Case Name: Joanna Lodge vs. Alexander O'Toole
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1898-03-02
Citations: 20 R.I. 405
Docket Number: 
Parties: Joanna Lodge vs. Alexander O’Toole.
Judges: Present : Matteson, C. J., Stiuess and Tillinghast, JJ.
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 405–406

Head Matter:
Joanna Lodge vs. Alexander O’Toole.
PROVIDENCE
MARCH 2, 1898..
Present : Matteson, C. J., Stiuess and Tillinghast, JJ.
Words which charge another with that which does not involve moral turpitude, and is not an offence either at common law or by statute, but only by ordinance, are not actionable iter se.
After a verdict for the plaintiff in an action based upon such words, the declaration alleging no special damage, a motion in arrest of judgment must be sustained.
Intoxication amounting to a violation of decency is made an offence only by ordinance of the several towns and cities and is not such at common law or by statute.
Trespass on the Case for slander.
Heard on defendant’s motion in arrest of judgment after verdict for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
Matteson, C. J.
The slander complained of is that the plaintiff was intoxicated to such a degree as to amount to a violation of decency. The offence of intoxication amounting to a violation of decency is not an offence at common law or by statute. It is made such merely by ordinances of the several towns and cities. In Seery v. Viall, 16 R. I. 517, it was held that, though words charging an offence involving moral turpitude and liable to punishment at common law or by statute are actionable per se, a charge of drunkenness, as it does not involve moral turpitude and is not an offence either at common law or by statute, but only by ordinance, is not actionable per se. We are of the opinion that the present suit is within this decision, and, consequently, that, as the declaration alleges no special damages, the motion in arrest of judgment must be sustained.
C. Frank Parkhurst, for plaintiff.
James A. Williams, for defendant.
Judgment arrested, and case remitted to the Common Pleas-Division.