Case Name: HENRY T. FIELDS v. THOMAS M. BYNUM
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1911-10-25
Citations: 156 N.C. 413
Docket Number: 
Parties: HENRY T. FIELDS v. THOMAS M. BYNUM.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 156
Pages: 413–419

Head Matter:
HENRY T. FIELDS v. THOMAS M. BYNUM.
(Filed 25 October, 1911.)
1. Issues Sufficient — Slander—Issues Approved.
When under the issues submitted tbe defendant has had opportunity to present evidence of any defense he has set up in his answer and has not been otherwise prejudiced, there is no reversible error. The issues in this action for slander approved.
2. Slander — Privileged Utterances — Interest — Justification — Good Faith — Manner.
To justify words alleged to have been slanderously spoken, and to bring himself within the protection which attaches to communications made in the fulfillment of a duty, the defendant must show something more than an honest belief in the truth of his utterances, for he must show that the communication was made in good faith on an occasion which justified his making it; and the manner in which it is uttered may take them out of the privilege.
3. Same — Presence of Others — Accusations.
When in an action for slander the defendant seeks to avoid civil liability upon the ground that the occasion was a privileged one, and it appears that the defendant sought the plaintiff and in the presence of other persons accused him of burning a certain mill in the operation of which the defendant had a certain interest, and charged him with burning another mill on same place previously, also saying to the plaintiff that his neighbors believed that'he burned it, the communication cannot be said to have been fairly and impartially made on a proper occasion, in a proper manner, which is necessary for the defendant to establish in order to make his plea available.
4. Slander — Pleadings—General Damages — Measure.
When general damages are sought in an action of slander for words spoken which are actionable per se, compensatory damages may be awarded which embrace compensation for those injuries which the law will presume must naturally, proximately, and necessarily result, including injury to the feelings and mental suffering endured in consequence; and it is not incumbent on the plaintiff to introduce evidence that he has suffered special damage in such instances.
5. Same — Malice—Intent—Punitive Damages.
When there is evidence tending to show slander actionable per se, as appears from the facts in this case, and general damage is alleged, it is also competent for the jury to award punitive damages in their, discretion, if they are satisfied by the greater weight of the evidence that the utterances were made from personal malice, with the design or purpose to injure the plaintiff, in a wanton or reckless disregard of his rights.
Appeal from O. II. Allen, J., at February Term, 1911, of Chatham.
Civil action for slander. These issues were submitted to the jury: . . . . . ■
. . . 1. Did tbe defendant speak to the plaintiff, in the presence and bearing of "Willie J. Bright and others, the words set out in paragraph 3 of the complaint, or words of the same substance? Answer: Yes.
2. Did the defendant speak to the plaintiff, in the presence and hearing of "Willie J. Bright and others, the words set out in paragraph 4 of the complaint, or words of the same substance and meaning? Answer: Yes.
3. Wbat damage, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover? Answer: $500.
From tbe judgment rendered, tbe defendant appealed.
Tbe facts are sufficiently stated in tbe opinion of tbe Court by Mr. Justice Brown.
H. A. London & Son for plaintiff.
W. P. Bynum, Hayes & Bynum, and Robert C. Strudwick for defendant.

Opinion:
BRowN, J.
1. Tbe defendant excepted to tbe issues and tendered two others. Those submitted have been practically approved by this Court in several cases. McCurry v. McCurry, 82 N. C., 296; Wozelka v. Heltrick, 93 N. C., 10; Rice v. McAdams, 149 N. C., 29.
. Under tbe issues submitted tbe defendant bad opportunity to present evidence of any defense set up in bis answer. Deaver v. Deaver, 137 N. C., 246.
2. Tbe defendant contends that tbe occasion when tbe words were uttered was a privileged one exempting him from civil liability for their utterance. Defendant tendered certain prayers for instruction presenting that view, which were refused.
We are of opinion that tbe occasion was not privileged and that the prayers were properly refused.
Tbe contention of tbe defendant is' that be bad a direct personal interest in tbe burning of tbe mill, although -it belonged to Buie, as be was engaged in sawing defendant's timber with it, and another mill bad been burned on tbe same site tbe June previous; that be sought tbe plaintiff in good faith to ascertain who burned tbe mill and in tbe discharge of a private duty in the prosecution of bis own interests.
We do not differ with'tbe learned counsel as to tbe law, but only in its application to tbe facts of this case. Tbe plaintiff's version of the facts is that tbe defendant came to bis residence and called him out, saying: "'You burnt tbe mill up last night.' I told him I did not. Jim Campbell, Norflus Barber, and Willie Bright were present. Defendant said be would blow my brains out if I opened my mouth; said I was tbe man that burnt it in June, 'and I know you did it.' I did not burn either mill." Several witnesses testified to plaintiff's good character. There was no evidence that his character was bad.
Defendant testifies: "I then asked him (the plaintiff) about trying to deed the timber to other parties after he had sold it to me; that I believed he had burned the mill, and that his neighbors believed it. I never charged him with burning the mill only as above stated."
