Libel—Definition.—Libel is a false and unprivileged publication which exposes any person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or which causes him to he shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him in his business.

Id.—Liability of Newspaper Proprietor—Knowledge of Publication. The proprietor of a newspaper in which a libel is published, though he had no knowledge of the publication at the time, is as responsible for it as he would have been if it had been done by him personally, or under his direct supervision. _____

_____ Id.—Malice.—To constitute libel there must be{malicejaetnal or implied, on the part of the publisher, the malice being actual when the publication is made through motives of ill-will and with intent to injure or defame; and is implied or presumed in law when the article published is libelous per se.

Id.—Exemplary Damages—Mitigating Circumstances—Actual Damages.—Where the defendant has been guilty of malice, actual or presumed, the jury may give exemplary damages; but the defendant may prove any mitigating circumstances to reduce the amount of the damage, and may prove that there was no malice in fact to prevent exemplary damages; but such proof is not sufficient to defeat the action or to prevent the plaintiff from recovering such damages as he has actually sustained by reason of the publication.

Id.—Mistake in Name of Person Libeled—Actual Damages. —Where a published article is libelous per se, the fact that it was made to apply to the plaintiff by mistake in his initials, and was intended to apply to another person, does not justify or excuse the publication, and whether such publication was by design, or was the result of carelessness in setting the type, is a matter of no consequence so far as the question of actual damages is involved.

Id.—Correction or Retraction—Pleading—Evidence—Mitigation of Damages.—A correction, or retraction of the mistake or error may be properly pleaded and given in evidence, but can operate only in mitigation of damages, and not as a full defense to the action.

id. —Exemplary Damages—Question of Fact—Absence of Ill-will— Instruction to Jury.—The question whether there was such malice on the part of the defendant as would entitle the defendant to recover exemplary or punitive damages is ordinarily one of fact for the jury; but where it is clearly established that the publication was not made by reason of any ill-will against plaintiff, or with any intention to injure or defame him, the plaintiff is not entitled to exemplary or punitive damages, and the court may so instruct the jury.

Id.—Nominal Damages — Injury, to Feelings—Pleading.—In considering the amount of actual damage the jury must consider the injury to the plaintiff’s feelings, and it is not necessary that damages resulting from such injury be specially alleged, or that proof of such injury be specially given.

Id.—Question of Damages for Injury—Nominal Damages—Maxim.— In an action for libel the question of damages is for the jury; and the court cannot assume as matter of law that plaintiff is entitled to only nominal damages; nor can a verdict for the defendant be allowed to stand, under the maxim de minimis non curat lex, upon a claim that the plaintiff was entitled at most to only nominal damages.