{"value"=>"<p>The bulk of the case files consist of clients' files, which are arranged alphabetically by case title. The files include depositions, pleadings, bills of complaint, bills of particular, trial transcripts, court orders, motions, trial notices, summonses, stipulations, notes and memoranda and other papers. The case files also contain some correspondence with attorneys and clients although the bulk of the legal correspondence is contained in Section I. B. Legal Correspondence. The files represent Williams' practice before various courts including the Supreme Courts of Erie and Westchester Counties, Surrogate's Court of Westchester County, and courts in New York City including New York Superior Court, City Court of Brooklyn, City Court of New York, Marine Court and the Court of Common Pleas. Following the clients' files is a file of personal cases in which Williams appeared either as plaintiff or defendant.</p> <p>Williams' practice covered a wide variety of case law including bankruptcy, negligence, foreclosure, adultery, libel and slander, assault and battery, fraud, alienation of affections, and unlawful confinement. Several cases were publicized in the local press. The cases of Accessory Transit Co. vs. Garrison and that of MacDonald vs. Garrison contain extensive testimony relative to events in Nicaragua during the Filibuster War of 1855-60 including the smuggling of men, arms and munitions from San Francisco to Nicaragua, conditions in Nicaragua during the war, and the activities of General William Walker.</p> <p>The case of Strong vs. Bennett, also widely publicized, involved a suit for libel brought by State Senator Demas Strong against the Brooklyn Daily Times, which accused the senator of bribing members of the state legislature. (Williams' extensive oral summation of the case was published separately in pamphlet form).</p> <p>Included are cases involving Horace Greeley and the New York Tribune. In the case of Cook vs. the Tribune Association Williams defended the newspaper against a suit for libel brought by Isaac Cook, Postmaster General of Chicago, who had been described by the Tribune in a published article as a \"full blown scoundrel in charge of a den of thieves\". The case of Greeley vs. Bean involved a suit over a tract of land in North Carolina which was sold to Greeley as timberland but which was later determined to be swampland on which Greeley and the Tribune had planned to establish a colony of freed slaves. Included is a stenographic transcript of Greeley's testimony. The case of Manning and Storrs vs. Camp concerns a suit brought by Greeley's executors to recover sums owed to his Estate.</p> <p>Other papers relating to Greeley in the case files (Box #27) include correspondence (1864-72) from Greeley to Williams; a letter (1882) from Gabrielle Greeley to Williams; and five letters (1864-67) to Greeley from other persons. There is also (Box 28) a draft of Greeley' last will and testament and papers relating to the probate of his will in Surrogate's Court, Westchester County.</p> <p>In another libel case (Browne vs. Jones) brought against a New York newspaper, Williams represented an Atlanta rabbi (Edward B. M. Browne) who accused the publisher of the New York Times of maligning his character by reporting that his failure to be reelected to the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation of Atlanta was due to the congregation's conviction that he was dishonest and morally unfit.</p> <p>In the case of Tait, et al vs. The Ship \"Hound\" there are depositions by ship's officers relative to the coolie trade (1857-58) between Macao and Havana. The depositions describe the forcible recruitment of coolies at Macao and the shipboard conditions which led to their \"rising\" during a voyage to Havana.</p> <p>In the case of USA vs. Callicott, another case, which attracted considerable publicity, Williams defended Theophilus C. Callicott, collector of customs at Brooklyn, against the charge of traffic in illegal liquor brought against him by the district attorney, Benjamin F. Tracy. The file includes extensive transcripts of trial testimony; correspondence from Callicot who was imprisoned at King's County Penitentiary; and memoranda in Callicot's hand of conversations between himself and the district attorney. Williams fought for a new trial for Callicot on the grounds that the judge in the case was prejudiced and should have recused himself.</p> <p>Case files are arranged alphabetically.</p>"}