ I was able to work from day to dajr, which I did.” The plaintiff’s counsel then asked: “ What was your condition of health after the publication of these articles?” to-which the defendant objected on the same ground. She answered “ I was prostrated by the shame and disgrace brought upon me.”’ The defendant asked to have the answers stricken out, which the-court refused, and the defendant excepted. The plaintiff then rested, and the defendant moved for a dismissal of the complaint on the ground that the cause of action was in favor of the husband, and that it should have been brought by him and that he should be joined with the plaintiff; second, that the wife could not maintain the action as sole plaintiff; that the articles were not libelous per se. The court denied the motion, to which the defendant’s counsel excepted.

Various witnesses were, sworn on the part of the defendant, their evidence tending to show improper treatment of the girl by the plaintiff. This was rebutted by witnesses on the part of the plaintiff, which included the girl. At the close of the evidence the defendant renewed his motion for the direction of a verdict on the same grounds. The court denied the motion ; the defendant. excepted. The,defendant also asked the court to charge that the plaintiff could not recover damages on account of ill-feeling or grief in mind, or loss of society. The court refused and the defendant excepted. The jury found a verdict of $475 for the plaintiff. No motion for a new trial was made, and the case comes before this court on exceptions.

The defendant contends that the court erred in admitting in evidence the articles not set out in full in the complaint; also the one no part of which was inserted. All the articles were published before the commencement of this action, related to the same subject, and were substantially a repetition of the same charge. They were, therefore, admissible on the question of malice. Fry v. Bennett, 28 N. Y., 327; Bush v. Prosser, 11 id., 360; Distin v. Rose, 69 id., 124; Bassil v. Elmore, 65 Barb., 627; Gott v. Pulsifer, 122 Mass., 235.

The objection that the action could not be maintained without, the joinder of the plaintiff’s husband, cannot be sustained. Section 488 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that the defendant may demur where the defect appears upon the face of the complaint, and § 498 provides that when such is not the case, the objection may be taken by answer. Section 499 provides that any objection not taken by answer or demurrer is waived. De Puy v. Strong, 37 N.Y., 372 ; Straus v. Tradesman’s Nat. Bank, 36 Hun, 451; Spooner v. D. L. & W R. R. Co., 115 N. Y., 22-30; 23 N. Y. State Rep., 554.

The fact that the plaintiff was the wife of James H. Ward appeared on the face of the complaint, and no objection having been taken by demurrer, it was not available on the trial.

The defendant’s offer to prove the character of the plaintiff in 'the building in which she lived was properly excluded. It was only available by way of mitigating damages, and should have been pleaded; besides, it is not claimed that the matters sought to be proved were known or believed by the defendant before publication. Hatfield v. Lasher, 81 N. Y., 246; Morey v. Morning Journal, 17 N. Y. State Rep., 266.

The defendant’s counsel asked the court to charge that the plaintiff could not recover for mental anxiety, etc. This was refused, and the defendant’s counsel excepted. The ruling of the trial court is sustained by the authorities. Hamilton v. Eno, 16 Hun, 599; affirmed, 81 N. Y., 116.

The other exceptions have been examined, but require no special comment. No errors to the prejudice of the defendant were committed by the trial court, and the judgment must be affirmed.

Dwight, P. J., and Macomber, J., concur.