Year: 1877

"A hut"Feu lHOuSQnd dollars DAMAGE


Suit against Gen. Grant.


Thomas Biggins instituted suit to-day
against ex-Presideut Ulysses.S. Grant.
claiming, out hundred thousand dollars
damages for false imprisonment. He sets
forth 'that on or about the 23d day of
March 1874, in the city of Washington,
ID. o., the defendant with force and
arms assaulted the plaintiff, and with
great force and violence pulled aud drag
ged him about and forced him to leave
his (the plaintiffs's) store, 2151 F street
northwest and 60 through the public
street &C., to the police headquarters, and
then and there detained: him without
any probable cause whatever for the
space OF twenty-four hours; also that the
defendant then compelled him to 20 from
said Headquarters along the streets of
washington city to the Government In
sane Asylum in this District, and de-
tanned him in prison there without re-
asonable cause for the space of eight
months, then next following contrary to
law and against the will of the said
plaintiff, whereby the plaintiff was great
ly exposed and injured in his credit and
circumstances, and was hindered from
performing his necessary affairs and busi-
ness; also that the defendant further as
saulted and seized the plaintiff and COM
PEELED him on the goth of November,
1874, to go under guard from the city of
Washington on board train of railroad
cars to the city of New York, and then
compelled him to embark on the steamer
Italy, and sail from thence to Liyerpool
England, without cause and contrary to
law, whereby the plaintiff was further
falsely imprisoned, greatly subjected to
expenses and losses to his great damage
of 100000. A. K. Brown and j. R. NC
Connell are attorneys who bring the
suit.


There are two statements made in
reference to this suit, which is brought
by man who, while he has conduc,
ted business in a sensible manner in
this city. nevertheless when brought
before the investigating committee of
Congress, in the case Of DR.. Nichols,
OF the insane asylum, behaved in an
eccentric manner, and declared that
"Gen. Grant had come after him
through keyhole." SC.


One declaration is that the plaintiff
is crazy man, and the suit is the re-
suit of his insanity; that he meditated
an assault upon President Grant In
1874, and was caught while lettering
about the White House and sent at
first to the police headquarters and af-
terwards to the insane asylum, being
permitted to go to Ireland at his own
solicitation.


On the other hand, the fact of his
insanity is denied absolutely, and itfs
said that the insane freaks perpetrated
oe1ore the committee in the Nichols
investigation were merely feigned on
tue advice of counsel to avoid being
required to make statements before the
committee which, he feared, might
lead TO his being sent again to the
asy lum and treated badly. 1t is not
denied that he meditated ut one time
an assault on the President for an in
jury which, it is asserted, was done to
a person in the Treasury Department
In whom he was interested, but it is
claimed that there was nothing in the
circumstances of the case which justi-
ned his imprisonment in the insane
asylum and his alleged banishment to
Europe, from which he returned after
a short absence. There seems to be
little doubt that even if be true that
the plaintiff is not of sound mind and
his grievances imaginary, the suit will
be one of considerably interest. The
ease cannot. however. in the present
condition of the business of the Circuit
Cours, come to trial before next year.