Urban v. Helmick

Citations

• 15 Wash. 155
• 45 P. 747
• 1896 Wash. LEXIS 156

Syllabus

<p>LIBEL — QUESTION OP LAW — CONSTRUCTION.</p> <p>In civil actions, the question whether a publication constitutes libel is one of law to be determined by the court, where the language is unambiguous.</p> <p>In determining whether the language is libelous, it must be given its ordinary meaning, and the meaning cannot be extended by innuendo beyond what the words justify in connection with the extrinsic facts.</p> <p>It is not libelous per se to accuse some one of being deficient in some quality which the law does not require him as a good citizen to possess.</p> <p>A publication charging a hotel proprietor with being a “hog” for the reason that he would not trade at home and build up the home trade and town as much as possible, but sent to another city for supplies, because he wanted to make it all, is not libelous per se.</p>