In order to bring himself within the protection which attaches to communications made in the fulfillment of a duty, the defendant must show something more .than an honest belief in the truth of his utterance. He must show that what he said was a communication made in a sense of duty with the bona fide purpose of ascertaining the origin of the fire, and that it was made on an occasion which justified the making, of it. Dawkins v. Lord Paulet, L. R. 5 Q. B., p. 102; Newell on Slander, p. 477.
Then, again, where the expressions employed are allowable in all respects, the manner in which they are made public may take them out of the privilege.
In the case of spoken words the defendant must be careful in whose presence he speaks. While the accidental presence of a third person will not always take the ease out of the privilege, it is otherwise if the' defendant purposely selects an occasion where a number of persons are present. Odgers on Libel and Slander, 199.
It is generally held that answers to questions put by the plaintiff himself will in general be privileged, though made in the presence of third persons. Palmer v. Hammerstone, 1 Cab. and El., 36; Billings v. Fairbanks, 139 Mass., 66. But even in reply to plaintiff's questions the defendant is not protected by privilege if he repeats in presence of third persons charges of a slanderous character which he has previously made. Griffiths v. Lewis, 53 E. C. L., 61; Sanborn v. Fickett, 91 Me., 346; 18 Am. and Eng., 1032.
Assuming the communication to have been made in manner and form as testified by the plaintiff, it is manifestly not privi leged. And we think, taking- tbe defendant's version of the occurrence, it was not a privileged occasion.
The response was not elicited in reply to questions asked by plaintiff; nor is the inference justified that the defendant sought the plaintiff for the sole purpose of ascertaining the origin of the fire. Defendant put no questions to the plaintiff and asked for no information. According to defendant's own testimony, he did not ask plaintiff if he burned the mill, but at once charged plaintiff with attempting to sell timber which he had already sold plaintiff, and then substantially charged him with burning the mill. "I believe you burned the mill, and your neighbors believe it." "You know you burned the mill," etc. These are words of accusation and not those which should be used in an inquiry intended only to elicit the truth.
The defendant did not seek the plaintiff in privacy and demand to know what plaintiff had to say concerning the burning of the mill, but made the accusation openly in the presence of three persons.
"Confidential communications," says Mr. Newell, "must not be shouted across the street for all passers-by to hear." "lie should choose a time when no one else is by except those to whom it is his duty to make the statement." Page 477.
From all the evidence it cannot be inferred that the communication was fairly and impartially made on a proper occasion, in a proper manner, and without other defamatory matter. These are essentials to a privileged communication, especially where the matter communicated charges, as in this case, a felony. Newell, p. 477.
The cases strongly relied upon by the learned counsel for the defendant are Aycock v. Marsh, 30 N. C., 360, and Brown v. Hathaway, 95 Mass., 239. In the former the communication was in private and was in the strictest sense privileged, made, as held by this Court, in the performance of a high moral duty. In the latter the communication was made in the house of the plaintiff and in reply to inquiries put by plaintiff in presence of a police officer who accompanied the defendant for the purpose of searching the house for stolen goods.
Tbe Supreme Court of Massachusetts held that tbe circumstances surrounding it made tbe communication privileged.
3. Upon tbe issue of damage tbe defendant contended tbat there is no evidence upon which damage can be awarded, and further requested tbe court to charge: "It is incumbent on tbe plaintiff to show to tbe jury evidence tbat be has suffered damage before be can ask you to award any to him."
His Honor refused to give tbe instruction, and tbe defendant excepted. Tbe plaintiff asked for general damages and pleaded no special damages. General damages include actual or compensatory damages, and embrace compensation for those injuries which tbe law will presume must naturally, proximately, and necessarily result from tbe utterance of words which are actionable per se, such as tbe charge made in this case. Such damages include injury to tbe feelings and mental suffering endured in consequence. General damages need not be pleaded or proved. 18 Am. and Eng., 1081, 1082, 1083, and cases cited in notes.
General damages are sometimes called substantial damages, and are based upon tbe theory tbat it is competent for tbe jury to award, where tbe words are actionable per se, a figure which will fairly compensate tbe plaintiff for tbe injury sustained. Newell, p. 841. Tbe right to recover compensatory damage is in no way dependent on tbe existence of malice upon tbe part of tbe defendant. 18 Am. and Eng. Ene., p. 1089. General damages also include punitive damages, which a jury in proper cases may exercise their discretion in awarding. His Honor charged the-jury: "Tbat if, after considering this view of tbe evidence, tbe jury are satisfied by tbe greater weight of tbe evidence tbat tbe charge was made from personal malice, with tbe design and purpose to injure tbe plaintiff, or tbat tbe charge was made in such a manner tbat it showed a wanton and reckless disregard of tbe plaintiff's rights, tbe jury may, in addition to compensation, give exemplary or punitive damages, which is allowed as a kind of punishment, with a view of preventing similar wrongs in tbe future."
His Honor further charged that if the defendant was not actuated by malice the plaintiff can recover only compensatory damage. This is a clear and correct statement of the law. Odgers, p. 291; 18 Am. and Eng. Ene., p. 1091, and cases cited; Newell, p. 842.
The version of the occurrence given by plaintiff is sufficient evidence to be submitted to the jury as a basis for punitive damages.
No error.