Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-21
STRONG-AE.ED MISS LESLIE.
How She Captured Mr.. Lawson's Thir.
teen siIver Dollars.
New York World


A novel case came before Justice White
at the Jefferson Market Court yesterday.
On Tues lay last a tall, fine-lOoking
young man applied to the Justice for a
summons TO compel Frank y. Lawson
and Amanda Leslie to appear in court.
He told the Justice that these people
had swindled him out of thirteen dollars.
The papers were issued and were made
returnable yesterday.
Soon after the court opened Frank ID.
Lawson and Amanda Leslie were called.
A wcll-built. respectable-looking young
man answered to the former name. With
him was q pretty blonde-haired girl.
This was Miss Leslie. A neatly fitting
dress displayed her shapely figure. She
seemed perfectly sell-possessed. The
man who had asked for the summons
came forward at Justice Whites bidding.
He said:
"My name is David T.. Duclose. |
have an office at 795 Broadway, which is
also occupied by Mr.. Lawson. One day
last week ! offered to bet Mr.. Lawson
that he could not hold thirteen silver
dollars in his outstretched hand for
twenty-five minutes. he said he could
not, but Miss Leslie could. She took
the money, held it ont for few minutes,
and then put 1t in her pocket | have
not seen it since
"Well, what have you got TO say to
THAT" said the Justice, smiling, as he
looked towards Lawson.
"Your Honor, the facts of the case are
these: Miss Leslie is employed 10y my
mother and myself as n knitter. The
exercise has made her strong in the arms.
On the day mentioned 10y Mr. Ducloso
he had Just received some money by eX-
press. Some of it was in silver He
took a number of silver dollars and,
holding them out, said: Il will give
these to any one who can hold
them for twenty-five minutes in
their outstretched hand. / had seen
Miss Leslie hold ont her hand one day in
fun for twenty-four minutes and thought
she could do it, SO | turned round and
said, Miss Leslie, there's chance for
you to make some money. 'Do you
mean it?' she said TO Duclose. Yes.
certainly he replied, and he counted
tho thirteen dollars into her hand. He
took out his watch aad began to time her.
About eight minutes passed by and then
another expressman came in. Mr.. Du-
close signed the book and then walked
over to Miss Leslie and took hold of her
hand and pulled it down. oh, You
can't hold it, he said.
" He took hold OF her hand?" asked
Justice White.
"Yes, and then | said Hold on ;
that's not fair. The money is hers.
When said that she put 1t in herpocket
and Mr. Duclose got mad. He said he
would get square, and the next thing |
knew | got summons.
Miss Leslie corroborated Mr.. Lawson's
story, and said that afterwards, TO see
how long she could hold the money, she
took it in her hand and held it out TWEEN.
tyseyen minutes.
u shall have to dismiss the com
paint" said the Justice to Duclose.
elf you want redress you will have TO
institute a civil suit.
Miss Leslie smiled and courtesied to
the Judge as she left the court. The
tall complainant walked after her with "A
gloomy countenance.
Mr.. Lawson, who is studying medi-
cine in addition to assisting his mother
TO run the knitting business on Broad
way, lives at No. 200 Ninth street. To a
JVord man last night he said : Il was
surprised at Mr.. Duclose's action. He
has always been friendly TO us. II WIS
bis own proposition that he WAS beaten
at, and he takes his defeat with poor
grace. | claimed that Miss Leslie Lad
won the money fairly and was entitled
to it..
Yes chimed in Mrs. Lawson, a
gray-haired lady, Crank did right,
think, in telling Miss Leslie to keep the
money after winning it. Why, Miss
Leslie would have gladly returned the
money, as she dislikes notoriety, but Mr.
Duclose has tainted her about it, and
she intends nov TO keep him to the let.
ter OF his bargain. "
Both Mrs Lawson and her son de-
clared last night that they would see JUS
tice done to Miss Leslie.