Springfield Republican

"THAT UNRULY MEMBER."

An extraordinary case of slander was lately determined in the Supreme Court of Ohio, which illustrates the necessity of women holding their tongues, and that iron rule of the law, which makes the husband responsible in damages for the slanderous expressions of his wife. About three years ago Mrs. Copeland charged Mrs. White with stealing her "geranium pot," and published the words to several persons. Mr. White and wife commenced an action against Mr. C. and wife in an inferior court, and obtained a verdict for one thousand dollars—the defendant's counsel moved upon a bill of exceptions alleging that no slander would lay in the words, because the geranium was in the nature of a tree, and the taking of a tree was only a trespass, and not a felony. The cause was sent down again—was tried, and the counsel for the plaintiff waived the tree and went for the pot. The jury on the second trial were incensed at the quibble and gave a vindictive verdict—$3000 damages and costs!—it being proved to them he received $10,000 by his wife on his marriage. The defendant, by his counsel, moved for a new trial on the ground of excessive damages, and a rule was granted on payment of the plaintiff's whole costs, which amounted to over one thousand dollars. The cause was again tried, and by an untoward fatality, which his eminent counsel could not control, although every effort was made in his behalf the jury returned a verdict of three thousand five hundred dollars damages and costs. By this time the defendant was heartily sick of the law, and not willing to agree with his adversary, determined to avoid the payment of the judgment, by transferring his property to his brother-in-law. The powerful fangs of a bill of discovery drew out the fact of the transfer, and the perjury of the defendant's answer put the affair in a new, but more fearful light. When the truth flashed on his mind that ruin was fast gathering around him, he had a conference with the plaintiff and settled their difficulties by paying him the verdict costs, $7529 31, besides the fees of his own counsel.