Official statements of officers of state are absolutely privileged. Chatterton v. Secretary of State, [1895] 2 Q. B. 189; Spalding v. Vilas, 161 U. S. 483.
Statements of administrative officers. Farr v. Valentine, 38 App. D. C. 413; Haskell v. Perkins, 165 Ill. App. 144; Tanner v. Stevenson, 138 Ky. 578; Peterson v. Steenerson, 113 Minn. 87; Johnson v. Marsh, 82 N. J. Law, 4 (notice not to sell liquor to alleged drunkard); Bingham v. Gaynor, 203 N. Y. 27.
[462]. It is well settled that no action is allowed against a witness for damage caused by his perjury. Damport v. Sympson, Cro. El. 520, Ow. 158, 2 And. 47, s. c.; Eyres v. Sedgewicke, Cro. Jac. 601; Yelv. 142, 2 Roll. R. 197, S. C.; Wimberly v. Thompson, Noy, 6; Harding v. Bodman, Hutt. 11; Coxe v. Smithe, 1 Lev. 119; Taylor v. Bidwell, 65 Cal. 489; Bostwick v. Lewis, 2 Day, 447; Grove v. Brandenburg, 7 Blackf. 239; Dunlap v. Glidden, 31 Me. 435; Severance v. Judkins, 73 Me. 376, 379; Garing v. Fraser, 76 Me. 37; Phelps v. Stearns, 4 Gray, 105; Curtis v. Fairbanks, 16 N. H. 542; Smith v. Lewis, 3 Johns. 157; Cunningham v. Brown, 18 Vt. 123.
See Bell v. Senneff, 83 Ill. 122. Compare Schaub v. O’Ferrell, 116 Md. 131.
[463]. See also Taylor v. Bidwell, 65 Cal. 489; Curtis v. Fairbanks, 16 N. H. 542; Stevens v. Rowe, 59 N. H. 578.
[464]. A part of the opinion relating to points of pleading is omitted.
[465]. The arguments and the concurring opinions of Martin and Channell, BB., are omitted.
[466]. Risk Allah Bey v. Whitehurst, 18 L. T. Rep. 615; Hope v. Leng, 23 T. L. R. 243; Furniss v. Cambridge News, 23 T. L. R. 705; Todd v. Every Evening Co., (Del.) 62 Atl. 1089 (semble); Blodgett v. Des Moines Co., (Ia.) 113 N. W. 821; Billet v. Publishing Co., 107 La. 751 (semble); McBee v. Fulton, 47 Md. 403; Cowley v. Pulsifer, 137 Mass. 392; Conner v. Standard Co., 183 Mass. 474; Nixon v. Dispatch Co., 101 Minn. 309; Hawkins v. Globe Co., 10 Mo. App. 174; Boogher v. Knapp, 97 Mo. 122; Brown v. Knapp, 213 Mo. 655 (semble); Brown v. Globe Co., 213 Mo. 611; Thompson v. Powning, 15 Nev. 195; Edsall v. Brooks, 17 Abb. Pr. 221; N. Y. Code Civ. Proc., § 1907; Ackerman v. Jones, 37 N. Y. Super. Ct. 42; Salisbury v. Union Co., 45 Hun, 120; Hart v. Sun Co., 79 Hun, 358; Cincinnati Co. v. Timberlake, 10 Ohio St. 548; Metcalf v. Times Co., 20 R. I. 674; Saunders v. Baxter, 6 Heisk. 369; American Co. v. Gamble, 115 Tenn. 663; People v. Glassman, 12 Utah, 238 Accord.
So publication of copies from the register of judgments is privileged. Searles v. Scarlett, [1892] 2 Q. B. 56.
Publication of papers filed in the clerk’s office, but not produced in open court, is not privileged. Meeker v. Post Pub. Co., 45 Col. 355; Cowley v. Pulsifer, 137 Mass. 392; Lundin v. Post Pub. Co., 217 Mass. 213; Park v. Detroit Co., 72 Mich. 560; Barber v. St. Louis Co., 3 Mo. App. 377; Stuart v. Press Co., 83 App. Div. 467; Byers v. Meridian Printing Co., 84 Ohio St. 408; American Co. v. Gamble, 115 Tenn. 663; Houston Pub. Co. v. McDavid, (Tex. Civ. App.) 173 S. W. 467; Ilsley v. Sentinel Co., 133 Wis. 20.