Edward E. Holt and Josephine Holt v. Boyle Brothers, Inc., a Corporation, Trading & Doing Business as Regal of Washington, Inc., a Corporation

EDGERTON, Circuit Judge.

The Holts, husband and wife, sued Boyle Brothers, Inc., herein called Boyle, for slander, libel and malicious abuse of process. The District Court directed a verdict for the defendant and the plaintiffs appeal.

The essential facts are undisputed. Holt is a civilian employee of the United States at the Naval Research Laboratory. Boyle is a corporation engaged in the retail clothing business. Though the Holts had never dealt with Boyle and owed Boyle nothing, Boyle telephoned Holt at the Laboratory and demanded payment of an alleged debt. Holt assured Boyle that neither…