Kelley v. Dillon

Mary Arm Dillon, an unmarried woman, brought an action of slander against Patrick Kelley and Margaret Kelley, his wife, for words spoken by the wife, imputing a want of chastity.

Several classes of words are set out in the declaration, charging that Margaret Kelley had said, that “ Mary Ann Dillon had a child“it is rumored that Mary Ann Dillon had a child;” “there is a report that Mary Ann Dillon had a child,” &c.

The defendants appeared, at the August term, 1851, and filed the general issue, and a special plea setting forth the different classes of words in the declaration which charge the…