The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-06
Common Pleas.

SEPT. S-Frdnces Common ps. John W. Lefsem, G. W.
Mdfsei and james LenndnThis action for false
imprisonment and constructive assault and battery The
plaintiff literary lady, the defe ndant Lesom is in bu-
sness in Wall street the defendant Matse is Chief of
the Star Poce and Lehman is his fir aid The crcum
stances which give rise 10 this action as follows
Miss Connor about year ago brought an action awan,
Mr. and Mrs Pennfod, with whom She formerly board.
ad for the alleged detention and abstraction some of
her literary productions i seems that Mr. and Mrs
Pennfold were members of temperance society and
Miss Connor alleged that her was in u ced at
some OF their meetings. in consequence Of which, she
rade against them 10 MIR Judeon her attorney to be- nd
vised by him. whether she should take legal
advised hef against it to this she wrote replv 10 Mr.
Jadson put in Boyds yand luck would have
H. instead Of delivering the letter to Mr. Judson it was
delivered by one of Mr.. Boyd's Carriers to Mr. Lctsom
The following is Mr. Boyd's testimony The letter was
shown to Mr. Boyd he said it appeared to be dated the
srd OF September last and brought to his office and
was given to of the carriers distribution il was
nearly impossible to read the superscripton il was
knowledge it. and it was returned It was again taken
out by the same carrier but it found impos TO
decipher the name and was again returned the next
day was again sent out at IL O'clock and met with no
better fate. II was then thrown on Mr. Boyd's
desk and remained there for two or three days at
remarked hatit for customer of his in wall street
and famed MIR. Letsom upon which Mr.. Boyd desired
heard nothing of it, until Miss Conner called On
him and stated the circumstances in relation that
she was in pursuit Of it, that she was extreme
tleman would open it. Mr.. Boyd stated to her
how the letter had been disposed Of and added that
he hoped Mr. Letsom would not open ii he at the same
time gave directions to the carrier to cali on Mr. Letsom
and get back The two carriers to Letsom's Of
nee SIX mmes for the letter but did not
meantime Miss ConnOr called repeatedly the witness
and he at length wrote letter 10 Letsom on the sub
lect put received no answer upon which. he went to
his Office and the letter his desk took it up and
found 1t was opened and then threw it down again The
found him in the act Of perusing the letter Mr Let
som appeared at the time to be little agated abou its
cOnea and remarked that as there was shortly before
an abduction Of one OF our most respectable citizens he
thought to be his Lesoms) duty to hold the letter He
also said there was something in it about Mr. Cough
and ne would not deliver to witness but would deliver
It to the chief of police The witness told Letsom that
the lady would be at his Office such an hour and that
that he would 60 Immediately the chief and hand the
letter to him Mr. Boyd then stated he knew nothing
more OF the transaction he was not present when Miss
dincuity he had in decypherng the letter. it Icing writ
ten in sort Of hyerogyphic characters, except the
penis, and antirenters," all of which we're written in
plain English, became alarmed and remembering the
did at the time, came to the sag. many others
thatthere was something mysterious about the lee r.
and that it contained some furve meaning which might
have reference to himself that is that writer had
laid some trap for him. and that in all human probability
it was intended he should be the tim He with
Of caution, went to the Chief and laid
the whole matter before him. Mr. Letsom being q res
pectable CITIZEN the Chief felt it his duty to lake his
complaint, and moreover, upon examining the letter
even with his specs found that could make neither
head or tale Of it, except the aforesaid words John B.
Cough, maddog, antiTenters &c. is very probable
he fell into the same humor Mr.. Letson and there
upon sent his first officer, and the defendant Lennon
down to Boyds Office, at the time the plaintiff
make her appearance with his compliments 10 her to
come up to his Office Lennon executed his orders and
brought Miss Connor before the Chief but whether he
brought her by force does not appear She alleges
she vas nvegled up while, the other hand It is as
serted that she came of her accord and the fur
ther alleges that she detained there Tor two hours
against her will, it did appear, however, from the
testimony that she detained some five or six
minutes by one VI the officers named Law who put his
hands before her to prevent her from going out She
afterwards got the letter, and suffered to depart
To recover compensation for this imprisonment the
plaintiff has brought her action against the three defend
ants
The defence for Lesom is probable cause that is to
say the letter was anony NOUS and that from the
it sas written and the words above quoted it was
strucvely threatening letter, which brought within
the statute and Nh Letsom justified making the
complaint
The same defence is set for the other defendants
and further, that Mr. Lets0m being a respectable ci,i
zen, the Chief magistrate and conservator of the
peace was bound to take his complaint inquire into
the iacts There were no witnesses examined for the
defence the cause was adjourned to Monday when
1t will be summed up and given to the jury.
counsel Tor defendant, Messrs. Marsh and Warner.
Mr. 5, =. Judson, attorney for plaintiff Joseph l..
White, Esq. counsel.