Case Name: Uriah Trimble v. John Tantlinger, Appellant
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1897-01-27
Citations: 104 Iowa 665
Docket Number: 
Parties: Uriah Trimble v. John Tantlinger, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 104
Pages: 665–671

Head Matter:
Uriah Trimble v. John Tantlinger, Appellant.
3 5 Libel, plea and proof. Special damages need not be alleged nor proved in an action for slanderous words alleged to have been spoken which are actionable per se.
2 Evidence: practice. Evidence of a conversation between the parties to the action is properly stricken out where the witness fails to fix the time and shows by his evidence that the conversation related to another matter than that involved in the suit.
7 9 Same. In an action for slander, evidence that the witness was present at a conversation between the plaintiff and defendant, but did not hear the actionable words alleged to have been spoken, is inadmissible as not amounting to a statement that the defendant did not speak the words charged.
8 Same Testimony that one of the witnesses for the plaintiff in an action for slander stated that the plaintiff could thank him for information concerning the slanderous words is immaterial, since it does not tend necessarily to show bias or prejudice on the part pf the witness.
6 Kew Trial: newly discovered evidence: Discretion. It is not error to deny a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence showing that witnesses for the successful party made statements out of court at variance with their testimony, where such testimony is cumulative.
10 Sabie. A motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence, contained affidavits of two persons, one of whom was present at the trial, that a witness for the plaintiff, who had testified to hearing defendant speak the slanderous words sued on, had stated before the trial that he could do defendant no harm nor plaintiff any good, and that he never heard defendant assail plaintiff’s character or his business, and that the suit was brought for spite. 'The statements’ were, all specifically denied by counter affidavit, and the witness’ testimony at the trial was corroborated. Held, that the discretion of the trial court.was not abused by the refusal of a new trial, and that the matter asserted amounted to no more than an impeachment.
4 Appeal: presumvtions On a trial for slander, where the jury is charged to estimate the amount of “actual injury” plaintiff would naturally sustain, the supreme court cannot presume, from the amount of the verdict, that exemplary damages were allowed.
1 Harmless error. Error in sustaining an objection to certain questions is harmless, where the answer thereto is subsequently given.
Appeal from Johnson District Court. — Hon. M. J. Wade, Judge.
Wednesday, January 27, 1897.
Action to recover damages for -the alleged speaking of certain false, malicious, and defamatory words, in March, 1894, in the presence of Thomas Jordan, James Evans, J. W. White, and others. Defendant answered, denying generally. The case was tried to a jury, and a verdict of one thousand three hundred dollars rendered in favor of the plaintiff. Defendant moved for a new trial, upon the ground, among others, that the damages were excessive. The court overruled said motion as to all said other grounds, and, finding that the verdict ivas excessive, reduced the same to. eight hundred dollars, giving the plaintiff the right, to elect to accept judgment for eight hundred dollars or to submit to a new trial. Plaintiff elected to accept judgment for eight hundred dollars, and the motion for new trial was overruled as to .all the grounds thereof, and judgment entered against the defendant for eight hundred dollars, from which he appeals.
Affirmed.
Banch & Bradley and Joe A. Edwards for appellant.
Ewing & Kart for appellee.

Opinion:
Given, J.
I.- Appel!ant'© first complaints are as to certain, rulings in taking the testimony. There is evidence tending to show two conversations in which the defendant spoke concerning the plaintiff, — -one in Leonard's store, and one in the street near the store. Plaintiff was asked, on cross-examination, how long he stayed in the store, and whether be went in to- inquire if the township trustees had been there. These question© were objected to and objection sustained, as not proper cross-examination. Conceding that the ruling was erroneous, yet there was no prejudice, as the witness proceeded to state that he did not go there to inquire about the township trustees.' Appellant complains that plaintiff's objection to two questions asked the witness, Horace Page, was sustained, and that plaintiff's motion to ©trike out all of his ' testimony was also sustained. Page testified to •a conversation between the parties to this suit in Leonard's store, but failed to fix the time, and showed by his evidence that tire conversation ivas in relation to another matter than that involved in this suit. The testimony was properly idricken out, and, therefore, there was no prejudice in sustaining plaintiff's objection to the question asked.
II. Plaintiff does not allege any damages in his .petition, bnt, after setting out the speaking of the words, concludes, hi®, petition as follows: "Wherefore, plaintiff .asks judgment against defendant for1 two thousand dollars and costs." Appellant contends, that, no. damages being alleged, the court erred in instructing the jury that, if they found for the plaintiff, they should allow him such damages as they believed he suffered by the use of such language. He -also contends that, from the amount returned by the jury, they must have found exemplary damage®, and that no such damages could be recovered under the pleadings. By the instructions', the jury were directed to inquire as to actual damages only. They were told to., "estimate as near as you can, the amount of actual injury that the plaintiff would naturally sustain by reason of the statement made by the defendant." We may not presume1, under these instructions, from the amount returned, that the jury .allowed exemplary damages. The slanderous, words alleged to have been spoken being actionable per se, special damage®, need not be alleged nor proven. Parker v. Lewis, 2 G. Greene, 311; Hicks v. Walker, 2 G. Greene, 440. There was no error in the instructions in the respect complained of.
III. Appellant's motion for a new trial was- based upon the grounds .already considered, and upon the further ground of newly-discovered evidence, as to which a number of affidavits were filed. We will not set out nor discuss these affidavits at length. It is sufficient to say that their general tenor is to show that witnesses- for plaintiff, particularly one J. L. Evans-, made statements out of court at variance with the testimony given on the tidal. While the purpose of such testimony is impeaching, it may not be within the rule that refuses a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence .as to the character or general reputation of a witness. We think, however, that this alleged newly-discovered evidence was so far cumulative that the court was warranted in refusing a new trial on that ground. We find no. err or in the record prejudicial to appellant, .and the judgment of the dis>trict court is therefore affirmed.
Monday, February 7, 1898.
Ranch & Bradley, Remley,-Ney & Remley, and Joe A. Edioards for appellant.
Etoing & Hart and S. H. Fairall for appellee.