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3 Pen. & W. 102

Kellogg v. Cary

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 15, 1831

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1831-09-15

This was an action of slander in which James Cary was plaintiff, and Isaac Kellogg defendant. The actionable words were, in substance, that Kellogg charged Cary with stealing a five dollar note. The defendant offered to prove that other persons in the neighbourhood spoke of'their suspicions of Cary, before the time when the alleged slanderous words were spoken by Kellogg.

Decided 1831-09-15

Per Curiam.

¶1The assignment of error in respect to the amendment, is disposed of by the decision in Proper v. Luce, at the present term; and the evidence contained in the bill of exceptions, seems to have been properly rejected. Had the defendant offered to show that suspicions entertained by others, had been communicated to him before the speaking of the words, the evidence might have beenpi-oper to rebut the implication of malice, or to estimate the damages. But the abstract suspicions of third persons, of which he appears to have been ignorant, could form no apology for his accusation of an innocent man, who ought not to be further prejudiced by having his cause subjected, not to the evidence of facts, but the influence of popular impi’essions.

¶2Judgment affirmed,

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