Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-13
GENERAL COURT.

Alter d session oil tTenty-tnrce ltlrIdIcal
days, prolonged by Il special act of the lcgis-
iature on the first day of their session, this
court adjourned on Tuesday night.
The case of the Commonwealth against
its late Treasurer and his securities for the
year 1919, (the last year of his administration
OF the Treasury has occupied sixteen days oil
It's ternl-a most extraordinary duration for
a civil sui, and totally uneXamplcd III the
records of that court
On Saturday Mcssrs. Walter Jones and
John Wickliam addressed the jury in behalf
of the defendants and on Monday the Attur-
ney General closed the case on the part OF the
Commonwealth. On his conclusion, about
O'Clock, the jury retred-am about sun-sct
returned INTO court; intimating that they had
not agreed in their verdict. The Court, how
ever wishing To give them further time for
consideration, adjourned them over till 10 o.
chick, Tuesday morning
On that morning, they had some cxplana-
lions with the court, when they retired and
kept together, Till about shutdown, when they
returned into court, with verdict, which be-
ms amended with the consent of the Jury,
reads as follows:
" We of the Jury find for the plaintiff a
ganst the Defendant John Preston on the writ
OF enquiry, and against the other defendants
on the issues loncd and assess the plaintiff
damages to S37 ,j37 S3 cents, being the prin-
ciral sum due, with interest there on at the rate
OF per centum per annum, from the 31si
day of January, 1899, till paid"
The jury avowed it to be their intention to
hold the Securities for 1919 liable for this sum
being the sum which appears to have beer
due on the Treasury books, including errers
and omissions and that the Commonwealth
Was TO look for the further debt OF 81 ,405 dol
lnrg- ptc fn Inh
| the securities of 1919.
| 4 payment of between % and $4,000 dol
lars has been made some time since into the
Treasury by the trustees for John Preston
which, of course will oilsett so much of tn,
verdict of the jury for the 1887, Set il
also well known, that John Preston has con
veycd very large amount Of property for Tia,
indemniiicatlon OF these surcties of 1919
| According TO valuation annexed To
schedule of this property, which accompanied
the memorial of John Preston presented Il
the last Legislature, it was valued at about
Sl97, 000.-it is calculated, by some, that i
this property be sold on reasonable credit, i
will not merely indemnify these surcties Blu
may contribute to reduce other sums 70
which he is delinquent, and which will! not b.
| charged on these slireties.
In discharging the jury, Judge White on be
| H"'i vi dii Tue JuuSts, IetuTHeu HIS tnank
| for the patience and attention with which the,
had discharged their duties during this lon
and arduous cause.
We understand, that neither party has take
exceptions TO the above verdict OF the Jury
The case, therefore, quodd the securities q
'l9, will stand upon that verdict
! We understand, the court were so much en-
gagcd upon this protractcd case that they ba,
ne time TO make out Report on the crimi
nal code, in compliance with the resolution
of the last legislature