McKillip v. Grays Harbor Publishing Co.

Citations

• 100 Wash. 657
• 171 P. 1026
• 1918 Wash. LEXIS 797

Syllabus

<p>Libel and Slander—Words Libelous Pee Se—Exposing Candidates to Obloquy. A newspaper article published of a candidate for office charging him with waging a campaign of slander and lies and vicious methods and with being on that account, unworthy of the office, is libelous per se, within Rem. Code, § 2424, relating to publications tending to expose any one to hatred or obloquy or to deprive him of public confidence or injure him in his business or occupation.</p> <p>Same—Words Libelous Per Se—Charging Crime. Such publication is libelous per se as charging the commission of a crime under Rem. Code, § 4964, denouncing the knowingly and wilfully making of any false assertion at any election concerning any candidate tending to prevent his election.</p> <p>Same—Privileged Communication—Falsehoods Concerning Candidates. The publication of charges against a candidate for office, libelous per se, knowing them to be false, is not privileged, under Rem. Code, § 2430, relating to communications addressed by and to persons concerned therein under reasonable grounds for an innocent motive, merely because addressed to and signed by electors; since the privilege is not, on its face, extended to falsehoods, but presents a mixed question of law and fact.</p> <p>Same—Privileged Communications—Pato Advertisements—Statutes. Rem. Code, § 4833, permitting the publication of “paid advertisements” of candidates for office, is restrictive, and does not extend the law of privilege or exempt the publisher from responsibility for libel.</p>