Abrams v. Foshee , 3 Iowa 274 ( 1856 )

Wright, C. J.

But one question is presented for our consideration by appellants, and that is, whether words charging a woman with causing or producing an abortion, are actionable in this state ?

The appellees claim, first, that as the instructions in chief, are not before us, we cannot say but that the instructions asked by appellants, were refused, because they had been previously giyen. The whole record rebuts any such presumption. The overruling of the demurrer, which raised substantially the same questions, clearly shows that on this point the court could not have instructed in chiei; as requested by appellants. And then, again, these instructions are asked in so many different forms, and refused in all, that we can hardly suppose, that the same view had been taken in the previous instructions. But still further, we would -be unwilling to allow a party to be prejudiced by the refusal oif the court to give a correct instruction, because the same may possibly have been giyen in instructions which have been lost, without his fault.

It is next claimed by appellees, that one count charges the defendant’s wife with having been guilty of adultery; that the proof may have been confined to that count alone; and if so, the instructions asked, were properly refused, on the ground of their inapplicability. The whole record, however, so unmistakably shows that the words charging the abortion, were those relied upon for a recovery, that we should be doing violence to suppose the instructions were refused as being inapplicable; and especially so, as nothing of the kind is intimated by the judge trying the cause, when refusing such instructions. We conclude, therefore, that the question is fairly presented, whether the instructions asked were correct, and should have been given.

To maintain an action of slander, the 'consequence of the words spoken, must be to occasion some injury or loss to the plaintiff, either in law or fact. As the declaration in this case, claims no special damages, or a loss or injury, in fact, we are left to inquire whether the charge referred to in the instructions refused, was of such a character as to amount to an injury in law. To determine this, it becomes material to ascertain in what cases this action may be maintained, without proof of special damages. Starkie, in his work on Slander, page 9, lays down the rule, that such action may be maintained “ when a person is charged with the commission of a crime; when an infectious disorder is imputed; and when the imputation affects the plaintiff in his office, profession, or business.” In this case, we only need examine the rule so far as it relates to the charge of a crime. And what is that rule? In Cox and wife v. Bunker and wife, Morris, 269, the Supreme Court of this territory, recognized the rule laid down in Miller v. Parish, 8 Pickering, 885, as the proper one. And in that case it is said, that “ whenever an offence is charged, which if proved, may subject the party to & punishment, though not ignominious, but which brings disgrace upon the party falsely accused, such an accusation is actionable. And this is, perhaps, as correct, and at the same time as brief a statement of the general rule, as has been given. For while the rule is variously stated, by different authors and judges, yet in all of them, it is laid down as necessary that the charge shall impute a punishable offence. To this there may be an exception in that class of cases, where the words relate to the reputation of a female for chastity. But of such charges, we shall have occasion to speak hereafter.

With this rule in view, then, we are to determine whether to charge a woman with procuring an abortion, in this state, ' since the first of July, 1851, is actionable per se. By the statute of 1843, the willful killing of an unborn quick child, by any injury, &c., was made manslaughter. Nevised Statutes, 1843, 167, § 10. This’ was repealed by the Code, which took effect, July 1, 1851. Since that time, it is conceded, we have no law punishing this offence by name. But it is claimed, that duch a child is a human being, within the meaning of section 2508, which provides, that whoever kills any human being, with malice aforethought, either express or implied, is guilty of murder. If this be so, then the charge would clearly impute a punishable offence, and would be actionable per se. But in this view, we cannot concur. It will be observed, that one of the instructions asked and refused, was, that to charge a woman with causing an abortion, was not actionable per se, in this state, since the first of July, 1851. The other is to the same effect, except that it uses the words, before the child is quick.” By abortion, we understand the act of miscarrying, or producing young before the natural time, or before the foetus is perfectly formed. And to cause or produce an abortion, is to cause or produce this premature bringing forth of this foetus. And, notwithstanding the infant in ventre sa mere, is treated by the law for some purposes, as born, or as a human being, yet we are not aware, that it has been so treated, so far as to make the act of causing its miscarriage murder, unless so declared by statute. And, certainly, independent of statute, it is not a punishable offence, when the child is not quick in the womb. When the child is born, however, it becomes a human being, within the meaning of the law; and if it shall then die, by reason of any potions or bruises it received in the womb, it would be murder in those who administered or gave them, with a view of causing the miscarriage.

