The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-01
THE WEBB AND WILLIS AFFAIR.


livery OF the Letters.
Before ex-Judge vandeypoel, Referee.
JUNE 29-Smith Coddington and Mary his uqfe 70, Jas
Watson Wb The defendant appeared before the re-
fierce at his chambers in Nassau street. this day, at
tended by Mr.. Hiram Ketcham his counsel, and was
examined In pursuance Of an order ofJune g. 1851 Mr.
H. r. Clark attended on behalf Of the plaintiffs and IN
James Watson Webb being duly swrrn Mt Clark
asked the following question:
letters correspondence and papers which delivered
to you by 7. Willis, in the presence of George Buck
ham, on or about the year lSl5.
Mr. Ketcham objected 20 the question, because II does
not follow the terms Of the order.
The Referee said-I rule that the question is proper
and that If the delivery of the letters to the defendant
not made in june, 1915, the variance to time Is
inmaterial
AnswerI never received any letters or papers from
N. p. Willis in presence Of George Buckham or any
other person during portion Of the year 1S45 did
receive certain letters from N p willis in presence Of
George Buekham in December lsi4 The witness was
proceeding to state what letters he received and the
circumstances Attending their reception, when Mr.
Clark obs cted to his making such statement.
The referee decided that the witness proceed.
Col Webb then sad-Mr. WI lis Mr.. Buckham and
which advised by counsel it is not necessary to
explain at this time The object Of our meeting having
had other Of Mary Tnman in his ssion
and mades formal demand for them. After considers
BILE discussion was agreed that we should meet at the
same place, and the same hour, the day following We
met accordingly, when Willis placed in my hands sealed
and directed me the package now produce and hand
to the referee TO be delivered to Andrew Warner
the receiver Here Col Webb handed the long gated
package Of 5akt-dour to Judge vanderpoell Witness
Then contir ued-I have no doubt whatever that the
leakage sealed and directed in his (Wiss) Office,
the envelope containing the letters is printed circu
lar Of the NeU York Mirror then edited by Morris and
Willis and was signed Fuller 4 Co This package so
directed and sealed opened immediately my return
to my Office expecting naturally to ind some letter of
explanation to me; it, however contained nothing but
the letters which still in it, the character Of which,
under the ipjuI osthe court perhaps not at
liberty now to describe. Having read them, placed
them in safe depository addressed letter Mary
Ipman directed to rs Great Russell street Bloomsbury
Square London informing her that Mr. Willis had placed
these Iettersin my hands
Mr. Clark-Have you in your possession copy Of the
letter which you state you addressed to Miss Inman
Apswer-I think have not
any time made or permitted TO be made any copies Of the
whole Of any portion of said letters correspon-
dence. any Of them!
Answer made copies Of one Of the letters and copies
Of extract from another r the purpose OF defence
in this action but copy made has been destroyed
except that contained in the original draft land copy
thereof Of an answer drew up to the original bill Of
complaint in this action.
GLOW many copies did yen make
Al made one copy from the original letter and four
copies 81 that were made.
Q-Where Is the original copy and the other copy
thereof, which you state are still in existence
A-The original draft OF the answer referred to Is in
papers Of ny counsel
Q-Did you deliver COPY to your counsel!
Q.-when?
About one o'clock, p NJ on the 9th day Of Juns
instant and after being advised by the court to employ
counsel
Q-Ias the original copy constantly remained in your
Possession from the time II made! At has.
Q-To what persons, II any have you ever exhibited
fad notes or letters orsny Of Them or any extracts or
portions OF any OF them 49, .
Of the gentlemen to whom have shown them
but had ever suffered them to be out Of my pos
session 80 that any copy OF them could nave been taken
without my knowledge, would cheerfuly give the
name OF the party SO that an nnsestgrtion might De
made whether copies had been made Ihey never nave
been out Of possession except when handed by me
to my counsel Hiram hetcham, ESQ, VINO IN my pre-
s.hee placed 'n' IN IN separate enseiope, scatter tnem
anu put h,i ID hs shie anu "eIe ny nun re.u. neu W
me I'D sean pachaee' anu iurtner s.ate 'na. uo.h
after the 10Th Of May last never showed the letters to
any human being and never copied or suffered TO be
copied any part OF them
Q-To how many persons have you exhibited said let
tiers or extra It's or portions OF them or any OF them
This question is objected TO by Mr.. ketcham, and the
Referee ruled that the question proper
A1To the best OF my recollection and belief never 70
but three persons out OF my family ana emce, TWO Oh
wht m were cergymen
Q--To how many persons connected with your once
have You made such exhibition! 80
! AMY THREE persons connected with my once ana
to them only one Of the letters
Go how many persons In your family have you ever
made such exhibition! A-To only two persons
Mr.. Csik-lwill no. ask you to name the members Of
your family but who are the ciergymen t. whom you
exhibited such letters!
Col Webb decline answering Tor declare most po-
styey that no copies were ever taken by those clergy
men.
The Referee ruled that the witness must answer but
| the witness persisted in refusing
| o-Name all the persons outside your immediate
/
/ letter.!
Col Webb-Unless directed by the Court decline to
answer
lie Referee ruled that the question proper and mt -
be answered
Mr Kechan offered to 90 before the court in order
that this point might be decided by the Judges and re-
questd that these proceedings should stop here until
! their decision was obtained
MIR. Clark said he would go with MT hetcham there
when necessary but he nov insists upon an answer to the
question 49,
H. Referee ruled that the answer ought TO BE- gwen
! but the defendant persisted In his refusal. .
Q--Wnl you now produce ana denver over 10 the re-
cever the copies sad letters which you state you nave
still In your possession
Here Col "ebo produced ihe copies conainsu 10 MS
stid drht, answer, ana the COPY therem ueil'ered
To M council Hfam hetoban, Isl ana th'y Were NJ
'nee dest ca IN IN pt'enoe VI the heieree anu oy tue
ctnfeht d beih counsel
NO" thal tnose copies are oeeuoyeu' anu tue orr
gnals lave been GeNered o'r nave you IN your posses
zion or under your control any copies OF the whole OF
any Fart Of sad notes or letters or any OF them OF CO.
pee I" any ac'sir' IN tie same OF any OF tnem
Al decnne answering that queston as nave a.
iehoy hhsw,t1 ~ ana ,e queetlon "ouid seem 'O hPy
N