COLLOQUIUM

One of the usual parts of the declaration in an action for slander. It is a general averment that the words complained of were spoken “of and concerning the plaintiff,” or concerning the extrinsic matters alleged in the inducement, and Its office is to connect the whole publication with the previous statement Van Vechten v. Hopkins, 5 Johns. (N. Y.) 220, 4 Am. Dec. 839; Lukehart v. Byerly, 53 Pa. 421; Squires v. State, 39 Tex. Cr. It 96, 45 S. W. 147, 73 Am. St Rep. 904; Vanderlip v. Roe, 23 Pa. 82; McClaughry v. Wetmore, 6 Johns. (N. YJ 82, 5 Am. Dec. 194. An averment that the words in question are spoken of or concerning some usage, report, or fact which gives to words otherwise indifferent the peculiar defamatory meaning assigned to them. Carter v. Andrews, 16 Pick. (Mass.) 6.