Case ID: scl_13/html/0248-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Richardson\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael P. Walsh ads. The State.
    If it be not necessary to set out the words in a libel literatim, yet atleasiit must be set out in intelligible language, shewing the sense and meaning oi'the words. And where the words laid were “ worse that the lowest vagabonds, &c.” and the words proved were “ worse than the lowest vagabonds,” the court granted a new trial.
    IN this case the indictment imported to set forth the words, according to the substance, and not according to the tenor of the libel. The words set forth were as follows, “ you are, without exception, the meanest man and the greatest rascal-I ever came across or heard of; you are worse that the lowest vagabonds, &c.”
    But the libel offered in evidence contained the words as follows : “ You are, without exception, the meanest man and the greatest rascal that I ever came across, or heard of; you are worse than the lowest vagabonds, &c.”
    The court charged the jury that the same strictness of proof was not required, nor the same variance fatal, wheré the indictment set forth the libel according to the substance that is required, or would be fatal, where the libel is set forth according to the tenor.
    The jury found the defendant guilty.The defendant moved the Constitutional Court for a new trial, upon the ground of misdirection of the court, and in arrest of judgment, upon the ground that the indictment should set forth the libel according to the tenor, and not according to the substance,
   Mr. Justice Richardson

delivered the opinion of the court.

The question made in this case is when a count sets forth a libel, not by the tenor, which word presupposes a correct copy of the libel, but merely by the substance, whether such substance, i. e. the sense and meaning of the libel, must not be still set forth and exhibited in the very Words, i. e. in correct verbal extracts taken from the body t>f the libel itself, or may it he done in any other synonimous language, which,- although differing in words, yet preserves the senSe and meaning of the libel.

Gregg, for the motion.

Jeter, Sol. contra.

I am much inclined to the opinion that whether the libel be set forth according to the tenor or the substance, still the libellous matter must be made to appear from, the very words of the libel ; for if these do not appear, how could the defendant take the judgment of the court, whether the words he had written or published constituted a libel or not; and how could he plead a former acquittal in law', of a second prosecution ? (See 3 Barn. &c. Auld. Wrights vs. Clement, 503. Starkie 304, 234, 319. 1 Chitty, Crim. Law, 234, 169, 173. 1 Doug. 193. )

But as it is unnecessary, no final opinion is given upon that question.

The libel must be set forth, if not literally, at least by intelligible language, showing the sense and meaning of the libellous matter. But what sense similar to that expressed in the plain libel, worse than the lowest vagabonds, &c.” can be found in the words, worse that the lowest vagabonds?” Iri the latter sentence, we have merely an unmeaning collocation of words in the place of a very intelligible and libellous charge.

The libel therefore being set forth neither literally in its own words, nor substantially by its sense, a new trial-is granted.

Justices Colcock and Nott, concurred.