The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-05
IMPORTANT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Willis and Webb Case In the
Superior Court.
Superior Court.
Before Hon. Judge SANFORD.


Before Hon. Judge SANFORD
SnstA codd.nxfon and Mary T. rs. ,c,f, against James
Wase~ Ws8.-Ths complaint Of the plaintiffs above
named respectfully shows-Thst the plaintiff Mary L. Is
hs dsst daughter Of Henry Inmsn late OF the city Of
New York deceased that the 10th day Of May, 1884,
shs intemarried with the plaintiff smith Coddington
That s the time Of her said marriage she between II
anA years Of age, and resided with her parents In
0reeawich street. In the city ofNew York and continued
% reside with her parents, after her marriage, until
sSsSx the moath Of April 1885, whsn with her said hus-
bad she removed to the village Of Railway the State
81 New jersey where they have resided that
thew three children Of said marriage living all
a. whom girls that before her marriage and to the
t Of her recollection time during the year ls3
correspondents BY notes letters had carried
between the plaintiff Mary l., and Nathaniel p VIII
Ms Of tho city Of New York without tho knowledge of
her parents that about the latter part Of that year
In the beginning year 1874 the fact that such
father who advised that it should be, and it mne
dlsteay discontinued.
Thai the notes. or letters which bad bee. written 10 said
Nathaniel p Willis by the plaintiff Mary l., remained in
the possession Of said Willis the time Of the termna-
on the said correspondence and the father Of the
said plaintiff Mary l., deeming appropriate that
said correspondence OF his daughter With the said
Wills should be surrendered but not believing assert
ing that abe had been guilty Of criminal intercourse
that the ssid letters contained any evidence Of
such conduct her part, in the month Of June lsa5
requested the defendant, James Watson Webb, AMI
George Buckham, Of the city Of New York whom he re
gsred his personal friends obtain the ssd letters
from the sad Nathaniel p Willis and when obtained to
deivsr them him That the said James Watson Webb
and George Buckt an undertook such servce
That the plaintiffs informed believe In pur
Of such request and with other aath ority
whatever, the said George Buckhsm addressed to
the said Nathaniel Willis requesting him to the
sid james Watson Webb and George Buckhau, at the
once Of said Buckham in the city New York that the
sAid Nathaniel p Willis not appraised Of the purpose
for which he requested to said James Watson
Webb and George Backhsm, and at the time appointed
in said note to said Buckhams ONCE he met
said Webb and Buckham; that the sad Nathaniel P.
wills vas then informed by said James Watson Webb
and George Buckham thai the father u the plain
til Mary l., had become aware that previous to her
marriage she had been corresponding with said Willis
and that his wish that the said Willis should deli
vsr to them to be handed to him all letters and cor
rsspcodeoce in the hands Of ssid willis which be had
ever at any time received from her.
That said Nathaniel p Willis stated that he had in his
sion the notes letters which had been received
BY him from the plaintiff Mary L. and that he per-
fec<J willing to deliver them up requested but not
having been informed t the object for which his pre-
sepce had been desired he had looked them up an
appointment then made between the said parties
the said Willis TO meet the said Webb Buckh am ut
the Office OF the latter the folio ~ns day deliver
the letters in his sion which he had received
ton the plaintiff Mary l., to the aid webb and Buck
ham, TO be by them delivered Il her father
That, las the plaintiffs informed and believc)
oa the day following the last mentioned interview tho
aid Nathaniel p Willis again ATTENDED the ap
pointed at the ONCE Of said George Baekn~ and there
met the said James Watson Webb nd Georg- Buckham
That the aid Willis brought with hirs = package In .
paper cover or envelope which tho Il, in
lsrsd and believe contained all the
his possession which he had received ir n the plaintiff
Mary J., and the said Willis tn u a-Srd the said webb
md Buckham TO which Of th-m be rhou deliver said
package, for her father that the said Webb replied
hat be would take the package stating that he bsd the
lTcrtions Of the said plaintiff Mary co receive then
her behalf This being 2ssented to BY said Buekhsm,
he said Willis sealed up the sAia package and de-
fver-d the same, sealed. said James Watson
r bb, to be by him immediately delivered TO the
ather Of the plaintiff, Mary l., and with osh
ntent and for other purpose That the said
smes Watson Webb thervrpun. fJr the purPo-e and
non the trust he would make immediate deli
~ry thereof TO the father of The plaintiff. Mary l., and
or no other purpose received the aid package a letters
nd correspondence; but notwithstanding he trust upon
rhich he received them he has since resnsd aud
,ov has them in his possession
That for several yea before aud up 10 the period a.
Il. aroease the father Of the pl.intin Mary l. hsd
zen afflicted with chronic asthma and enlargement Of
he heart whereby his constitution had bscor- greatly
rt. g.. 49, All. 4
aeii,cry Of said htters by said Nathaniel ? Will o
sad Jane. watson Webb the father % so ssid pb,,a
ia Mary L. wa, seized with disease Of the kid
ney. which acting upon his paired hysic eonsttu
ton esa.sd hs death the seysptesnth day Of Jsnu
sry, 1876
TN~t between the time a tn. delivery Il said package
" notes and isitcrs by the sad Wills to thu said
90 and the time Of the dccrae Of tue said Henry
InmAn be WA DESTROYS that the should be de-
iver,d to him and with tia Wow requested and
authorized his friend the said George Buckham' TO
tail on said webb and request from IN the delivery
n tho aid package. That Ssd Bucknam accordingly
allied on said Webb and reqas I'd hn TO deliver up said
package 70 the saio Henry Inman That sad Webb
a reply stated to said Buckham that said ter we're
snong his papers and that be would look them up and
ieliver them requested, but moth tsniiug
aid promise said Webb did not deliver tie sams 70
behslf bu, retained them In hi. possession
ina, some AFR the ~ Der 'aid father,
the mother Of the pls,utiH Mari J being de-irous
that said package 81 notes and etttr. should be deli
-rred 70 her by sail Webb rcqucstvd a.. suta2rred
the said Buckhsm again 70 ca On ssd wrbb ADD %.
tain the diivery thereof That said ham did &C.
eordiDgy call said webb A. sras r--pncsted such
delivery and said Webb then madr s'siar taieuient
10 aid Buckhsm 10 the istrrs being hand and
again promised 10 look them no and them
rrasested Bot notwithstanding this second promise
the s.sd webb has delivered ad pseksg. Of letters
bot still retsins them.
Tfst the ssid James watson uebs u editor and pro
p~ieto Of Newspaper called TIE myrrsns Courier and
sev Y-s Erys,re-, and the aid Nsthsniei y wnlis
Likewise an edt.r proprietor - D~-spsper called
Inc H-s J-.rrsi which -aid ~w.pap are printed and
in the city q Scv ,ork aud extensively cir
,usted thrvs,ghout the Uated ststes 4sl elsewhere
Thai from articles published ~ their respective sps
,ers would appear that uni~udy relations have for