Tattnall County GaArchives Court.....Kennedy, Stephen Et Al September 1835 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Paul Christensen pchriste@tampabay.rr.com September 23, 2009, 1:35 pm Source: Relative Of Parties Written: September 1835 [Comment: This is the record of one man slandering another. In this case Stephen Kennedy was married to Mary Holland, daughter of Henry Holland. And Henry Holland was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It’s also interesting to note the amount of money involved, especially when you remember this is 1835.] No Tattnall Superior Court October Term 1835 Recorded Stephen Kennedy slander vs Henry Holland ---------------------------------------------------------- Served the defendant Henry Holland with a true copy in person the 19th of Sept 1835 J.A. Durrence Sheriff -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Tattnall County Stephen Kennedy vs Henry Holland To the Sheriff of Tattnall County Greeting The defendant Henry Holland is herby required personally or by attorney to be and appear before the Honorable the Superior Count next to be holden In afor the county of Tattnall on the Second Monday in October next then and there to answer the plaintiffs actions upon the case for words as in default thereof the said count will proceade as to justice shall appertain witness the Honorable John Schley Judge of said court this 20th August 1835 ___ Smith Clk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Georgia Tattnall County To the Honorable the Superior Court for the State and County aforesaid The Petition of Stephen Kennedy humbly showeth that he has sustained damages by Henry Holland of the County and State aforesaid to the amount of two thousand dollars for that Whereas your petitioner is a good true faithfull and honest citizen of this State and hath hitherto from the time of his birth behave himself as a good true faithfull and honest citizen + for the whole time aforesaid was acknowledged esteemed + reported of good name fame behavior conditions + conversations as well amongst his neighbors as all other faithfull citizens of said state to whom your petitioner was known. Yet the said Henry Holland not ignorant of the premises but contriving and malishously intending to hurt impune + injure the good name fame credit + reputation of your petitioner on the first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred + thirty five did spake publish and say in presence of many good citizens in the county aforesaid in the hearing of many persons then and there being present did publish your petitioner to be a dishonest man and afterwards to wit, on the day + year aforesaid he the said Henry Holland then and there did spake in the presence and hearing of ___ other good citizens of the state the said Henry Holland then and there said ___ and uttered these false scandalous and approbous words following. That is to say “he” meaning your petitioner “had stolen his the said Henry’s corn. [Comment: The document is unreadable after this point.] Thereby that the said Henry Holland could make it appear by testimony that your petitioner has been guilty of stealing corn by means of the spaking uttering + publishing of which said false scandalous and approbous words your petitioner is not only injured in his good name fame + credit + reputation but also an that account his neighbors and ___ of others good citizens of said state to whom your petitioner was in the habit of social intercourse have withdrawn themselves from the society of your petitioner wherefore you petitioner saith he is injured and hath sustained damages to the amount of two thousand dollars as a foresaid and therefore brings his suite offered proofs may show requiring the said Henry Holland personally or by attorney to be and appear before the Honorable the Superior Court next to be holden in and for the county of Tattnall then and there to answer your petitioner in an action upon the case for words. Geo W. Crawford Ptfs Atty [Comment: The only George W. Crawford that I found was a planter in Richmond county in the 1850 census. Richmond was also the seat of the superior court so it’s possible he quit law by 1850.] -------------------------------------------------------- We the jury find for the plaintiff five hundred dollars together with cost of suit so say we all Alen W Alfine foreman --------------------------------------------------------------- And now at this October Term 1835 causes the Defendant by his attorney Eben Stared and defends the wrong and injury when + c and for __ answer saith that he is not guilty in manner and form as set forth by the plaintiff in his declaration and of this he puts himself upon the county And so further plea in this behalf he saith that if he did ever say (which he denies) that said plaintiff had stolen his corn he is prepared to justify such declaration by proving it true, that is to say by proving that this defendant has sent corn to the mill of plaintiff to be ground which mill was kept by the plntf all of which corn with the exception of the proper toll was not returned to defendant by the pff in meal, and of this he puts himself upon the county. Eben Starns Defnt Att [Comment: There is an Ebenezer Starns in Richmond county in the 1850 census and in that census he is listed as a superior court judge.] Additional Comments: The document is very hard to read so there are gaps in the transcription. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/tattnall/court/kennedy799wl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb