Page:North Dakota Reports (vol. 48).pdf/662

 D. W. LEONARD, Appellant, v. LOUIS P. ROBERGE, Respondent.

Libel and slander—language held not libelous per se.

The defendant in answering a newspaper article published by the plaintiff of and concerning the defendant said inter alia that the plaintiff “tells falsehoods in that He says he does things in all fairness.” Held that these words must be construed in connection with the subject to which they relate, and in light of the undisputed facts and circumstances, and that when so construed they are not libelous per se.

From a judgment of the district court of Rolette County, Kueeshaw, plaintiff appeals.

Affirmed.

Fred E. Harris, for appellant.

Special damages need not be alleged where article is libelous per se. R. C. L. Vol. 17 p. 264; Morse v. Times-Republican Printing Co. 100 N. W. 867.

To publish that a man is a liar or that he utters falsehoods is libelous per se. Cyc. Vol. 25 at p. 255; 17 R. C. L. 289; Prewitt v. Wilson, 103 N. W. 365, (Iowa); Morgan v. Andrews, 64 N. W. 869, (Mich.); Sanford v. Rowley, 52 N. W. 1119, (Mich.); Trebby v. Transcript Pub. Co. 76 N. W. 961, (Minn.); Munson v. Eathrop et al., 71 N. W. 596, ( Wis.); Candrian v. Miller, 73 N. W. 1004, (Wis.); Holston v. a a et al., gg N. W. 203, (Minn.).

“Publications calculated to expose one to public contempt or ridicule are libelous, although they involve no imputation of crime, and are action- able without a special allegation of damages.” Morse v. Times-Republican Printing Co. 100 N. W. 867, (Iowa); Peterson v. Western Union Telegraph Co. 167 N. W. 646, (Minn.); Byram v. Aiken, et al, 67 N. W. &7 (Minn.); Sheibley v. Huse, 106 N. W. 1028 (Neb.)

Verret & Stormon, for the respondent.