Case Name: Elisha Walling vs. Wm. Jennings
Court: Constitutional Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1821-01
Citations: 1 McCord 10
Docket Number: 
Parties: Elisha Walling vs. Wm. Jennings.
Judges: justices Nott, Johnson and Huger, concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 10–12

Head Matter:
Elisha Walling vs. Wm. Jennings.
A defendant imprisoned under an execution in a case of slander, is er.ti»tied to the benefit of the insolvent debtors act.
m JLHE defendant had been arrested on an execution, and applied for the benefit of the insolvent debtors act. This' was opposed by the plaintiff, on the ground that as the defendant was imprisoned in a case of slander, he was inclu* ded in the exceptions contained in the eighth clause of the act, which'is as follows :
“ Provided, that no person or persons shall be entitled “ to the benefit of this act, who shall be sued, impleaded, i4or arrested for damages recovered in any action for wilful “ maihem, or wilful and malicious trespass, or for danri u ages recovered in any action for voluntary and permissive “ waste, or for damages done to the freehold.” f 2 Brev. Dig- 153. Grimke, P. L. 251. J The plaintiffs counsel con* tended that the action of slander was an action of trespass j that when a plaintiff recovered, it was of course proved to be wilful and malicious; and consequently this was a case-comprehended within the very words of the act. He urged that the injury done to character by the slanderer was often times greater than that of maihem, or injuries to the freehold, and that it should therefore be inferred that the Legislature might as well mean to curb* the tongue of the licentious slanderer by perpetual imprisonment as to restrain those acts of violence done to the person or property of a citizen, which are clearly designated in the clause.
The presiding Judge was" of opinion, that he was entitled to the benefit of the act, and he was discharged. A motion was now made to reverse .the decision, as being contrary to law; and also that the plaintiff should be permitted to retake the defendant under the said execution.
.) By the terms “ wilful and malicious trespass,” the Legislature seem clearly to have meant what is called, “ malicious mischief” in the Sta. 22 and 23, Car. 2, ch. 7, (Grimke, P. L. 80. 2 Brevard Dig. 36, art. 9. R,

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Colcock
delivered the opinion ox the Court.
One of the best established rules in the construction, of statutes is, that where the Legislature use technical lan guage,that the technical meaning shall be applied. Now i take it, that the word trespass is technical, and so considered, will lead us to the obvious meaning of the Legislature. In all the elementary writers, and those who treat of the forms of actions, there is a clear and manifest distinction between trespass and case. In'treating of personal actions, the first grand division made by Mr. Chitty is ' into those which arise ex contractu, and those which arise ex delicto. In speaking of the latter, he says, personal actions in form ex delicto, and which are principally for the redress of wrongs unconnected .with contract are, Case, Trover, Detinue, Replevin, and Trespass vi et armis: and (in -the same page,) injuries, ex delicto, are in legal consideration committed with force ; as assaults and batteries, &c. or without force, as slander, &c. They are also immediate and direct, or mediate and consequential.
It is frequently difficult to determine when the inj ury is to be considered forcible or not, and when immediate or consequential, and therefore whether trespass or case is the proper remedy, (1 Chit. P. 122-3, Day's edi.) Here he makes a clear distinction between the actions of Trespass and Case; and in treating on the action of slander, he places it under the head of actions on the case. But further, Trespass, says Finch, supposes a wrong'to be done with force. Trespasses against a man's property may'be committed in divers ways'; as against his wife, children, &c. and against bis land, by carrying away deeds, cutting trees, spoiling grass, &c. Finch, 198, 201. Roll. Abridge 542, in a statute where even the word Trespass is used, unconnected with any other words, it implies an injury to the person or estate. But if this technical distinction is not sufficiently clear to shew that the Legislature meant to exclude from the benefit of the act only such as did commit acts of violence on the person or property wil-fully and maliciously, it is obvious from the other class of cases embraced in the clause. The first is majhem, a Word purely technical, and. which means any injury to the person which would render one less able to protect or defend himself. Tbis is the highest offence kno.wn in law against the person. The'third is voluntary and permissive waste, an injury to the property ; and the fourth, damages to the freehold, generally, which of cours.e is of the came character» This association points to the meaning of the Legislature, and plainly shews' that they meant to exclude from the humane provisions of this act only those who, instigated by malice, wjHully committed such acts against the person and property of the citizens, as would be most highly injurious anil lasting in their effects.' But what in my mind is conclusive on - the subject is this, that if the construction contended for by the plaintiffs should prevail, that the object of the law would be almost entirely defeated. For if slander can be embraced under the terms, so ipay all torts ; and should this bé' déíiied, I ask for the distinction ? None X think can be pointed out, for they are in one sense actions of trespass. This' is a remedial law, and in favor ofliberty. Its general provisions should therefore be liberally construed, and its exceptions confined within the narrowest bounds.
The motion is discharged.
justices Nott, Johnson and Huger, concurred.
Mr. Justice Gantt, dissented.