The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-05
The Webb and Willis Case In n New shape
Legal Proceedings against Mr.. Webb.

1
We publish in another part of our inside columns,
to-day, report copied from the archives of the SUI
perior Court, which is the commencement of some
very important legal proceedings, brought by
Smith Coddington and Mary |. Qate Miss Imam,
his wife, against lmes Watson Webb, of the Con-
rir and Enquirer growing out of certain statements
which the latter published during his controversy
with Mr.. Wills-statements rejecting injuriously
on the private character of that lady, and beling,
to extraordinary exteRt, the daughter of the late
Henry lnman, now Mrs. Coddington, who has re-
sided quietly and respectfully in Railway, New Jer-
| sey, for some years past.
| Every one remembers the great fare-up the other
week-the terrible accusations made against Willis
| by Webb, in which it was stated that Willis had
1 committed most atrocious breach of faith and
honor towards the daughter of friend, act
which Webb stated led to the ruin Of the child,
and the death Of the father By these legal proceed
ings, all the truth and the facts in the come
out. These facts contain imputation against the
| lady Of whom so much has been said by Webb, and
no suspicion against her purity and honor ever
entertained until the PRONUNCIATION of the charges
against Willis was made by Webb, in the columns
of his journal.
| |. seems that Miss Inman, COW Mrs. Coddington,
".
/ a correspondence commenced between her and Viii
| lis, which continued only about two months. This
| correspondence has given rise to all the pending
controversy The facts are these-Willis had
made publication, intimating the belief that Miss
Tnman the authoress of some novel, then re-
Gently published. she simply wrote brief note to
Willis, denying the soft impeachment" Willis
wrote reply her note in that coquetish, affected
foundation of the whole correspondence, which ap-
pears by the afidavits in the to have been
correspondence purely sentimental and literary,
Of the brief duration Of two months, and not con-
tanning the slightest evidence of any improperly
breach Of honor in any of the parties. The lady
afterwards married to Mr.. Coddington,
highly respectable young man, who had been born
in this city, and educated a merchant and man
Of business. She and her husband have been, ever
since their marriage, living very quietly and res
peetably in Railway, New Jersey, where they are
esteemed for their character and intelligence, and
have been blessed with a family Of three young
daughters.
These are the simple facts in the case, as they
are now revealed in the legal proceedings
menced against Mr.. Webb Ii also appears that
this correspondence between Willis and the lady
was sealed up in the presence Of sir. George Buck
ham, friend Of the late Mr.. lnman, and was
handed over to Mr.. Webb, to be delivered by him
to Mr.. lnman himself. |. has never been 50 de-
liyered by Webb. 1t has been retained by him TO
this day. Not only So but according to the state
ments and charges made by him against Mr.
Willis il appears that the seals Of the correspond
ence have been broken open, the letters have been
read, and their contents tortured into a charge Of
criminalty against the private character of lady
who had always been considered pure and unsus-
pected by all her acquaintances and friends
Such are the extraordinary facts now placed be-
fore the public, in this most extraordinary and sin
gular affair. The conduct Of Mr. Willis, in this
and other matters, cannot be lauded to the skies.
In fact his behaviour, according to his own revela
TONS is that Of a vain silly male coquette, leading
a youthful schoolgirl into candestine cores
pondence; but the conduct Of Mr.. Webb, We are
sorry 70 say, has assumed, by these revelations,
character that will not bear palliation, but must
lead TO severe retrbution, either here hereafter
The present suit embraces merely the process Of an
injunction to compel Webb to deliver up to the
rightful owners private correspondence which be
improperly retains-a correspondence which proves
the innocence and purity Of the lady in ques.
ton, but which has been improperly tortured into
guilt by his publications against Willis.
What other proceedings may be resolved upon
by the injured parties, have Of knowing.
More must follow. The invasion Of happy IA
mily's yirtuous Preside by two vain and empty ed-
toral gladato, trying TO injure each other before
the public at the expense Of the truth, virtue, aud
innocence Of third partics-and those parties pure
woman and her three little girlsis spectacle 50 re-
voting to the feelings ofjustice implanted in man
50 shocking to the manly honor Of the human bosom
that lar guage has not yet given proper name
to such ineffabe cruelty Of purpose such terrible
deprayity Of heart and morals.