Case ID: ky_2/html/0068-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

AUGUST 13, 1801.
    John Wallace v. John Grant.
    
      Upon a writ of error to reverse a judgment of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Scott county.
    
    1. Words spoken of another which do not necessarily impute to him more than the commission of a trespass, are not actionable.
    2. Charging another with an intention to commit a felony is not .actionable.
    3. These words, to-wit: “ You are an insurgent; you have opposed and insulted the excise officer, and have encouraged others to do so; and you have, whilst an assembly man, threatened to raise men to help the Fort Pitt insurgents against the state's army by force of arms,’’ are not actionable.
   The only part of the slanderous words laid in the declaration in this suit, which can be thought actionable, is as follows, to-wit: “You are an insurgent; you have opposed and insulted the excise officer, and have encouraged others to' do so, and you have, whilst an assembly man, threatened to raise men to help the Fort Pitt insurgents against the state’s army by force of arms;” and it seems clear that the speaker meant to explain the first clause of this charge by those which follow it. But to oppose and insult an excise officer, and encourage others to do so, does not necessarily mean more than a trespass; and the charge of being guilty of a trespass is not actionable; nor is the charge of threatening to raise men to help the Fort Pitt insurgents actionable; because an evil intention can not be the ground of a criminal prosecution. Therefore, it is considered by the court, that the judgment aforesaid be reversed and set aside, and that the plaintiff recover of the defendant his costs in this behalf expended, which is ordered to be certified to the said court.