Case Name: Edward P. Fry, Respondent, v. James G. Bennett, Appellant
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1855-02-17
Citations: 4 Duer 247
Docket Number: 
Parties: Edward P. Fry, Respondent, v. James G. Bennett, Appellant.
Judges: (Before Campbell, Boswokth and Hoffman, J.J.)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Superior Court of the city of New York
Volume: 11
Pages: 247–268

Head Matter:
Edward P. Fry, Respondent, v. James G. Bennett, Appellant.
To entitle the deposition of a witness, examined de bend esse under the statute, to be read at the trial, on the ground of his absence from the state, it must be proved by competent evidence to the satisfaction of the court, that he has continued absent out of the state, so that his attendance at such trial could not be compelled by the ordinary process of law. The mere declaration of his wife, out of court, that he is absent, without other evidence, does not constitute such proof
She is competent to prove the fact, if it exists, and there is no reason why hearsay evidence should be admitted to establish it, when the fact itself may as easily be proved by the wife, as her declaration concerning it, by a third person.
In an action to recover damages for a libel upon the plaintiff, the jury are at liberty to give exemplary damages, if the evidence satisfies them that the defendant published the libel with intent to injure the character or feelings of the plaintiff, or break up his business.
In punitive actions, the actual intent with which the injurious act was done, and the circumstances of indignity and contumely attending it, and the mental suffering and mortification resulting from it, may be considered by the jury, in determining the amount of damages to be awarded.
In such an action, the extent of the circulation of the newspaper, in which the libel was published, may he proved. It is a material fact, and is to be considered, in ascertaining the extent of the injury.
In such an action, when sufficient evidence has been given to justify the submission of the question, whether, the libel was published with an actual malicious intent, and with a design to injure the plaintiff wantonty, it is not erroneous to admit evidence of the pecuniary means of the defendant.
(Before Campbell, Boswokth and Hoffman, J.J.)
Jan. 16;
Feb. 17, 1855.
This action was brought to recover damages caused by libellous articles, published by the defendant, in the Hew York Herald. The defendant was the editor and proprietor of that newspaper. The articles were published of and concerning the plaintiff, and of and concerning his character and conduct, as manager and director of an Italian Opera Company. There were eleven of these articles. The action was tried in December, 1858, before Chief Justice Oakley, and a jury.
Hl the progress of the trial, the plaintiff called Moses M. White, who being sworn and shown a newspaper, testified: I bought this newspaper at the office of the Herald.
• On being cross-examined he further testified: I bought it there December 15th, 1851. I bought it of a clerk at the desk: it is a paper dated December 15th, 1851.
The counsel for the plaintiff next offered to read in evidence the said newspaper, alleging on its face James Cordon Bennett to be the editor and proprietor, for the purpose of showing the circulation of the Herald in the years 1848,1849, and the income of the office.
The counsel for the defendant objectéd to the said newspaper being read, on the'ground that the defendant was in no way connected with it by proof, and that it was irrelevant.
Eds honor, the Judge, overruled the said objection, and to his decision thereon the counsel for the defendant excepted.
The counsel for the plaintiff then read the said newspaper to show the circulation of the paper and its income.
The particulars need not be stated. It affirmed that the daily circulation of the Herald, was 40,560, and that the daily circulation of the other leading morning journals was 29,800. That the receipts of the Herald in 1835, the first year of its existence were, $30,000, and that such receipts had reached nearly $300,000 per annum.
The counsel for the plaintiff next called as a witness Sheridan Gorbyn, who, after being sworn, said: I am acquainted with Maurice Strakosch; he is in Cincinnati, Ohio. On being cross-examined he further said: I last saw him six weeks ago here; his wife told me he had gone to Cincinnati; I inquired for him this morning; she did not tell me when he went; that is all the knowledge I have.
The counsel for the plaintiff again offered to read in evidence the deposition of Maurice Strakosch.
The counsel for the defendant objected to the reading of the said deposition, on the ground that the absence of Maurice Stra-kosch had not been proved.
His honor the Judge overruled the said objection, and to his decision thereon the counsel for the defendant excepted.
The counsel for the plaintiff next offered to read the deposition of Maurice Strakosch.
The counsel for the defendant objected to the reading of the said deposition of the said Maurice Strakosch, for the purpose of showing express malice, on the ground that it was totally incompetent and irrelevant.
