Case Name: Beers v. Strong
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1786-02
Citations: 1 Kirby 12
Docket Number: 
Parties: Beers v. Strong.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 12–13

Head Matter:
Beers v. Strong.
Words are not to be taken in tbe milder sense after verdict, wbicb ascertains them to bave been spoken maliciously.
Action on tbe case for these words: “ My wife has taken a false oath, and it was through tbe instigation of Beers and Booth, her sons. My wife has taken a false oath — she is a poor creature — and if it bad not been for Andrew Beers and David Booth, she never would bave done it; they are tbe foundation of tbe quarrel. My wife’s children bave taken ber before Squire Hinman, and bave made ber take a false oatb, and I bave been and taken a copy of it. David Booth and Andrew Beers took my wife before Squire Hinman, and there persuaded ber to take a false oatb, and I don’t blame ber so much as I do Booth and Beers, for they were the very means of it, and she never would bave done it but for them.”
General issue pleaded, and verdict for the plaintiff.
Mr. Edwards moved in arrest, on the ground that the words were not actionable.
Motion overruled.

Opinion:
By the Couet.
The words laid, naturally import that the defendant's wife bad been guilty of perjury, and that the plaintiff, by procuring ber to commit the crime, bad been guilty of subornation of perjury, and so are actionable. Words are not to be taken in a milder Sense than they bave in common acceptation; especially after verdict, which ascertains that they were spoken maliciously, and with intent to defame.