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12 S.C.L. 562

Stokes v. Stuckey

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided May 15, 1822

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1822-05-15

Tried before Mr. Justice Gantt, Sumter district, Spring, Term, 1822. Slander. TChÉ words charged and proved* were “ you did steal my brothers cotton and I can prove it.” The words appeared to have been spoken in relation to some cotton, >vbich had been sent to plaintiff’s gin, by a brother of the defendant.

Decided 1822-05-15

Mr. Justice Gantt

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The motion for a nonsuit was properly overruled. The evidence is by no means certain, to shew that the expression did specifically allude to the circumstance of the cotton carried to the plaintiff’s gin; it was rather an inference of the counsel, than the conclusion of the witness, or judge presiding.

¶3The witness only supposed, and perhaps correctly, that such was the allusion of the defendant, in making use of the expression he did. But although that were the fact, it would not alter the law of the case.

¶4The plaintiff might steal cotton entrusted with him to gin. He might be guilty of such a breach of trust, as would amount to a felony; and this he was charged with having done in the present case.

¶5There is no ground of appeal in this case, and the motion is refused.

Justices Nott, Cokoek, Éichardson and Huger, concurred.
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