His honor the Judge overruled the said objection, and to his decision thereon the counsel for the defendant excepted.
The counsel for the plaintiff then read the deposition of Maurice Strakosch.
The defendant’s counsel, among other requests,, in respect to the charge to be made to the jury, requested the court to charge: That if the jury shall find, any ground in this case for giving damages to the plaintiff against the defendant, their verdict should be for such sum only as would compensate the plaintiff for the injury which he has sustained therefrom, and that the jury aré not at liberty to give to the plaintiff any further sum by way of punishment of the defendant, or by way of vindictive damages, or as smart money.
The court refused to charge as thus requested. Among other instructions given to the jury, the court charged thus:
It has been contended by the counsel for the defendant, that the jury are not at liberty to go beyond what are called actual damages. As I understand it, that has not been the course pursued by the courts in this state heretofore. What it may be hereafter I cannot say — in regard to this matter it strikes me that there must be some qualification to that rule; because the consequence of it -would he, that in all cases wherein no specific injury could be proved, the damages would be merely nominal. If the jury in this case were not allowed to form any judgment as to damages, except so far as the plaintiff proved that he sustained an injury in dollars and cents, they could have no basis on' which to stand, and their verdict would he merely nominal. I have always held the rule in such cases to be, that the jury could look at the whole character of the transactions, and that they could take into consideration all the proof before them of any malicious and actual intent to injure the plaintiff. General malice against the plaintiff may not he proved; but actual malice in making the publications complained of may be proved. Malice, so far as the law requires, it to exist to sustain the action, is always implied, because every man who slanders a neighbor, or who publishes a libel against a neighbor, the law presumes to do so from malicious motives. There may be a different rule of law for a case where there is actual malice existing; because, if a man by mistake, publish a libel, the law would fix malice upon it only so far as to make him responsible; but it would be a dif- ’ ferent thing if, instead of publishing it by mistake he did so with a view to injure the plaintiff. It is contended that there is proof of that kind bearing on the defendant, and it is derived altogether, I understand, from the depositions of a German witness, Strakosch. You will examine that evidence very carefully, and see whether taking together his examination in chief, and his cross-examination, reliance can be placed upon the representation he makes, that Mr. Bennett declared his intention to finish or otherwise injure and break down the plaintiff. If it should come up to that, then the defendant stands before us as a man who deliberately undertook to do an injury, and if he fail to prove his allegations to be true, he cannot escape with nominal damages. The whole question of damages is entirely within your sound discretion. If you find for the plaintiff, you will assess such damages as the occasion requires.
To the charge as made, and to the refusal to charge as requested, the defendant’s counsel separately excepted.
The jury rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, for $10,000 damages.
The defendant moved for a new trial, on a case containing the whole evidence. An order was made at Special Term denying the motion, and from that order the defendant appealed to the General Term.
A judgment having been entered on the verdict, the defendant also appealed from the judgment.
The two appeals were heard together.
The points most strenuously urged on the argument of the appeals were:
First. — That the deposition of Strakosch was improperly admitted as evidence.
Second. — That it was erroneous to allow the plaintiff to give evidence of the income realized by the defendant from the publication of the New York Herald.
Third. — That in a civil action for a libel, a jury have no right to give punitive damages, or damages by way of punishing a defendant, for a deliberate purpose to injure the plaintiff, wound his feelings, and subject his character to reproach, and that the court erred in refusing to charge the jury that damages could not be given for such a cause.
Fourth. — That the damages are excessive, and that the defendant should have a new trial on that account, if no other.
D. D. Field, J. Townshend, and B. Galbraith, for Appellant.
F. B. Sherman, for Respondent.

Opinion:
By the COURT.
Bosworth, J.
Strakosch was examined de bene esse as a witness in this action, and the plaintiff offered his deposition in evidence, after having proved by Sheridan Corbyn, that he knew Strakosch, and last saw him in this city about six weeks previously. That on the morning of that day he called at the house of Strakosch, and the wife of the latter told him that Strakosch had gone to Cincinnati.
The defendant objected to the reading of the deposition of Strakosch, on the ground that his absence had not been proved. The court admitted the evidence, and the defendant excepted.
