Case Name: Halsey v. Stillman
Court: Illinois Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1892-10-24
Citations: 48 Ill. App. 413
Docket Number: 
Parties: Halsey v. Stillman.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Appellate Court Reports
Volume: 48
Pages: 413–418

Head Matter:
Halsey v. Stillman.
1. Slander—Imputation of Larceny—The Rule at Common Laiv. —The rule of common law was that it was not actionable to say one stole what would be fixtures to real estate. The reason for the rule was that real estate could not be the subject of larceny. Sec. 175, Chap. 38, R. S. 111., provides that if one, by trespass, with intent to steal, takes and carries away anything which is parcel of the realty, he shall be guilty of larceny, the same as if the property taken were personal property. The reason for the common law rule no longer exists, and the rule itself fails with the reason upon which it is based.
2. Repetition of Slanderous Words.—While, in an action of slander, the plaintiff can not make out his case by proving words spoken after the commencement of the suit, yet it is always competent to prove a repetition of the words after the beginning of the suit for the_ purpose of showing malice and in aggravation of damages.
8. Imputation of Larceny not always Actionable.—One who has lost property by theft, or trespass, may, in good faith and without malice, recite the facts and circumstances connected with such loss, though the guilt of another is thereby indicated, without subjecting himself to an action of slander, if he expresses no opinion and makes or intimates no charge as to the guilt of another.
4. New Trial.—A new trial will not be granted upon the ground of newly discovered evidence where the evidence, if heard, would not be conclusive or decisive, but merely cumulative.
Memorandum.—Action for slander. Appeal from a judgment for §0.10, in favor of the plaintiff, rendered by the Circuit Court of. McLean County; the Hon. Thomas F. Tipton, Circuit Judge, presiding.
Heard in this court at the May term, A. D. 1892, and affirmed.
Opinion filed October 24, 1892.
Appellee’s Statement of the Case.
Slanderous words were spoken by appellant of appellee, while appellee was assisting his father-in-law, Elias Brock, "in the rebuilding of a division fence between the farms of Elias Brock and appellant. On the 21st of September, 1891, Elias Brock, A. W. Brock, Albert Overton, Samuel Hunter, George Dorman, and appellee, were all at work peaceably and quietly building a fence, when appellee of his own motion came out and provoked a quarrel with Elias Brock. Appellant forbade Brock from setting stakes on his side of the fence. Appellant said to Brock that he could lick any man over the fence, to which Brock replied that he had a man there that could or did lick him, to which the appellant replied, “Who, Stillman ? the damn thief! he stole two screen doors off my house, and I can prove it.” That was before appellee had said a word. Appellee then said, “ Don’t you call me a thief,” to which appellant replied, “You are a damn thief, and I can prove it; you stole two screen doors off my house.”
Appellant’s Brief.
Appellant asked the court to instruct the jury that if appellant at the time of the speaking of the words which were claimed to be actionable, so modified the words or made such explanation as that the bystanders would understand that he did not intend to charge larceny, then the words would not be actionable. The refusal to give this instruction we think is error under the rule laid down in Artieta v. Artieta, 15 La. A. 48; Hagan v. Hendry, 18 Md. 177; Lewis Hatch v. John S. Potter et ux., 2 Gil. 725; Alexander Owen v. James McKean, 14 Ill. 459; Jesse Foval v. William R. Hallett, 10 Brad. 235; Benj. Miller v. William E. Johnson, 79 Ill. 58; Winchell v. Strong, 17 Ill. 597.
The court permitted Linas Richards, C. W. Perkins and Fred Harpester to testify over appellant’s objection to conversation with, and to words spoken by, appellant after the commencement of this suit. This was a palpable error, for which the case should be reversed. Distin v. Ross, 69 N. Y. 122 ; Daly v. Byrne, 77 N. Y. 182; Meyer v. Bohlfing, 44 Ind. 238; Alpen v. Merton, 21 O. St. 536.
Stevenson & Ewing, counsel for appellant.
Appellee’s Brief.
Passion is never an excuse for a slander, and can only be received in mitigation of damages when the passion is excited by the plaintiff. Miller v. Johnson, 79 Ill. 59.
A plaintiff may, to prove malice, give evidence of a publication by the defendant made subsequently to the publication declared upon, when the subsequent publication is of a like import with that declared upon, or relating thereto. Townshend on S. and L., Sec. 394; Newell on Defamation, S. and L., 331-332.
Kerrick, Lucas & Spencer, attorneys for appellee.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court, The
Hon. Carroll C. Boggs, Judge.
