Lewis v. Daily News Co.

Citations

• 81 Md. 466
• 29 L.R.A. 59
• 32 A. 246
• 1895 Md. LEXIS 69

Syllabus

<p>Libel— What is Actionable per se — Innuendo—Demurrer.</p> <p>Falsely to publish of one that he “would be an anarchist if he thought it would pay,” is libellous per se.</p> <p>Every publication injurious to one’s reputation is in law false and malicious until the presumption of falsehood is met by plea of the truth, or the presumption of malice is removed by showing a justifiable occasion or motive.</p> <p>Upon a demurrer to the declaration in an action for libel, it is for the Court to determine whether the words charged amount in law to a libel, and whether the innuendo is fairly warranted by the language declared on.</p> <p>An innuendo cannot enlarge, or add to the sense of the words declared on or properly impute to them a meaning which the publication either in itself or taken in connection with the inducement and colloquium does not warrant or fairly imply.</p>