The statute, on the subject, declares that such a deposition may be read, " after it shall have been satisfactorily proved that such witness is unable to attend such trial or assessment of damages personally, by reason of his death, insanity, sickness, or settled infirmity, or that he has continued absent out of this state, so that his attendance at such trial or assessment of damages could not be compelled by the ordinary process of law."
The right to read 'this deposition, depends, in this case, upon' the question whether it was " satisfactorily proved that Strakosch had continued absent out of the state, so that his attendance at the trial could not be compelled by the ordinary process of law."
By satisfactory proof, must be meant evidence recognized by law as competent in its nature to prove the fact, and sufficient prima fade to establish it.
The witness Corbyn, does not state where he lived, how often he had been in the habit of seeing Strakosch, nor that his relations with him were such, nor that his own business was such, that he would have been likely to have seen him, had be been in the city during the two or three weeks preceding the trial.
He does not appear to have even inquired when Strakosch left for Cincinnati. Eor aught that the wife of the latter is testified to have said, and assuming what she said to be true, he might as well have left the previous day, as before the cause was noticed for trial.
The statute requires proof of more than the actual absence of the witness from the state, on the day the action is tried. SucÍl a continued absence must be proved, that ordinary diligence to procure his attendance by process of law, would be ineffectual.
The evidence to give a right to read the deposition must be such, as would make it erroneous to reject the deposition.
Giving to the declarations of Strakosch's wife the fullest effect, no one can conjecture from it, when Strakosch left the state. No good reason can be assigned for receiving her declarations as proof, when she might have been called to testify to the fact, if it was as she is represented to have stated it.
The statute, by requiring the fact to be " satisfactorily proved," should not be construed to admit of mere hearsay evidence, when direct and competent evidence appears to have been easily attainable.
Ia Guyon v. Lewis, (7 Wend. 26,) the deposition was taken, and cause tried, before the existing statute was enacted. (Id. 28.) The deposition was taken in August, 1828, and the cause was tried in January, 1829. The plaintiff testified to the court, that the witness immediately after being examined, told the plaintiff he was going up the North River, and expected to leave the state; that previously he was in the habit of seeing him, but had not seen him since. (Id. 28.) He was a transient person, had no fixed habitation anywhere, and was a journeyman carpenter, seeking employment.
That was held sufficient. In Jackson v. Rice, (3 Wend. 180,) a deposition of Richard Harrison, taken under the act to perpetuate testimony, (1 R. S. 455,) was offered in evidence, and rejected. The preliminary proof was, that of a witness, who proved that Mr. Harrison was between seventy-five and eighty years of age, and that the witness believed from the ill state of his health, and the infirmities consequent upon his advanced age, he was unable to attend at the circuit as a witness. He had not, however, seen Mr. Harrison in several years, and did not personally know the state of his health. The deposition was rejected. The court said, " For aught that appeared, he might, although eighty years of age, have attended the court. At all events, the Judge was not bound to presume him unable to attend. The plaintiff should not rely upon presumption where it was his duty to produce proof."
In Jackson v. Perkins, (2 Wend. 308-315,) a deposition of Mrs. Yischer, taken under the same act, was offered in evidence. It was allowed to be read on a stipulation of the plaintiff's counsel, that a judgment of nonsuit might be entered if the Supreme Court on a case made, should be of the opinion that the deposition ought not to have been received.
The evidence of her inability to attend was, that she was over seventy-four years of age, and one of the witnesses testified that from his knowledge of her situation and infirmities, he believed she could not endure a journey from Albany to Ogdensburgh, without the most serious injury to her health. This was held to be sufficient. (See Clarke v. Dibble, 16 Wend. 601; The People v. Hadden, 3 Denio, 225.)
I think the spirit of these decisions requires legal proof, as contradistinguished from mere hearsay evidence or belief, especially when it is apparent that it is as easily attainable as the inferior proof which may be offered. The mere declaration of a third person should not be received as competent, and certainly not as satisfactory proof of any fact, when such third person can be as easily procured to testify to the fact, as the one offered to prove his declaration respecting it. In this case, all the proof that was given of the continued absence of Strakosch from the state, was the declaration of his wife, that he had gone to Cincinnati, (not saying when he went,) and that the witness had not seen him in six weeks. (See Robinson v. Marks, 2 Mood. & Malk. 375; and 1 Camp. R. 172.)
