Burris v. . Bush, 87 S.E. 97 (N.C. 1915). · Go Syfert
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Burris v. . Bush, 87 S.E. 97 (N.C. 1915). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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R. F. Burris and Wife, Alice Burris
v.
John A. Bush.
Supreme Court of North Carolina.
Dec 8, 1915.
87 S.E. 97
W. C. Newland for plaintiff . No counsel for defendant .
ALLEN, J..
Cited by 2 opinions  |  Published

The statute (Rev., sec. 502) permits a defendant in actions for libel or slander to allege "both the truth of the matter charged as defamatory and any mitigating circumstances to reduce the amount of the damages; and, whether he prove the justification or not, he may give in evidence the mitigating circumstances," but, in the absence of a plea in justification or mitigation, evidence of the truth of the charge is incompetent. Upchurchv. Robertson, 127 N.C. 128; Dickerson v. Dial, 159, N.C. 541.

It follows that there is no error in excluding the evidence offered by the defendant.

No error.

Cited: Elmore v. R. R., 189 N.C. 673 (f); Pentuff v. Park, 194 N.C. 158 (f); Bryant v. Reedy, 214 N.C. 753 (f).