This appeal seeks the reversal of a judgment in the sum of 0650 rendered against the appellant in an action for slander brought by the appelleé. One of the allegations of the declaration is that the appellant said of the appellee, "He is a thief; he stole my screen doors;" and other allegations charged words imputing the guilt of larceny without qualification or explanation. These allegations are, we think, supported by the evidence.
The rule at common law was that it was not actionable to say one stole what would be fixtures to real estate. The reason for the rule was that real estate could not be the subject of larceny. Sec. 175, Chap. 38, R. S., provides, ¿hat if one by trespass with intent to steal takes and carries away anything which is parcel of the realty he shall be guilty of larceny, as if the property taken were personal property. The reason for the common law rule referred to, therefore, no longer exists, and the rule itself fails with the reason upon which it was based.
An action may be sustained upon words imputing to another the crime of larceny under the statute cited.
It is complained that the appellee was permitted to prove that the appellant spoke the slanderous words after the commencement of the suit. The appellee could not make his case by proving words spoken after he began his suit, nor did he attempt to do so. The proof establishes the speaking of the slanderous words, before and after the commencement of the suit. It is competent to prove a repetition of the words after the beginning of a suit for slander, and such repetition may be considered by the jury upon the question of malice and in aggravation of damages. Stowell v. Beagle, 79 111. 525.
The following instruction asked by the appellant was refused:
If you believe from the evidence that the plaintiff did take door screens off the house of the defendant, and that the defendant was compelled to send for them and take them back, and if you believe from the evidence that the words spoken by the defendant were with reference to the taking of such screens, and that the said facts were explained at the time of the speaking of such words, so that the persons present could understand that the allusion was made to the taking of such screens, and that such circumstances did not show the plaintiff to be guilty of larceny, then the defendant was not guilty of charging the plaintiff with larceny in the sense of making him liable in an action of slander for the speaking of actionable words.
One who has lost property by either theft or trespass may, no doubt, in good faith and without malice, recite the facts and circumstances connected with such loss—though the guilt of another is thereby indicated—without subjecting himself to an action for slander, if he expresses no opinion and makes or intimates no charge as to the guilt of the other. In the case at bar there was evidence that the appellant, when reciting the facts concerning the screens, denounced the appellee as a " thief " and stated in express terms that he had stolen the screens. If he did so he could not be allowed to insist that only the details of the transaction as given by him should be considered, and that it should not be deemed that he imputed to the appellee the crime of larceny—though he did so in direct and explicit words—unless the facts and circumstances as stated by him were sufficient to establish, or at least induce in the minds of the hearers the belief that the appellee was in fact guilty. That the direct and unequivocal charge of guilt was made, and the taker of the screens denounced as a thief, can not be omitted from consideration.
There was proof of such charge and denunciation. The instruction wholly ignores this evidence and this view of the law, and was properly refused.
A new trial was asked-because of newly discovered testimony. It seems, from the affidavits in support of this motion, that the appellee, prior to the trial of the slander suit, caused the appellant to be arrested and tried for an alleged assault, said to have been committed on the appellee at the time of the speaking of words about the taking of the screens.
At the trial of the appellant upon this charge of assault and battery, four of the witnesses who testified for the appellee in the slander suit, were witnesses, and gave testimony as to the same occurrence and conversation. The appellee insists that these witnesses, when testifying before the justice of the peace in the assault and battery case, did not state that the appellant called the appellee a thief, or charge that he had stolen his screens, as they did when testifying in the trial of the slander suit; that, in short, said witnesses changed their testimony, greatly to his surprise. In support of this appellant presented his affidavit and an affidavit of E. W. Braudica, who acted as his attorney before the justice.
The appellant was present at both trials and heard the witnesses testify on both occasions. It does not appear that he made the slightest effort to reproduce the testimony of these witnesses given before the justice, or that any questions were even propounded to the witnesses, or either of them, in the Circuit Court, as to their testimony upon the previous trial. Eo foundation was laid for the introduction of evidence as to their statements. The appellant could not thus sit silent and take the chances of a favorable verdict and reserve the right to demand another hearing if defeated.
The evidence, if heard, would not be conclusive or decisive, but merely cumulative, and not sufficient to warrant the vacation of the verdict and granting a new trial.
"We do not regard the damages as excessive. The jury were warranted in believing that the appellant charged the appellee with a theft anil denounced him as a thief, not only upon an occasion when he was angry, but also upon a subsequent time when he was not moved by the impulse of passion. The judgment must be and is affirmed.