Stafford v. Morning Journal Ass'n

O’BRIEN, J. The action was brought to recover damages for the publication in the Morning Journal of an article complained of as libelous, and which reads as follows: “Le Huray Sisters; Blanche, Stella, and Allien. Just from Paris. Massage, French style. Love secrets. How to get a husband. Inclose stamp. Valuable information for ladies by aid of cards. Le Huray Sisters, 444 2nd Ave., Mount Vernon, N. Y.” The defendant did not, in its answer or on the trial, claim that this was in any sense a privileged communication, nor did it attempt to justify, but set up and proved in mitigation that the matter was published as an advertisement received from a general advertising agency in the regular course of its business, and under the honest belief that it was authorized by the plaintiff; that, when it was informed by plaintiff’s husband that it was unauthorized by her, it at once offered to publish any retraction or explanation or correction in the columns of its newspaper, which offer was declined. The trial resulted in a verdict for $10,000, and all the questions presented upon this appeal relate to the exceptions taken to the admission or exclusion of evidence, and to requests to charge proposed by plaintiff, and to refusals to charge as requested by defendant. It is not claimed that the verdict is so large as to indicate that the jury were influenced by passion, partiality, prejudice, or corruption; and having in mind the rule that damages, in cases of this kind, are largely within the discretion of the jury, and regard being had to the nature of the libel, we do not think that we should disturb such verdict upon the ground that the damages awarded were excessive. The first exception urged is the permitting evidence to be given of the general reputation of the plaintiff for chastity and virtue. The complaint alleged that plaintiff was of “good character and repute, and enjoyed the respect of her friends and acquaintances, and of the community.’’ The answer stated that the defendant had “no knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the allegations contained in the first paragraph of said complaint.” Notwithstanding the issue thus presented, it is claimed that the evidence given by plaintiff in support thereof should not have been received; that this, being a superfluous and immaterial allegation, invited the denial, which was equally immaterial, thus rendering the issue itself immaterial, with respect to which the evidence could not have been received. We do not regard it as entirely clear that plaintiff was bound to rest upon the legal presumption as to her good character, in view of the issue thus raised, but if we assume that the appellant is right, and that the issue was a superfluous and immaterial one, no injury resulted to the defendant, from such proof, because, apart from any testimony, the plaintiff would have been entitled to have the court charge that the law presumed her good character, in the absence of any claim or testimony to the contrary, was established; and we have been referred to no case wherein a judgment has been disturbed in admitting evidence in support of a fact which the law presumed. The next exception relates to questions asked of plaintiff, upon [1010] her redirect examination, directed to eliciting information as to whether or not her mother had succeeded in getting rid of the lease of the house in Mt. Vernon, and what difficulty was experienced in finding a place for the sister. It. is true that neither the mother nor sister was a party to this action; but, when we consider the justification afforded by the defendant for such testimony, we do not think that it can be regarded as a violation ■of the discretion vested in the court, in extending somewhat the scope of plaintiff’s testimony. The defendant had indulged in a cross-examination which was directed to discrediting the plaintiff’s testimony relevant to her sufferings from the publication, by showing that thereafter she continued to reside at the place mentioned in the advertisement. We think that the inference thus sought to be raised against the plaintiff it was proper to rebut, on redirect, by allowing plaintiff to state the efforts which her mother had made to remove therefrom, and the impediments— among other things, the sister’s sickness—which delayed such removal. The third exception relates to the introduction of the column in the defendant’s paper headed “Astrology,” and in which column the libelous advertisement referring to plaintiff was published. This exception we regard as untenable; for as said in Kingsbury v. Bradstreet Co., 116 N. Y. 215, 22 N. E. Rep. 365, “the situation and surroundings of the most innocent expression may make it libelous, but they must be distinctly alleged and proved. The mere position in a newspaper of an advertisement apparently inoffensive, but