Case Name: MARTIN v. MATTISON
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1858-11
Citations: 8 Abb. Pr. 3
Docket Number: 
Parties: MARTIN a. MATTISON.
Judges: 
Reporter: Abbott's Practice Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 3–4

Head Matter:
MARTIN a. MATTISON.
Supreme Court, Sixth District; Special Term,
November, 1858.
Pleading.—Injuries to Character.
If a complaint containing several causes of action is demurred to, on the ground that the several counts do not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, the demurrer must be overruled unless all the statements are insufficient.
Causes of action for libel, slander, and malicious prosecution in behalf of the people, for a crime, may be joined in one action. They are all injuries to character.
Demurrer to the complaint.
The complaint contained statements of four causes of action : one for malicious prosecution in behalf of the people, before a justice of the peace, for a crime; one for libel; and two for slanderous words spoken.
The defendant demurred to the complaint upon the following grounds, viz.: 1st. The several counts therein do not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action ; 2d. The complaint improperly unites several causes of action for injuries to the person with causes of action for injuries to character, viz., malicious prosecution, libel, and slander; 3d. The first count unites injuries to the person with injuries to character.
S. Kellogg, for plaintiff.
George A. White, for defendant.

Opinion:
By the Court.—Balcom, J.
The several counts in the complaint are not demurred to separately; therefore, if either count states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, the first cause of demurrer is not well assigned. The complaint is very inartificially drawn; but I think one count, at least, does state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
Prior to the Code, counts for slander and malicious prosecution could be joined (Grah. Pr., 2d ed., 96). Blackstone defines injuries affecting reputation to be:—First—Malicious, scandalous, and slanderous words (3 Blackst. Com., 123). Secondly—Printed or written libels, pictures, signs, and the like (Ib., p. 125). Thirdly—Malicious indictments or prosecutions (Ib., p. 126). And I think causes of action for libel, slander, and malicious prosecution in behalf of the people for alleged crime, may be joined under the Code; for they are all injuries to character. (See Code, § 167.) It follows, that the demurrer to the complaint is not well taken. It must, therefore, be overruled, with costs; but the defendant may answer the complaint within 'twenty days after service on his attorney of a copy of the order overruling the demurrer, on paying the costs occasioned thereby.
Decision accordingly.