Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-21
LOOKS LIKE BLACK MAIL.

AOVAS AxAG 6LAOA NAIL.
A Peculiar Suit Against o.. s. District At
torney Billson.-A Former Domestic Fail
ing to Secure Money for Her Silence
Brings Suit for 1000 Damages.
For some weeks past scandal Of huge pro.
portions has been whispered about but as 1t as
sumed no tangible shape the GLOBE declined to
give 1t currency. The story involved the hith-
erto good name of o. 8. District Attorney Bill
son, against whose morality there has NOT, hero
tofore, been any charge. The present
accuration is what would pass current as very
s'thin'' but as 1t has reached the proportions Of
legal proceedings is duly chronieled. A FORM
er domestio in Mr.. Billson's family brings suit
for $4,000 damages and files in substance the
following complaints
State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey, Dis
triot Court Victoria Smith. plaintiff, against
William w. Billson, defendant.
The plaintiff complains and alleges that
heretofore, to-wit: on or about the 18th day of
August, $780, at the city of st. Paul, in said
county, the above named defendant assaulted
the plaintiff by forcibly entering the bed in
which plaintiff was lying by then and there
exposing himself to plaintiff in an indecent
manner.
to the public.-ED. GLOBE.
That at said time, defendant otherwise as
saulted and abused plaintiff. against plaintiffs
consent, by reason whereof plaintiff is greatly
injured and damaged in her person, character
and feelings to- wit: In the sum of $4,000.
Wherefore plaintiff demands Judgment against
the defendant for the sum of $4,000 with the
costs and disbursements of this action.
J. 81. BRADIsH, Atty for plaintiff.
HER AFFIDAVIT.
State of Minnesota, County of Hennepin.
Victoria Smith being duly sworn, says She
is the plaintiff in the above named cause. and
that the foregoing complaint is true
Of her own knowlege. VICTORIA SMITH.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this
28th day Of August, 1880. j. b. BRAD1sH,
Notary Public, Hennepin County, MINI.
TIE ANswEH.
The answer of the Defendant denies all the
allegations of the complaint and ia as follows:
The answer of the above named defendant to
the complaint of the above named plaintiff in
this action respectfully states and shows as
follows, tv-wit:
The said defendant denies that he ever az.
saulted or abused, or attempted to assault or
abuse, the said plaintiff, or that he ever acted
or conducted himself indecently toward her,
or that in the manner stated in said complaint
or in any other manner, or at ALL or that he
ever committed or did any Of the
acts or things stated in said complaint,
or that said plaintiff has been
injured or damaged in any sum, or in anything
or at all; and said defendant denies the said
complaint, and each and every allegation and
part thereof, and demands Judgment in his
favor, with costs and disbursements.
DAVIS. O'BRIEN & WILSON,
HENRY J. HoRN,
Attorneys for Defendant.
STATEMENTS OF MISS SMITH.
Victoria Smith, the plaintiff in the action,
was interviewed by GLOBE reporter last
night. and the first impression assured the
scribe that she was not 80 unacquainted with
the world or free from guile as to be picked
up for any bodys fool She is the perfect
model of the average domestic. Being bach
elor and modest man withal. the pencil ma
nipulator could not master sufficient cheek to
enquire her age, but if appearances are to be
relied Upon sheis between twenty and twenty
three years of age.
About the average height OF women, she is
tinclined to the obese. being well developed and
neither idark nor fair. Her complexion is
sallow, with coarse, but not unpleasing fea-
lures, banged semi-dark hair, large eyes of un-
certain gray and rather neat makeup. She
talks glibly, related an apparently straight
forward story, which sounded like coached
presentation speech, and has no conception of
the niceties of language.
When stripped Of it's nasty features her story
is about as follws: She claims that Mr.. Billson
returned from Minneapolis where his family
were stopping, on the evening of August 18th.
During the absence of the family the girl
claims that she had the company of female
companion, who left on the evening of Mr..
Billson's return. The early part of the evening
M n on
o'clock Miss Smith returned and being weary
with the days work she soon fell asleep. Dur
ing the early patt of the evening, before mid
night she was aroused by some one insher room
and becoming conscious she alleges it was Mr..
Billson, who proceeded to make improper pro-
posals to her. These she rejected and she al
leges that they were renewed and continued for
two or three hours before they were finally
abandoned.
The nextday Mr.. Billson went to the lake
and returned at nightfall with his family and
/ some frisnds. The girl sought au early oppor-
| tunity to relate her story to Mrs. Billson, but
was indignantly discharged as an impostor,
| and after failing to receive money commenced
suit, as noted above.
| other than the account given of her services
elsewhere. She formerly resided at DEBORAH,
Iowa, where she was in the employ of Mr..
Hutchinson and Mrs. Cartwright. She also
resided at Cresco, Iowa, and was in the employ
of a Mrs. Chas. Breckenridge and Mrs Com
king On coming to this State she first set
| tied at Rochester. where she was in the en-
ploy of Mrs Booth, working for the family ten
months.
NIB. BuLsoNs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Billson's denial under oath has already
been given. He alleges that it is an outrage
ous attempt of designing and disreputable
person to levy black mail, claiming that after
her discharge the girl called upon him with
friend and offered to compromise bv
the payment of money. He Indignantly
| refused to comply with the demand
believing it best to meet the issue squarely
instead of allowing himself to be levied upon
for the purpose of keeping falsehood from
the public. Mr.. Billson's standing is such in
the community that no st. Paul attorney could
be found who would begin the suit, and the
girl finally secured the services of Mr., Bra
| dish of Minneapolis, who prepared the com.
plant as already given.
Messrs. 81. j. Horn and Davis O'Brien a.
Wilson have been retained by Mr.. BllIson.
The case will probably come to trial at the
next term of court, as Mr.. BiIlson expresses
himself desirous of setting at rest the scandal
at as early day as possible. It is due him TO
say that the general belief, here, where he ia
well known. is that the suit is q malicious one.
| and that he has acted wisely in determining to
meet it squarely, though it compels mortify.
ing publicity.
a " W yIr a