Allowing such testimony would furnish opportunity for collusion, and violate the rule that mere hearsay evidence is inadmissible, without the slightest necessity for it, in a case in which it was just as feasible, to call the party who made the declaration, as some one who heard it made. Testimony by his wife, that Strakosch left the city, avowedly to go to Cincinnati, stating when — that she had not seen or heard from him since; or, had received letters from him bearing the Cincinnati post-office stamp, would undoubtedly be satisfactory proof. We are all of the opinion, that on the evidence given, the plaintiff was not entitled to read the deposition.
The defendant is therefore entitled to a new trial, on account of the admission of this deposition in evidence. This conclusion renders it unnecessary to pass upon any of the other questions argued on the appeal, except such as we can see, must arise upon a second trial, and in respect to which, the ruling of the court, on such trial, may properly be required.
A Hew York Herald, of the date of December 15, 1851, purporting to state its average daily circulation from 1842 to 1851, inclusive, and the annual receipts for it in 1835, the first year of its existence, and also in the year 1851, was offered in evidence, "for the purpose of showing the circulation of the Herald in the years 1848, 1849, and the income of the office."
It was objected to, "on the ground that the defendant was in no way connected with it by proof, and that it was irrelevant."
The objection was overruled, and the defendant's counsel ex cepted.
It was then read, " to show the circulation of the paper, and its income." The proof sufficiently connected the defendant with that number of the Herald.
The paper was " relevant," and was competent evidence, to show the circulation of the Herald, and of the extent to which the libellous matter had been published. So much of the extract read, as related to this point, was proper evidence.
The objection was not taken, that the passage relating to the receipts of the Herald should not be read, but the objection was to the whole article. In not attempting to discriminate between the different parts of it, the objection seems to have assumed, that as a whole, it was not admissible for any purpose, and the ground of objection taken was, that it was irrelevant.
Whether the part relating to the receipts of the office, if specially objected to should have been excluded, or whether its admission can be seen to have so prejudiced the defendant, that, treating this as a motion for a new trial on a case, as well as an appeal from the judgment, a new trial should be granted, will depend upon considerations connected with the charge on the subject of damages, and exceptions taken by the defendant to the refusal of the court, to charge on that branch of the case as requested.
The defendant requested the court to charge the jury — " that if the jury should find any ground in this case for giving damages to the plaintiff against the defendant, their verdict should be for such sum only as would compensate the plaintiff for the injury he has sustained therefrom, and that the jury are not at liberty to give to the plaintiff any further sum by way of punishment of the defendant, or by way of vindictive damages, or as smart money."
The court refused to so charge, and the defendant excepted.
It is not contended that the terms of the charge, as given, are particularly exceptionable.
The jury were instructed that the plaintiff had not proved any specific loss to his business as an opera manager. " In estimating the damages, they were to look at the character of the libels, and the business of the plaintiff, not giving way to any feelings of prejudice, but examining the whole matter like business men, and so drawing their inference as to damages. That the court Rad always Reid tRe rule in sucR cases to be, tRat tRe jury could look at tRe whole cRaracter of tRe transactions, and tRat tRey could take into consideration tRe proof before tRem of any malicious and- actual intent to injure tRe plaintiff. TRat it was contended tRe evidence of StrakoscR proved actual malice, and an intention to injure tRe plaintiff and break up Ris business. TRey would examine this evidence carefully, and determine wRetRer it sRould be credited, and wRetRer tRey could rely " upon tRe representations Re makes, ' tRat Mr. Bennett declared his intention to finish, or otherwise injure and break down the plaintiff.' If it sRould come up to that, then the defendant stands before us as a man who deliberately undertook to do an injury, and if Re fail to prove Ris allegation to be true, Re cannot escape with nominal damages. TRe whole question of damages- is entirely within your sound discretion. If you find for the plaintiff, you will give such damages as the occasion requires."
If the charge, as given, was not erroneous, and was as favorable to the defendant as Re could properly require, then the question arises whether there was any error in refusing to give the instruction sought, or whether the not giving of it may be reasonably inferred to Rave been a substantial prejudice to the defendant. I state the latter alternative, because the action is before us upon a ease, as well as upon exceptions to the decisions of the court.
