New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-17
FORCED A LAWYER TO SIGN
BENJAMIN LEVY ALLEGES THAT MISS

A paper containing a remarkable confession
handed to Magistrate Cornell in the Centre-st. po-
lice court, yesterday afternoon by Miss Frances E.
Milne 1t read: Il acknowledge the receipt of
$3.50 which I obtained false pretences." 1t bore
the name Of Benjamin Levy, brother of Abraham
Levy. the lawyer and Miss Milne, in presenting 1t
to the Magistrate, said it true statement. and
alleged that the signature of Mr.. Levy was genuine
Benjamin Levy, who is a lawyer. with an office
in the American Tract Society Building. Nassau
and Spruce sts in court. and when questioned
to the nature Of the paper by the Magistrate he
said he had been forced to sign the paper In his
office last Friday by Miss Milne and George f.
Shepard The latter pointed revolver at him, he
said Shepard and Miss Milne denied that a re-
volver had been pointed at Mr. Levy. After hear
ing both sides Magistrate Cornell said; "On your
own admission Miss Milne you used duress.
will not accept the complaint"
I'VE will take the into the General Term,
exclaimed an elderly man. who said to be Miss
Mines father.
That's the best thing you do" replied the
Magistrate "as I won't have anything to do with
the matter"
Miss Milne lives at No 466 Amsterdam-ave.. and
is in the printing business at No y Chambers-st
is said that either she or Shepard prints there
some of the race programmes that are exhibited
daily in saloons.
On January IS Judge Marean in Brooklyn, grant
ed a decree of divorce to Mrs Lola Shepard from
her husband. George E. Shepard. The present
trouble is an outcome of this suit Levy defended
Shepard. In her complaint Miss Milne charged
Levy with converting to his own use $50 which she
gave him, she alleged. to pay to a lawyer named
Mckinney part of the alimony due to Mrs.
Shepard.
Levy replied at that he had been forced into
signing the paper under fear for his life Miss
Milne said that she met Levy a week ago yesterday
in Park Row and insisted going with him 10 his
office there told him that she would stay with
him till he signed the paper She insisted that she
had given him the money to pay Shepards alimony
10 Lawyer Mckinney, and. that she had found that
he hadn't and was determined either to have the
money back statement from Levy.
Levy then made the following statement:
She did meet me. I had been at the Court
house and came back to my olsce. She followed
me in and demanded the money told her Sheu-
be paid to Mckinney, and told her l wouldn't
give IL to her.
that told her TO get out OF my office. l going
to get up and go out into the han for some OF the
employees of the building, when Shepard came In.
He said that would have give up the money
sign statement that had got IL from him and
hadn't used it for what he said l should / said
| wouldn't give anything TO him. l told him
the last one to kick, as 1 had saved him lot OF
money.
1 got up to go toward the door. and they pushed
back and got in front OF it, / tried 10 get at
the annuncator to call a messenger so that could
bring a policeman. but the first thing / knew I
was looking right at revolver
| was afraid OF the man. This man Shepard Your
Honor, was held in the court here for pouring acid
but he would pull the trigger OF the revolver at
any time. That man Is liable to do anything when
he is excited
the chair and l wrote what he told me 10.
don't know what wrote exactly. but / suppose
the paper presented to you is the one. Nobody who