surrounded by suggestive items, may make it a question for the jury whether it is libelous or not” The next exceptions to be considered are directed to evidence relating to the connection of Albert Pulitzer with the defendant. Such evidence tended to show that he was the editor and manager of its property and assets, and was empowered to determine what advertisements should go in or stay out; that -the character of advertisements similar to those published under the head of “Astrology” was called to his attention, and that he refused to exclude them from the paper; also, that prior publications, substantially in the same form, appeared in the “Astrology” column, for which a higher rate was charged than for other kinds of advertisements. Where, as here, the question of the good or bad faith with which a libelous article was published was at issue, the bearing that notice or knowledge of the character of such advertisement would have thereon rendered, we think, such testimony competent. The next exception relates to the excluding of certain questions asked by defendant on recalling plaintiff, as to what her husband told her as to his object in going to the office of the Morning Journal. Considering the order of proof, which is always in the discretion of the court, and the absence of any good argument advanced for holding the plaintiff bound by her husband’s conduct, or by the object which he had in view in visiting the office of the defendant, we do not think that the excluding of such evidence was •error. [1011] The next exceptions relate to the testimony admitted of letters of an insulting character received by the plaintiff, and also of visits made by men in the nighttime to plaintiff’s residence. It is true that no special damage upon this ground Avas alleged in the complaint; but Ave think it Avas competent to sIioav in Avhat sense the publication Avas understood by persons who, either by sending letters or making untimely visits in the night, annoyed and insulted the plaintiff. The defendant, upon the close of plaintiff’s case, moved to dismiss the complaint, and again, at the close of all the testimony, asked for a direction of a verdict in its favor, upon the ground that the article was not libelous per se. We think that the denial of both these motions was right, and, in view of the very satisfactory discussion of all the questions involved upon both motions, to be found in several recent cases in the court of appeals upon the subject of libel, we deem further discussion unnecessary. Moore v. Francis, 121 N. Y. 203, 23 N. E. Rep. 1127; Morey v. Association, 123 N. Y. 211, 25 N. E. Rep. 161; Hughes v. Jones, 116 N. Y. 73, 22 N. E. Rep. 446; Warner v. Publishing Co., 132 N. Y. 181, 30 N. E. Rep. 393. In addition to these exceptions, which we have thus briefly referred to, a great number are presented by the refusals to charge as requested by the defendant, and to exceptions taken to requests as made by the plaintiff. These we have considered, and fail to find that any error was committed in the rulings of the trial judge, who not only passed upon an unusual number of requests presented by defendant, but, in a fair and impartial charge, presented every question in a manner as favorable as defendant could legally demand. The most serious exception urged upon our attention is that relating to the admissibility of the inquisition and adjudication that one George H. Storrs was a lunatic. It was shown that this man, who was the husband of plaintiff’s sister, was responsible for the insertion of the libelous advertisement. His relation to the plaintiff, had he not been produced, would naturally have been commented upon unfavorably; and Ave do not understand that the appellant contends that it was incompetent to shoAv that at the time he presented the advertisement he Avas a lunatic, thus rebutting any inference that it was authorized in any way by plaintiff. The claim, as we understand it, is that the acts of Storrs, given in evidence, Avere prior to April, 1890, while the inquisition and adjudication that he Avas of unsound mind were in January, 1891. The record shows that the commissioners to inquire as to whether Storrs was of unsound mind, and with respect to other matters, were appointed by orders of this court entered on July 10 and 14, 1890, some few months subsequent to the publication. It may be that such a record is not even presumptive evidence that Storrs was of unsound mind at the time he was guilty of the acts given in evidence; but upon another ground, namely, to show the reason for the failure to produce Storrs as a witness for plaintiff, we think it was competent. Upon examining the entire case, we [1012] fail to find any error sufficient to justify our interfering with the verdict, and are therefore of the opinion that the judgment should be affirmed, with costs. VAN BRUNT, P. J., concurs.