TRe case does not show, nor state any thing to justify, legally, ' the inference, that the plaintiff urged the jury to apply any other considerations in estimating the amount of damages, than those, which the charge, as given, approved, or insisted to the court, that any instructions sRould be given variant from those which the defendant specially asked the court to give, unless it is to be inferred from the fact of the request itself.
I cannot believe, that when a charge, unexceptionable in itself, has been given, it is error not to go further, and charge a proposition which, as an abstract one, is sound, when the converse of it has neither been asserted by the adverse party, nor its application invoked to the disposition of any part of the case.
Unless the defendant in Ris request to the court to charge, that in addition to compensating the injury, the jury were not at liberty " to give any further sum by way of punishment of the defendant, or by way of vindictive damages, or as smart money," used these three alternatives as synonymous expressions, then it was not erroneous in any view, not to charge as requested, provided that " vindictive damages," or damages " as smart money," could properly be given. Unless his proposition, as an entire one was sound, it was not error to refuse to instruct the jury to adopt, and be governed by it.
We do not understand the learned counsel for the defendant to deny, that in estimating damages, in an action of libel, the jury are not only to consider and compensate any actual pecuniary loss, but if the injury was wilful, or intentional, they may consider the mental sufferings of the plaintiff, the circumstances of indignity and contumely under which the wrong was done, and the consequent public disgrace to- the plaintiff, together with any other circumstances belonging to the wrongful act, and tending to the plaintiff's discomfort.
But he insists, that when the jury, in the exercise of a sound discretion, have arrived at what, in their judgment, is a proper compensation, having reference to all these circumstances, their duty and power end, and they can add nothing to such compensation, to punish the defendant for the public good, by deterring him from doing similar wrongs to the same plaintiff, or to others.
One consideration naturally suggests itself upon the mere statement of these propositions. A plaintiff who has been injured by a tort, or wrong of a defendant, is entitled, in all cases, to his actual damages. If these include compensation for mental suffering, and a consideration of the circumstances of indignity under which the wrong was done, the public disgrace inflicted, and other actual discomfort produced, the plaintiff should be compensated at all events, whether the wrong was wanton, or was done believing the charges published to.be true.
In either case the mental suffering must be as great, the circumstances of apparent indignity are the same, and his disgrace will be absolute and mortifying in the one case as the other, until his character has been vindicated by a verdict, establishing the falsity of the calumnies charged against him.
If such considerations are not constituent elements of damage, and if a person who has been injured in these respects is not to be compensated by damages, as a matter of strict legal right, and if a defendant is to be exonerated from such damages, when the injury was not wanton, and is to be subjected to them when it was,-then such damages may not inaptly be termed- punitive, or vindictive; or damages given as smart money.
. If the right to them does not result from the fact of the wrong, and the suffering and disgrace caused by it, then they are not given to compensate for such injuries, as a matter of course, merely because he wrongfully caused them, but because he caused them from a deliberate purpose to inflict them, without any thing to palliate or mitigate his conduct.
Logically speaking, such damages when given, are awarded full as much to punish a defendant as to compensate a plaintiff, and they are given as much by way of smart money, as because the plaintiff is entitled to them as an indemnity, inasmuch as they are given in consequence of the wantonness of the wrong, and not merely on account of the sufferings, discomfort, and disgrace, caused by them to- the plaintiff.
A reference to some of the cases, will show that the decisions in the courts of this state,, on this point, have been uniform. Tillotson v. Cheetham, 3 J. R. 56, was an action for a libel. No plea was put in, and a writ of inquiry was executed before Chief Justice Kent and 'a jury.
The Judge charged the jury, that the case " demanded from the jury exemplary damages; that he did not accede to the doctrine that the jury ought not to punish the defendant, in a civil suit, for the pernicious effect a publication of this kind was calculated to produce -in society."
The defendant moved to set aside the inquest, and insisted that the "charge of the Judge was incorrect in stating that the plaintiff was entitled to exemplary damages, on account of the injurious tendency of such publications to the community. In a private action, the party can recover only for the private wrong; he has no concern with the public offence, for which the defendant must atone on the indictment."
The motion was denied.
