Simpson

On March 24, 1949, appellee, C. H. Simpson, a citizen of Oregon, brought an action against appellant, Reserve Life Insurance Company, a Texas corporation, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. In and by that action, appellee sought to recover of appellant $33,400 and costs. Appellant answered, jury trial was waived, there was a trial without a jury, findings of fact and conclusions of law were stated, and on September 8, 1951, a judgment was entered for appellee for $8,-500 and costs. This appeal is from that judgment.

The District Court found the facts to be as follows: Prior to February 4, 1949, appellee was employed by appellant in Oregon. On or about February 4, 1949, appellee resigned from appellant’s employment and secured employment in Oregon with Inter-Ocean Insurance Company. Thereafter, in- February, 1949, appellant, through its agents, spoke and published, in the hearing of sundry and divers persons, slanderous words of and concerning appellee, stating that appellee was “irresponsible,” “crooked,” “guilty of defalcations in his accounts,” “a trouble maker” and “a crook;” that appellee “stole all the company records,”. “had stolen company…