Case Name: Peters, Plaintiff in error, vs. The State, Defendant in error
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1886-05-15
Citations: 66 Wis. 339
Docket Number: 
Parties: Peters, Plaintiff in error, vs. The State, Defendant in error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 66
Pages: 339–342

Head Matter:
Peters, Plaintiff in error, vs. The State, Defendant in error.
April 17
May 15, 1886.
Criminal law: Abusiva language: Pleading.
A complaint for the use of abusive or obscene language tending to provoke an assault, should state that such language was used in the presence of the complainant or of some member of his family.
EEEOE to the Circuit Court for Taylor County.
The case is sufficiently stated in the opinion.
■ For the plaintiff in error there was a brief by John B. Tlayarty, attorney, and J. K. Parish, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. Parish.
H. IF. Ghynoweth, Assistant Attorney General, for the defendant in error. [No brief on file.]

Opinion:
Cole, C. J.
The plaintiff in error, defendant below, was prosecuted under sec. 4398, E. S., for using, in reference to the wife of the complainant, abusive or obscene language intended or naturally tending to provoke an assault or breach of the peace. The original complaint charged that the defendant " did use, in reference to Victoria Ihne, wife of complainant and a member of his family, and in the presence of others, abusive and obscene language intended to and tending to provoke an assault and breach of the peace, against," etc. In the justice's court the defendant objected to any evidence being introduced under the complaint, because it did not state any offense. But, against the defendant's objection, the prosecution asked and obtained leave to amend the complaint by inserting after the word "language" the following words, to wit: "Whore," "sow," "a vulgar woman." The deféndant was convicted before the justice, and appealed to the circuit court, where he renewed the objection that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute an offense under the section. The objection was overruled, and trial had. At the close of the testimony on the part of the state the defendant moved that the cause be dismissed. This motion was denied. It had been shown by the evidence that the abusive or obscene words were spoken in German, and the circuit court, at this stage of the cause, directed the district attorney to draw an amended complaint, setting forth therein, in the German language, the words "Under," "Ilure," "Sau," which were used concerning Victoria Ihne, and which words were alleged to mean in English, a "whore," "a sow," "low vulgar woman." The amendment was accordingly made as directed, against the defendant's objection. The defendant then introduced his evidence, and the jury, under the charge of the court, returned a verdict of guilty. A motion for a new trial was made for various errors alleged, which was denied. After this motion was denied the circuit court ordered the district attorney to make a further amendment to the complaint by inserting therein, alter the word " woman," these words, " intended and naturally tending to provoke an assault and breach of the peace." A motion in arrest of judgment was then made, Avhich was overruled.
Several errors are relied on here for a reversal of the judgment. ¥e shall only consider the one which relates to the sufficiency of the complaint, and tvhich is raised several times upon the record. We think, notwithstanding the various amendments made to the complaint as above detailed, it was fatally defective at last, and will not sustain the conviction. It is strenuously objected that the court improperly permitted the amendments to be made after the defendant moved that the prosecution be dismissed, and after the motion for a new trial was overruled. We shall express no opinion as to the propriety of allowing or directing the amendments to be made at the time and in the manner they were made. The defendant resisted them constantly, claiming that he had the right to know the nature of the accusation made against him before he was called upon to answer it. But, assuming that the amendments, under the circumstances, were properly allowed, still we are clear that the complaint entirely failed to state an offense under the section. Doubtless the abusive or obscene words were inserted in the original complaint to meet the ruling in Steuer v. State, 59 Wis. 472. It was there decided that a complaint, to be good as charging an offense under this section, should set out the language used, so that the court can determine, as a question of law, whether or not an offense has been committed under it. But the fatal defect in the complaint in this case is that it is not charged therein that the abusive or obscene language in reference to Yictoria Ihne was addressed to her, or used in her presence, or was used in the presence of the complainant and his wife, or either of them, though it is alleged that it was used about her in the presence of others; that is to say, in the presence of strangers. Nut, while this would show that the defendant had grossly slandered Mrs. Ihne, it does not state the offense mentioned in the statute. The statute makes the offense to consist in the " use, in reference to and in the presence of another, or in reference to and in the presence of any member of his family," of abusive or obscene language intended or naturally tending to provoke an assault or any breach of the peace. It plainly includes the case where vile and abusive language, which is naturally calculated to provoke an assault, about A. is used in his presence. It also covers the case where such language in reference to A.'s wife, or other member of his family, is used in the presence of A. and of such member. For the natural impulse of human nature is to resent by violent means the use of such language in the presence of the person to whom it is applied-, or about a member of his family in his presence and the presence of such member. But the use of foul and abusive language about one not present, or where there is no member of his family present, does not naturally tend, to provoke an assault or breach of the peace, therefore is not within the statute. It was essential that the complaint. should not only set out the abusive and obscene words used in reference to Mrs. Ihne, but should have charged that they were used in the presence of complainant and his wife; certainly, that 'they were- used in the presence of one of them. There is no charge of the kind made, nor any allegation equivalent to it, and for this reason no offense is stated.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to dismiss-the complaint and discharge the defendant.