Kent, Ch. J., after citing cases, which, in his view of them, sanctioned the doctrine contained in this part of the charge, remarks that: " It is too well settled in practice, and is too valuable m principle, to be called in question. The report of the case states that, "Thompson, J., and Yan Ness, J., declared themselves to be of the same opinion." Spencer, J. said, that "in vindictive actions, such as for libels, defamation, assault and battery, false imprisonment, and a variety of others, it is always given in charge to the jury, that they are to inflict damages for example's sake, and by way of punishing the defendant."
This decision was made in 1808, and seems to be a direct adjudication of the question, presented in the request to charge.
In Hoyt v. Gelston, et al., (18 J. R. 141-151,) which was an action of trespass for seizing a vessel, &c., the plaintiff' scounsel admitted, " that the defendants had not been influenced by any malicious motives in making the seizure, and that they had not acted therein with any view or design of oppressing or injuring the plaintiff. The presiding Judge held that such admission precluded the plaintiff from claiming any damages against the defendants by way of punishment, or smart money, and that after such admission, the plaintiff could recover only the actual damages sustained, and he gave that direction to the jury."
In Wory v. Jenkins, (14 J. R. 352,) being an action of trespass for beating the plaintiff's mare, by reason whereof she died. The mare was proved to be worth $50 or $60. The Judge told the jury the plaintiff was entitled to recover the value of the mare, and " if they believed, as he did, that the defendant had whipped her to death, it was a case in which, from the wantoness and cruelty of the defendant's conduct, the jury had a right to give smart money." They found a verdict for $75.
A motion was made to set aside the verdict for excessive damages and misdirection of the Judge. The court said, "We think the charge of the Judge was correct; and we should have been better satisfied with the verdict if the amount of damages had been greater and more exemplary."
In Woodward v. Paine, (15 J. R. 494,) the same instruction was given to the jury, and the correctness of the decision affirmed.
In Root v. Wing, (4 Wend. 113,) which was an action for a libel, the presiding Judge, after giving his views of the evils of a bitter and unmitigated aspersion of private character through the medium of newspapers, stated in his charge that, " in a fitting case, a jury could render no more meritorious service to the publics than in repressing tbis enormous evil. It can only be done By visiting with severe damages him who wantonly and falsely assails the character of another through the public papers."
No exception was taken to this part of the charge.
The Chancellor, in his opinion, stated the rule to be that, " the jury may not only give such damages as they think necessary to compensate the plaintiff for his actual injury, but they may also give damages by way of punishment to the defendants. This.is usually denominated exemplary damages, or smart money."
In Fero v. Ruscoe, (4 Coms. 162,) which was an action for slander, the Judge charged " that the failure to establish a justification, was in law an aggravation of the slander, and that the defendant was not entitled to any benefit from the evidence given to make out a justification, if the jury believed that it failed to make out a full justification."
An exception was taken to this charge.
The Court of Appeals held the charge to be correct, and said that an attempt to justify, though honestly made, was an aggravation of the original wrong. If the defendant makes a mistake, it is at his own peril.
In Allen v. Addington, (11 Wend. 380,) an action for falsely representing the credit of one Baker, whereby the plaintiff was induced to sell him goods to the value of $2,000, the Judge instructed the jury that, " if they should consider the plaintiff entitled to recover, he would be entitled not only to the amount of the goods sold, with the interest of the same, but also to exemplary damages." The defendant excepted to the charge, and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for $2,564.84 damages.
When the cause was before the Supreme Court for a new trial, that court held that the rule of damages laid down by the jury was not objectionable. A writ of error was brought to the court for the correction of errors, (7 Wend. 9, 26.
The judgment was reversed on the sole ground that the second count was bad in substance, but the third count being deemed sufficient after verdict to sustain the judgment, the record was remitted to the Supreme Court, with liberty to the plaintiff to apply there to amend the postea, so as to apply the verdict to the third count, (the first count not having been proved,) and to render judgment thereon, and if such relief was refused, to apply for a new trial and for liberty to amend bis declaration before tbe awarding of a venire de novo, (11 Wend. 421.)
Application was made to tbe Supreme Court for leave to amend tbe postea, and enter judgment on tbe third count, wbicb was granted, (12 Wend. 215.)
This seems to be a direct affirmance of tbe proposition that, in an action of tort; although it affects property only, and tbe actual damages can be ascertained, exemplary damages may be given in a case in wbicb tbe tort resulted from a purpose deliberately and intentionally to injure tbe plaintiff.
