Sheibley v. Nelson

Root, C. The pleadings in this case are referred to at length in an opinion of Mr. Commissioner Duffie on a former appeal to this court, 75 Neb. 804. Upon the second trial a jury found for defendant, and plaintiff again appeals. 1. In its fourth instruction the court informed the jury “that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to prove by a preponderance of the evidence all the allegations of his petition which are not admitted by the answer”; and in its second instruction told them that the answer admitted the publication, but denied that it was published “falsely, wickedly or maliciously or with intent to injure or defame plaintiff,” but charges that, in so far as it referred to .plaintiff, the same was true. On the former appeal it was held that the article was libelous per se. Since that opinion was written section 4Qd of the criminal code, [395] which attempted to provide penalties for blackmail, etc., has been held void in Greene v. State, 83 Neb. 84, but section 46a of said code, defining blackmail, still exists. Independent of any statute, the popular definition of the word “blackmailer” describes an odious creature. AYe are still of opinion that to print and circulate a statement that one is a blackmailer, and has been guilty of circulating false, malicious and blackmailing stories of and concerning another person, is libelous per se. On the trial of the case plaintiff admitted that he had never resided in Cedar connty, and had never affiliated with the fusion party. The term “fusionist” has a well-known meaning in Nebraska, and is descriptive of those individuals who support candidates for elective offices nominated by the joint action of electors of the democratic and people’s independent parties, or their representatives. So much of the alleged libel as referred to the fusionists of Cedar county was therefore immaterial. There remained, then, for consideration the charges that plaintiff was a blackmailer, and had circulated false, malicious and slanderous stories concerning McCarthy. The justification is indefinite, so that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to say from an inspection of the pleadings what was admitted and what denied. The rule is well settled that a defendant may justify as to part of the charge, provided such part contains a distinct imputation which can be separated from the rest. Odgers, Libel and Slander (4th ed.), 180. Plaintiff did not by motion or demurrer test the sufficiency of the answer, and the trial proceeded on the evident theory that the parties and the court assumed that the answer amounted to a partial justification. The alleged libel contains several charges, and defendant should have plainly indicated the part thereof he claimed was true. The Franz transaction referred to'in the affidavit of McLean, and more fully detailed in Mrs. Franz’ affidavit, seems to have been one of the slanderous stories referred to in the publication. Malice in law will be presumed from the publication of an article libelous [396] per se, and that presumption will become conclusive unless the truth of the libel is established. Such malice does not mean hatred or ill will, but the want of legal excuse for the publication. Damages will also be presumed from the publication of an article libelous per se. Bee Publishing Co. v. World Publishing Co., 59 Neb. 713; Sheibley v. Fales, 75 Neb. 823; Prewitt v. Wilson, 128 Ia. 198; Conroy v. Pittsburg Times, 139 Pa. St. 334, 23 Am. St. Rep. 188; Childers v. San Jose Mercury P. & P. Co., 105 Cal. 284, 45 Am. St. Rep. 41. If the defendant justified the publication of the charge that plaintiff was a blackmailer, or that he was guilty of circulating the aforesaid slanders, and failed in the proof, both defendant’s malice and plaintiff’s damage would be presumed. The record discloses that defendant did offer evidence to prove that plaintiff was guilty of circulating such stories, and the fourth instruction given was erroneous. 2. The learned trial judge in his eleventh instruction informed the jurors that “there is no evidence whatever in this case tending to prove the truth of such slanderous stories against McCarthy.” Defendant himself, without any objection, introduced in evidence copies of the Franz, Ferber and Drager affidavits. While all of those affidavits were ex parte and the Ferber one hearsay, they were sworn to, and no question was made concerning the accuracy of the statements therein contained. J. H. Brown also testified in detail in his deposition that plaintiff told him about the Franz transaction, and that deposition was introduced in evidence and read to the jury. The tendency of all of those statements would be to induce some belief in the existence of the transactions therein referred to. Verdicts may result from hearsay testimony and be sustained where that evidence is permitted without objection to go to the jury; its probative force under those circumstances being for the jury, and not the court, to determine. 1 Elliott, Evidence (2d ed.), secs. 330; 331; Damon v. Carrol, 163 Mass. 404; State v. Cranney, 30 Wash. 594; Goodall v. Norton, 88 Minn. 1; Lindquist v. [397] Dickson, 98 Minn. 369. There being some relevant evidence concerning said fact, the court erred in taking that issue away from the jury. Wiese v. Gerndorf, 75 Neb. 826. 3. We are also of opinion that the spontaneous statements made by Mrs. Franz to Mrs. Sheibley and the appearance of the former woman at the time it is claimed that she came to the latter’s home for protection were competent, and should have been admitted in evidence. 3 Wigmore, Evidence, secs. 1747, 1753; Bow v. People, 160 Ill. 438; State v. Carter, 106 La. 407. The other objections to the rulings of the court turn upon a construction of defendant’s answer. In Williams v. Fuller, 68 Neb. 362, we held that one may not deny that he published an article of and concerning plaintiff:, and be permitted to prove the truth of his publication. In the instant case it is not altogether clear what charge in the publication is justified, but, for the reasons heretofore stated, we do not think that we should hold that the answer is absolutely bad. Sheibley v. Fales, 81 Neb. 795. In the state of the record the court did not err in admitting evidence on the plea of justification. For the errors referred to, it is recommended that the judgment of the district court be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings. Fawcett and Calkins, CC., concur. By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings. Revebsed.