The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-12
gOral 3ntsIIigenrs.

Suit for Defamation OF Character-ThIrty
thousand Dollars Claimed.
A suit for heavy damages. which was brought in
the Fifth District Court on March Is, 1868, is now
just coming to final trial. and is one that prom
TO be of unusual interest The plaintiff is JON
sthsn ID. Knox, superintendent of the leather
msnufsctory at Magnolia, Miss. He brings suit
against William Henderson, president of the com.
pHBy, alleging that he has made, during the
months of December 1867 and January 1868. at
Magnolia and at summit on the Jackson railroad.
statements to the effect that he (knOxl had taken
advantage of his position as superintendent of the
works TO swindle the company out OF $4,000,
coupling these statements with abusive language
about Knox. Mr.. Henderson replied by denying
The allegations all and singular, aud all allegations
Of malice or evil intent towards Kaox. AS all the
witnesses live in Mississippi, commissions had to be
Issued to take the testimony and this, together with
the interrOgatories and counter interrogatOrles,
snd cross interrogstories, all of which b td to be
sent by mail and answers received, have tIken up
considerable time. Mr.. Knox Calls IN the testi-
mOhy of Herman BruniDg, Michael Bauer aud X.
Il. Csrter 20 substantiate the fact that Mr. aender-
son did make the statements alleged. MIR. Hen-
dersOn brings n the testimony OF Mr.. l.. L. rrau0e,
mayor of Magnolia, who says that he ~ Bcuning
Just after be had given his testimony; that he,
BrUuing, was under the influence of liquor; that
II. L. CaIters character is good, but that he would
not believe Michael Bauer, the other witness, on
oath nine times out of ten would not believe him
at any time unless he (Trsube) knew that he was
speaking the truth. Mr.. TrsuOe also testi6es that
MIR. Knox's general character is not good also,
that he (Traube) was employed by Mr.. Hender-
son as his attorney, but not to hunt up evidence,
simply to attend to the examination of witnesses.
Defendant also brings forward W. l.. Comfy. spe-
cial officer of Magnolia who testi6es that ne would
not believe Mr.. Knox under oath in any suit
where he might be himself interested.
James ]. shannon, of Meridian, Miss, also testi-
fes that he has known Mr.. Knox for twenty-five
years, and that in 1858 Knox. who was then living
st Paulding, Miss, made secret sale of his pro-
perty 10 avoid paying his debts and left the town
and came to New Orleans, where he was subse-
quently arrested, and where he tore up some
notes that he had pretended to assign in payment
of debt due Cohen & Bro., of Paulding. Wnie
in PsuldiDg, Knox was known as G notorious
liar" and was expelled from his Masonic lodge on
charges of lying and slanderng preferred by
shannon. Mr.. shannon further states that he
never has had "what could be called personal
difficulty with Knox"
The above is substantially the case as 1t now
stands. The trial commenced yesterday, and will
probably be completed to-day. The jury is COM
posed OF some of the very best men 10 the city
leading merchants and prominent citizens-so
there is no doubt but that an intelligent and just
verdict will be rendered. FellOwes Mills for
plaintiff, and Clark, Bayne Renshaw for de.