Ayers v. Grider

The words charged are, that Grider stole the knife and money and purse of Ayers; that he took his knife and money and purse, and that these last were spoken in a slanderous sense, imputing theft, and were so understood by the hearers.

By the proofs it appears that Grider was town constable in Marion, and as such had, a few days before, arrested Ayers in the public square for a breach of the town ordinances, and took away his knife, which he afterwards gave to one Pulley. Grider was in Pulley’s store, when Ayers came in and said to him, Go and take up those men in the public square ; he replied…