Although tbe doctrine that exemplary or vindictive damages may be given in actions of tort, when tbe wrong was wantonly or. maliciously committed, has been uniformly acted upon at nisi prins, and sanctioned both by tbe Supreme Court and tbe court of last resort of this state, its justice, or any direct authority for it, has recently been denied in Dain v. Wykoff, (3 Seld. R. 193,) by an eminent Judge of tbe Court of Appeals.
We have also been favored with tbe opinion of Mr. Justice Jewett, and that of Mr. Justice Mason, in tbe case of Taylor, Hale & Murdock, v. Church. That was an action for libel. Tbe Judge charged that " if tbe jury were satisfied that tbe defendant was influenced by actual malice, or a deliberate intention to injure tbe plaintiffs, they might give such further damages (in addition to a flail compensation for tbe injury) as are suited to tbe aggravated character wbicb tbe act assumes, and as are necessary as an example to deter from tbe doing of such injuries."' To this there was an exception. Mr. Justice Jewett held this part of tbe charge to be correct, and Mr. Justice Mason held' ⅛ to be clearly wrong. A note of tbe reporter states that- five members of tbe court did not express a concurrence witli either Judge on tbe question now under consideration. All tbe Judges agreed with Mr. Justice Jewett in granting a new trial on another ground, stated in bis opinion.
How many of the Judges were present on tbe argument of that case, or took part in tbe decision of it, tbe réporter's note does-not state.
' If tbe Court of Appeals has not directly affirmed tbe contrary of tbe instruction sought on tbe trial of this action, neither has it affirmed that such an instruction would be proper.
To instruct a jury, as tbe Judge before whom this action was tried was requested to charge the jury in this case, would be directly in conflict with the law, as it has been uniformly stated to juries in such actions in this state, from the earliest period of its judicial history, so fkr as the practice is evidenced by reported decisions.
Under such circumstances, we do not feel at liberty to disregard a rule so long and uniformly held, and directly affirmed by the Supreme Court of this state half a century ago, and if not expressly decided, at least clearly approved by the court for the correction of errors, in Allen v. Addington, and in Root v. King. (See Day v. Woodworth, 13 How. U. S. R. 371-2; Austin v. Wilson, 1 Cash. R. 273, and the cases cited by counsel in Kendall v. Stone, 1 Selden, 18.)
If in actions of libel and slander, and in other actions of tort for injuries to the person or to character, damages may be given when the act was wanton, or actually malicious, which would not otherwise be allowed, although in each case the actual pecuniary injury, the extent of personal- suffering, the attendant circumstances of contumely and indignity, and the public disgrace, be precisely the same in the one case as in the other, it is of no practical consequence whether such damages be termed punitive, vindictive or compensatory. By whatever name they may be designated, they are manifestly given on account of the wantonness or malice of the defendant's conduct, and the very rule which determines whether they may be given, or must be withheld, has no real principle on which it can stand, if it be conceded that they cannot be given by way of example, or to punish atrocity of conduct.
While such damages are allowed to be recovered, it cannot be an indifferent consideration whether a defendant is rich or poor. Damages which would be exemplary, when inflicted upon a person in moderate circumstances, would be trivial, and in no practical sense exemplary, when imposed upon a person whose property and income were very much larger.
Who the parties to a controversy of such a character as this are, what are their pursuits and positions, and what the influence resulting from them by a libel published by either of the other may be, are not unimportant parts of the transaction itself. Such considerations sometimes give to a libel and slander all tbat it bas of substantial interest or importance, and sometimes they are of-such a character, that however gross the terms of the libel, they alike fail to give respectability to the action, or excite interest as to the defence.
In considering the question raised by the exception, to the refusal to charge as requested, we have not referred to the decisions of the courts of any other state. We have forborne to make such a reference, for the reason that the decisions of the courts of this state have been uniform, and reach back to a period so remote that we do not feel at liberty to treat the question as an open one in this state, notwithstanding the doubts recently expressed by some members of our Court of Appeals, in relation both to the justice of the rule, and the existence of any authority by which it can be upheld.
A new trial is granted, on the ground that the deposition of Strakoseh was improperly admitted. A new trial being granted on that ground, it must be with costs to abide the event of the action.