Case Name: Cooke v. O'Brien
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1810-12
Citations: 2 Cranch 17
Docket Number: 
Parties: Cooke v. O’Brien.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 17–17

Head Matter:
Cooke v. O’Brien.
In slander, the defendant may, in mitigation of damages, give evidence of the grounds of his belief of the truth of the charge which he has made.
Slander. The defendant said.the plaintiff was a perjured villain.
Mr. Jones, for the plaintiff,
objected, but the Gourt (nem. con.) permitted the evidence to be given. See Peake, L. E. 287, 2d Am. Ed. ...
Mr. Keg and- Mr. Laiu for the defendant.

Opinion:
The defendant, in mitigation of damages on the plea of not guilty, offered to give evidence of the grounds of his suspicion and belief that the plaintiff had committed-perjury.