The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
HOUSE PASSES LIBEL BILL.
WOULD MAKE SLANDER OR IL
BEL A NISDEMEANOR.
Bill Brought Over from Last Session
OF Legislature, After Considerable
Debate Passed and Referred to
Senate Arguments for and
Against, Showing Possible Results
Provisions OF Bill.


Representatives today took up for
consideration Mr.. Halls bill making |
it misdemeanor to originate and
publish certain slanderous and Ii |
bellous matter. This bill came over
from last year, and the House COM
mittee amended the bill materially
at the last session, but the bill was
ing bill, and as amended was consid-
cred this morning.
Mr.. Kibler and Mr.. Doar thought
the bill should be recommitted or
printed.
Mr.. Brice explained that the origi-
nal bill applied to campaign SANDERS,
and explained that the bill as amend
ed sought to provide criminal prose-
cution for the uttering of a slander
or slanderous statement. The idea of
the amendment was to make a GRIM
! inal offence Of the "uttering"-not
publication-of slanders. The bill
as amended was not applicable to
! newspaper publications.
! Mr.. Nicholson held that the bill
was useless and cited authorities to
show that it was an unwise measure
and had better not be adopted
! Mr.. Osborne held that there was
| absolutely no criminal remedy
against the low and utterly worth
less slanderer. There is no law now
to do anything against men and wo-
men who have been slandered. He
always thought there was such a
law, but found that there was no
such statute. If there is no legisla-
ton to stop the slanderer, by word of
mouth there will be more trouble.
Usually the worthless and trifing
fellow is the one who goes around
slandering folks, and the bill is ia
tended to reach such folks criminal
ly.
Mr.. Rembert said it was a direct
criminal offence to impugn the chas-
tity Of a woman. You can say any
thing about mans character all
you want, and the only recourse is
to civil proceedings. He would new
er vote to give newspaper more
ought to be passed There is no re-
dress, because most slanderers can
not be sued in the hope Of getting
Ave cents.
Mr.. Magill was satisfied that there
was a general demand for such a
bill, that is making it crime to
publish" verbal slander. A man
who will slander you Is worse than
a rogue and yet there is no criminal
: offence against such slanderers.
Mr.. Kibler said he was no lawyer
but he thought the bill in spirit was
wrong. 1t will lead to endless trou.
BILE. 1t will choke the Courts and
the penalty is too severe. He did mol
believe it wise to encourage contin-
uous litigation. The bill is a fine
thing to encourage candidates stop
j ping people telling the truth.
s Mr.. Stanley, Of Horny, could no
:. think Of a better measure 1t fills thu
= conditions Of the rural communiti
: and the bill was needed.
= Mr.. Smith, Of Colleton, favored
bill on the ground that it was in
g line Of protecting character and
n guarding the best citizenship.
Mr.. Kirkland, Of Camden, s:
= bill was the most unwise ]:
e could be passed. This bill
, a Pandora's box. The con- I'll
v / is expressive Of the wisd' .mC
s : world. He advocated al )m
0 that commended itself pr
n he was fearful Of limo hin
Il bill referred to spoken Vation.
e y this meant too much words
h = but it was not definit or too
Islander has never be The r
hecause II cannot be en indictat
will, load 70 obnoxi fixed. TIL,
1EIe was absolutely persecut
I I:a, against the tra opposed to the
! 'of the state. ana his
: Mr.. Hines, Of
:. al e Jill and sale ,,.,'r' fave
oe eu done bef o IL mad n,
.ofe was no
4 WI ~ "a thing $ ,o,,,, "o rea
Th is bin put @ 49, nv" ne dc
va rni ing aga inst -. eo Nag
.M, . uous INST the slanderer.
rec On unit he bin. 90 not
! 1 hp HD1sso tn.