Childers v. Nesselroad

• Decision Date: 12 July 1948
• Docket Number: 40544
• Citation: 212 S.W.2d 727,357 Mo. 1218
• Parties: Ira L. Childers, Appellant, v. Orley E. Nesselroad, William D. Cunningham, C. B. Polk, Walter N. Moore, Russell Armentrout and Clarence A. Porter
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

212 S.W.2d 727

357 Mo. 1218

Ira L. Childers, Appellant, v. Orley E. Nesselroad, William D. Cunningham, C. B. Polk, Walter N. Moore, Russell Armentrout and Clarence A. Porter

No. 40544

Supreme Court of Missouri

July 12, 1948

Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court; Hon. Emory H. Wright Judge.

Affirmed.

Homer A. Cope and Walter A. Raymond for appellant.

(1) Plaintiff's fourth amended petition alleges the necessary facts to state a cause of action for libel. Sec. 4758, R.S 1939; Link v. Hamlin, 270 Mo. 319, 193 S.W. 587; Laun v. Union Electric Co., 350 Mo. 572, 166 S.W.2d 1065; Julian v. Kansas City Star, 209 Mo. 35, 107 S.W. 496; McGinnis v. George Knapp & Co., 109 Mo 131, 18 S.W. 1134; Leedy v. Wolf, 199 S.W. 1002; Art. I, Sec. 8, Missouri Constitution. (2) The petition sufficiently alleges the application to the plaintiff of the defamatory matter in the publication. Sec. 53, New Civil Code of Missouri; Merriam v. Star-Chronicle Pub. Co., 29 S.W.2d 201. (3) The allegations of the petition were sufficient to raise the issue that plaintiff was charged with criminal libel in sending libelous matter through the United States mail. Sec. 44, Missouri Code of Civil Procedure; 18 U.S.C.A., Secs. 334, 541; United States v. Limehouse, 285 U.S. 424, 52 S.Ct. 412; Connell v. A.C.L. Haase & Sons Fish Co., 302 Mo. 48, 257 S.W. 760; Tilles v. Publishing Co., 241 Mo. l.c. 632, 145 S.W. l.c. 1149. (4) The petition alleges that the defendants attributed the libelous letter Exhibit A to plaintiff by a written statement circulated by the defendants. Such written charge tended to provoke plaintiff to wrath, to expose him to public hatred, contempt and ridicule, and to deprive him of the benefits of public confidence and social intercourse and therefore stated a cause of action for libel good as against a motion to dismiss. Sec. 4758, R.S. 1939; Chicago, S.F. & C. Ry. Co. v. Eubanks, 109 Mo. 54, 18 S.W. 1134; Cook v. Globe Printing Co., 227 Mo. 471, 127 S.W. 332; Seested v. Post Printing & Pub. Co., 326 Mo. 559, 31 S.W.2d 1045; 53 C.J.S., p. 68; Reiman v. Pacific Development Society, 132 Ore. 82, 284 P. 575; 36 C.J., p. 1172, sec. 48. (5) The petition sufficiently alleges falsity of the matter published. Seested v. Post Printing & Publishing Co., 326 Mo. 559, 31 S.W.2d 1045; Conrad v. Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., 228 Mo.App. 817, 73 S.W.2d 438; Cook v. Printing Co., 227 Mo. 471, 127 S.W. 332. (6) Publication. Becker v. Brinkop, 230 Mo.App. 871, 78 S.W.2d 538. (7) Malice. Ex parte Nelson, 251 Mo. 63, 157 S.W. 794; Hoeffner v. Western Leather Clothing Co., 161 S.W.2d 722. (8) Damages. Sec. 4758, R.S. 1939; Roney v. Organ, 176 Mo.App. 234, 161 S.W. 868; Williams v. Turnbull, Mo. App., 232 S.W. 172.

Frank P. Barker, Lambert T. Boyd, Jr., and Winger, Barker & Winger for respondents.

