Case Name: COOKE v. O'BRIEN
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1879
Citations: 6 F. Cas. 438
Docket Number: 
Parties: COOKE v. O'BRIEN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 6
Pages: 438–438

Head Matter:
Case No. 3,177.
COOKE v. O'BRIEN.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 17.]
Slander — Evidence in Mitigation or Damages.
Mr. Jones, for plaintiff,
objected, but THE COURT (Dem. con.) permitted the evidence to be given. See Peake, Ev. (2d. Am. Ed.) 287.
Mr. Key and Mr. Law, for defendant.

Opinion:
In slander, the defendant may, in mitigation of damages, give evidence of the grounds of his belief of the truth of the charge which he has made.
Slander. The defendant said the plaintiff was a perjured villain. The defendant, in mitigation of damages on the plea of not guilty, offered to give evidence of the grounds of his suspicion and belief that the plaintiff had committed perjury.