James A. Williams v. Pierce County Board of Commissioners

This was an action by James A. Williams against the Pierce County, Washington, Board of Commissioners, the Pierce County Sheriff and two of his deputies. It sought damages on account of the action of the defendants in arresting plaintiff upon a “fugitive warrant”, and for their failure to forward plaintiff’s letter to a Pierce County Superior Judge which enclosed an application for a writ of habeas corpus.

Apparently plaintiff sought to predicate jurisdiction on diversity of citizenship. His allegation was merely as to the “residence” of the parties. We assume this defective allegation was…