In Nussell on Crimes, it is said, that “ an infant in the mother’s womh, not being in verum natura, is not considered as a person who can be killed, within the description of murder ; and, therefore, if a woman being quick or great with child, take any potion to cause an abortion, or if another give her any such potion, or if a person strike her, whereby the child within her is killed, it is not murder or manslaughter.” Russ, on Crimes, 390. The statute of 43 Geo. Ill, c. 58, provided, however, for the punishment of such offences, making the offence, when the child was quick in the mother’s womb, capital, and if not quick, a felony. The law is stated thus by Blackstone, in his Commentaries, Vol. I, p. 129, “If a ' woman is quick with child, and by a potion or otherwise, killeth it in her womb, and she is delivered of a dead child, this, though not murder, was by the ancient law, homicide or manslaughter. But the modern law doth not look upon this offence in quite so atrocious a light, but only as a heinous misdemeanorTo support an indictmentfor infanticide, at common law, the rule, as uniformly recognized, is that it must clearly appear, that the child was wholly born, and was born alive, having an independent circulation and existence. 3 Greenl. Ev. § 136. If a woman be quick with child, and by a potion or otherwise, killeth it in her womb, and she is delivered of a dead child, this is a great misprision, and no murder. 3 Coke Inst. 50. In Commonwealth v. Parker, 9 Metcalf, 263, it is held, not to be a punishable offence by the common law, to perform an operation upon a pregnant woman with her consent, for the purpose of procuring an abortion, and thereby to effect such purpose, unless the woman is quick with child. And to the same effect, is the case of the Commonwealth v. Bangs, 9 Mass. 387. See also the case of The State v. Cooper, 2 Zabriskie, 52; where this subject is very fully discussed, and many of the authorities collected. These authorities agree in holding, that to cause, or procure an abortion, before the child is quick, is not a criminal offence at common law, whatever it may be after the child is quick. And we think it to be equally true, that an infant in ventre sa mere, is not a human being within the meaning of section 2508 of the Code. It is certainly not such, before it is quick in the womb.

To charge a woman with causing or procuring an abortion, is not, therefore, to charge her with the crime of murder under our law; and there being no law punishing such an act in this state, at the time the words were spoken, we think the instructions asked, were improperly refused.

The counsel for appellees claim, however, that the ruling of the court below is sustained by the case of Reynolds v. Daily, decided in this court, in 1854. The opinion in that case we have not been able to see, and cannot, therefore, say with certainty, how far it is applicable. We understand, however, that the words spoken in that case, imputed a want of chastity to the plaintiff, who was an unmarried female, and that the ground assumed substantially, was, that such a charge would tend necessarily to exclude her from society, and render her infamous in the common sense of that term; and that such a charge was actionable, on the broad, plain ground, that it would immediately and necessarily tend to hinder her advancement in life. And, notwithstanding this may be regarded as a departure from the general rule, heretofore stated, we have no disposition to question its correctness. It is sustained by not a few well considered cases, and is founded in reason and justice. It has its origin, and receives its sanction, in that just jealousy and care with which the reputation of the female for chastity, is guarded in every civilized community. It is true, that courts hesitated in departing this much from the general rule, and many of them still hold that in the absence of a statute punishing adultery and fornication, words imputing a want of chastity are not actionable. And while we concur in what we understand to be the ruling in the case of Reynolds v. Daily, we do not think it can aid the plaintiff in this action. We think, the reasoning and argument in support of the actionable character of such a charge, cannot apply to the one alleged to have been made in this case. It is true, that to charge a woman with such an act, might injure her in the estimation of the community. And so might many other charges affect her good name, and yet not amount to tbe charge of a crime, so as to be actionable, -without the averment and proof of special damages. To say of her that she was a common tattler, or liar, or that she indulged in the use of profane, or vulgar language ; that she was a drunkard, or the like, would reasonably, if believed, have a tendency to bring her into disrepute, but such words would not be actionable per se. Rut to impute to her a want of chastity, is to charge her with the want of that, without which the female is necessarily and certainly driven beyond the circle of virtuous friends and acquaintances. Such a case is an exception to the general rule, is sustained by reasons that apply to it alone, because of the peculiar character of the charge, and beyond it, we are not willing to go at present.

The case of Malone v. Stewart and wife, 15 Ohio, 819, we do not believe to be law. It has not been followed, as far as we have been able to examine, by any other court, but, on the contrary, its correctness has been denied or questioned, and we think, with propriety. 1 American Leading Cases, 116.

Judgment reversed.