(1) The petition did not state a cause of action for libel. The innuendo is unwarranted and its insufficiency can be reached by motion to dismiss. 53 C.J.S., Libel and Slander, sec. 162(b), pp. 250, 252; 33 Am. Jur., Libel and Slander, sec. 240, p. 220; Diener v. Star-Chronicle Publishing Co., 230 Mo. 613, 132 S.W. 1143; Diener v. Star-Chronicle Publishing Co., 232 Mo. 416, 135 S.W. 6; McWilliams v. Workers' Printing Co., 188 Mo.App. 504, 174 S.W. 464; Grossman v. Globe-Democrat Pub. Co., 347 Mo. 869, 149 S.W.2d 362; Hylsky v. Globe-Democrat Pub. Co., 348 Mo. 83, 152 S.W.2d 119; Julian v. Kansas City Star, 200 Mo. 35, 107 S.W. 496; 28 Mo. R.S.A., Const., 1875, Art. II, Sec. 14, notes 21 and 28; Lee v. W.E. Fuetterer Bat. & Sup. Co., 323 Mo. 1204, 23 S.W.2d 45; McGinnis v. George Knapp & Co., 109 Mo. 131, 18 S.W. 1134. (2) Sending the letter (Exhibit A) through the United States mail did not violate the federal statute. The letter was not nonmailable. Knowles v. United States, 170 F. 409; United States v. Barlow, 56 F.Supp. 795; Knowles v. United States, 29 F.2d 248; Swearingen v. United States, 151 U.S. 446, 16 S.Ct. 562; United States v. Limehouse, 285 U.S. 424, 52 S.Ct. 412.

Westhues, C. Bohling and Barrett, CC., concur.

OPINION

WESTHUES

This is an action for libel wherein plaintiff prayed for an award of actual damages in the sum of $ 50,000 and for a like amount as punitive damages. The trial court sustained defendants' motion to dismiss on the ground that plaintiff's fourth amended petition failed to state a cause of action. From the judgment entered plaintiff appealed.

The sufficiency of the petition is the only issue presented on this appeal. Plaintiff in his brief has made a fair statement of the contents of the petition. With some modifications the statement reads as follows:

"Said petition alleged in substance as follows:

"That prior to November 25, 1946, defendant Walter N. Moore received an anonymous letter through the United States mail, photostatic copies of said letter and envelope being attached to the petition and marked Exhibits A and B; that the contents of said letter 'were scandalous, obscene, defamatory, vicious, vile and false and which letter was libelous in character.'"

In the next paragraph plaintiff outlines the contents of the anonymous letter in question. We deem a few lines relating thereto sufficient. The letter was addressed to "Deacon Moore" and in it the writer accused Moore and other deacons of the church of scandalous conduct. Suffice to say here that the letter was libelous. Plaintiff's statement then continues as follows:

"The petition further alleged that on or about the 25th day of November, 1946, at a meeting in the . . . Church in Kansas City, Missouri, open to and attended by members of the church and the public generally the defendants by common design acting through the defendant C. B. Polk 'maliciously contriving and intending to injure plaintiff in his good name, fame and reputation and deprive him of the benefits of public confidence and social intercourse' did falsely, etc., publish and circulate of and concerning plaintiff a written statement containing the false and libelous language that, due to certain statements attributed to Bro. Childers made by various members of the church to the pastor and the board, and on account of disturbance caused by printing and circulating anonymous statements tending to confusion among the membership, the Board of Deacons recommended that a charge of uncooperativeness and promotion of factions be made against the brother and member Ira Childers; that a council of three ministers be called to sit with the church, hear the statements of all parties, weigh the evidence and render to the church its findings and make recommendations for appropriate action; said statement being signed by C. B. Polk, clerk of the Board.

"In connection with the pleading of the last above written statement plaintiff pleaded the innuendo that plaintiff was the author of and responsible for the circulation of the letter, exhibit A to the petition.

"The petition further alleged that the defendants placed in the hands of the members of the church and others printed copies of the aforesaid writing calling for a trial of plaintiff; that the defendants thereby meant and intended to charge that plaintiff had been guilty of sending the letter, exhibit A, and was guilty of sending obscene and threatening matter through the mails, which was criminal libel and an offense against the Federal Government; that said statement was so understood by persons reading the same. . . .

"The petition further alleged that said statements were false and untrue and by reason thereof plaintiff was greatly embarrassed, humiliated and injured in his good name, fame and reputation, was exposed to public hatred, contempt and ridicule, was deprived of the benefits of public esteem and social intercourse and made sick and nervous." (Italics Ours.)

The italicized portion of the above statement is an exact quotation from the statement alleged to have been published and circulated at the church meeting. Plaintiff contends the defendants, by circulating the statement, intended to and did charge that plaintiff was the author of the anonymous letter addressed to defendant Moore.

In libel cases it is sufficient if the published matter intimates or insinuates that a person has been guilty of conduct which would tend to subject him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, or would in any way injure his good name. 53 C.J.S. 47, Sec. 10 and Page 57, Sec. 13; Sec. 4758, R.S. Mo. 1939, Mo. R.S.A.

The gist of plaintiff's claim is, that accusing him of being the author of the anonymous letter constituted libel. It is his claim that the statement published and circulated among the church people present at the meeting amounted to such an accusation. D...