M'Laughlin v. M'Makin

— Charged the jury, that the paper in which the publication was made appeared to be a literary and general newspaper. The question was whether this publi*133cation was made with a malicious intent to injure the character of the plaintiff. If it was a mere case of a publication of the proceedings of the court, without malice, the plaintiff could not recover. In this country, the proceedings of courts of justice are open to criticism and examination. The proceedings of the courts are matters fit for public information, and may be published by every printer, if he is not actuated by a malicious intent. It was a question for the jury in this case to decide whether any malice had been proved against the defendant. Here, the press is free: it has been called the bulwark of freedom, and where it is not licentious, it should be protected.

Verdict for defendant.*