Hopkins, Hayes, Palmer & Company to Lincoln & Herndon, 30 November, 18581
14 Cortland StreetNew York Nov 30 1858Messrs[Messieurs] Lincoln & HerndonSpringfieldIllGentlemen
We confirm ours of the 24th inst.2 and have now to say, that when we we took those R R[Railroad] Drafts of Henry Magill, they overpaid his indebtedness to us $64.60 for which he doubtless holds our receipt,
payable when the drafts are collected, we have thought it might be well for you to
know this, that you may the better be prepared to meet any defence which he may possibly set up on this head. We have good reason to believe that Magill is amply solvent, hence press the claim to judgment, and keep us advised & Oblige3
Yours RespectfullyHopkins Hayes Palmer & Cofor assignees
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NEW-YORK
DEC[DECEMBER] 1 1858Messrs Lincoln & HerndonSpringfieldIll
DEC[DECEMBER] 1 1858Messrs Lincoln & HerndonSpringfieldIll
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Nov[November] 30 58[November]
3The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad gave Mason, Bishop and Company two bills of exchange
totaling $2,000. Mason, Bishop and Company assigned the bills to the firm of Magill, Denton and Company, which included partners Henry Magill, William Magill, and Nixon Denton. Magill, Denton and Company assigned the bills to Courtlandt Palmer and Frederick Wallace, principle partners in the firm of Palmer and Wallace. Palmer and Wallace represented Hopkins, Hayes, Palmer, & Co. as assignees in a
bankruptcy proceeding. Palmer and Wallace presented the bills to the railroad, but
the railroad failed to pay. Palmer and Wallace wrote Lincoln and Herndon several
letters requesting their legal assistance. They then retained Lincoln and Herndon
and sued Magill, Denton and Company in an action of assumpsit in the U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois and requested $3,000 in damages. The parties apparently reached an agreement, and
Palmer and Wallace dismissed the case.
Palmer & Wallace v. Magill, Denton & Co., Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), https://lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=137588.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).