The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-08

IMPORTANT SUIT DEcIDED.-The suit of
Fl. B. Clafain & Co., of New York, Us.
Steenbock & Co., Of this city, which has
heen pending SO long in the Hastings
Court, was decided on yesterday by Judge
Burnham in favor of Steenbock & Co. -
The following extract from an article in
the Dispatch Of April IL, 1867, explains
the nature of the suit: :--------..---- g.
"Quite an excitement was created yes
terday by the announcement that one Of
the largest dry goods houses in this city
had been taken possession Of by Sergeant
Thomas q. Dudley under an attachment Of
northern creditor. Upon inquiry at the
clerks Office Of the Hastings Court we
found that Clafflin & Co., Of New York,
had sued ont an attachment against j..
Steenbock & Co., of this city, for the sum
Of S4S, 900. It is alleged that this pro-
ceediDg was taken in consequence of in
formation received by the New York cre-
ditors that Messrs. Steenbock s. Co. were
removing their goods from the city and
disposing of them at auction in Baltimore,
New Orleans, and other places, and that if
they awaited the ordinary process of law
to assert and secure their claim, all Of the
defendants property would be removed
beyond the jurisdiction of the courts Of the
State, so that judgment, when it was OBJ
tanned, would be unavailing. Messrs. Claf-
fin &, Co. were required to give bond in
the sum Of $1,000 conditioned to pay all
costs and damages which may be awarded
against them, or sustained by any person,
by reason Of their suing out the attach
ment. This bond they promptly executed,
with ample sureties.
"Upon receiving the attachment the
sergeant proceeded to the elegant esta-
blishment of the Messrs. Steenbock & Go.
and levied it upon the entire stock of this
large house, estimated by them to be worth
100000. When the object of his visit
became known to the large number of
clerks employed there, quite consterna-
tion was produced amongst them, and as
the news, later in the day, spread over the
city, very general regret was expressed
that this popular firm should have met with
so great misfortune.
"Itis confidently affirmed by the friends
of Messrs. Steenbock & Co. that no good
grounds exist for this summary proceeding
on the part Of the New York house; that
they have paid all their obligations as they
matured, and we're conducting their bust
ness in fair and Legitimate manner.
Messrs. Steenbock s. Co. have employed
counsel, and will endeavor to quash the
attachment on the ground that it was is
sued on false suggestions and without suf-
icient cause"
Judge Burnham yesterday made the
following decision: "The Court having
maturely considered the evidence, and
being of opinion that the attachment was
issued upon false suggestion and without
sufficient cause, doth order that Judgment
be entered, that the attachment be abated,
and that the defendants recover their
COSTS" ..s..s.. as
This decision fully exonerates Messrs.
Steenbock g. Co., and we congratulate
them upon the result. The court having
vindicated their commercial honor, it is
understood that Messrs. Steenbock & Go.
will at once press their suit for S25O,OOO
damages against Clatf1in & Co., besides the
costs and damages they are entitled to
recover under the 100000 attachment
bond.