Supreme Court of Minnesota December 31, 1909, Nos. 16,298—(104) (Tawney v. Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Co.)

JAGGARD, J.

(after stating the facts not within [ ] as above).

1. The initial question is whether the trial court erred in holding that as a matter of law the words used were not libelous per se.

A number of relevant principles are beyond controversy. Published words may be defamatory per se; that is, defamatory without proof of special damage. As to what constitutes such words, Mr.