Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-05-20


led 10 the sui, Of Blakcy rs. Tyler. nearly my
memory will enable do. II fall into an error. my
in the be readily turned to- in order TO
the inaecuaey. That suit originated than
twenty years ago, in the Chaneery Court OF Williamsburg.
and transferred years afterwards the Chance.
~ Court o Richmond where il had fingered SINCE
until tired Of the contest, compromised with Of the
parties and finally settled with Others the whso In
dispute. Igcw the following facts In few days
after my from Washington, the year 1872 where
was then serving member Of the House OF Repre-
scntaves from the Richmond District was waited up
ON in my character OF Attorney Law by Philip j.
Lighuoot, then fully Of ngc and his fnthor William
Hall, 20 consult with in relation To the affairs OF the
said Philip J. Lghuoot Lighuoot had made deed To
Mr. George Blakcy, constituting him his trustee a
his estates, by which IL stipulated that Mr.. Blakey
should receive per cent upon all sales and by which IL
wnsfarhcr stipulated that ghtoo should forfeit SEQ 600
mot IN the nature OF penalty, but stipulated damages
he incrtccdin with the control
OF his property, ghoo utter the Of this deed had
married greatly below his ofhis
friends the daughter OF William Hall n small merchant in
the county Of Charles City; and deed had been obtained
from him under peculiar circumstances by which he
Ncyedall his property IN such designed de-
privc his wife o all interest his estate event Of his
DEATH and to dsnhcrt any children he might have by his
marriage. Ills estate, the times then wcrc, probably
worth Sl600O0. also informed. that he had entered
contract for the purchase the late John
Co!gn for $4,000 which both himself aud Hall were cx
coodngy anxious To be relieved from, upon tho ground that
1t cxorbtant price Upon enquirng into all the facts
and circumstances attendant the execution IT these
various deeds, and which gwen what in detail in
my the OF Blakey Tyler, came 10 the
conclusion that they might be asdc that by proper
of proceeding, Lighoot might be rcposscsed of
his esatcs but that do would require long course of
controversy in the courts and the taking of great numbers
Of dispositions. was then offered by Lghoo and Hall
their joint bond for $1,000, i'll would undertake the task
AND Acr ~ COURT Am the Attorney and H.
gent oi Lighoot. proposed do for the reasons set
forth IN my answer ior less was the Executor
father who had been the Executor ightoors father
and indebted tp Lghtloot balanc, which was be-
heved 10 about 81 500 agreed 20 undertake
the task which they had dcvo,ed upon me for that sum 10
l.l a..
bond took measures ut place Lghiloot posses
SION oi ms property, which entirely successful But
t s. measures were immediately followed by the institution
OF separate snits, anticpaed-lst the 500
Ouo as stipulated action of detnue the
whole personality and 81, actions OF To recover
the real estates, which many. Mr.. Cogin also, |
thnk, about the same time brought his suit Chancery TO
enforce his contract Here, then. before me occupa.
ton Tor an ordinary lifetime and nothng saved me from the
labor ot years but the death Of Lghoot which occurred
some ew months after In the interim he almost dai.
N at my house asking and receiving counsel and advice
was called upon To write las last will which, my sug.
SeSon, ne introduced clause by which end
Ia the suits referred To, with the exception of Cons st
which believe, years afterwards COMPROMISED
The TACT s that the whole arrangement enured the
eit OF my fathers estate whose creditors had paid no
conSidorabe sums out OF my very limited resources
was perfectly ready, upon the death OF Lichoo 10 have
adjusted the whole matter with Mr. Christian the Executor
OF Lghoo upon liberal teuIs may fairly be inferred
from the answer at the Executor but in consequence of oh
econs made To the bond. 10y those interested in the estate
upon what believed To bc untenablo grounds brought
oi Charles City, and recovered verdict andiudement up
on which no execution issued for a year aud daB and
upon which no execution intended 10 BE- issued
An original chanccry suit IN the of bill OF discoye
brought, aside the Judgment and for other
purposes, which has been pending since until those
Interested under Mr. Bakey, and Others agreed upon
air compromise, the O6gdtoRSo irhioh Ihare dseAarg
3D. while with others, who stood ducary character
haze settled M full with view put end o cuntrover
y' which seemed To be almost nermnabe The probable
duration OF Lghoors suits, Ind he lived may be- coniec
luTtu from The length
decide whether my proposed compensation
be But be that as 1t may, 1t in the place OF volunta
~ ner made To me oi larger my own office and in
the course OF my Practice, without any single word sug
geston from myself other than have stated the volunta
~ tender OF Zee not in the form OF money, but in that Of
bond made by person who desir, be my clicnt-a
by ms late guardian and brother in law Mr. Bakcy who
deemed has "idot 'oaT'l Mr.. Bots language with
out meaning 10 adopt t-capable of making n good
conveyance for his whole | have never been a.
Die to conceive the ground, which Chancellor Taylor
declared the bond void That decree pronounced by
ta Judge, many ago, when he was i'm the decline of
his le, and after he had visited by severe paralysis
and ms decision was enforced As to Mr.. Leghs
note Of argument which Mr. Bolts part The Re
cord, states the bond be fraudulent any transaction is
IN law ngnins, law, although particle of moral
may be connected with it. bond horse race or card
table, would probably fall under this rule and although fair
won and fairly executed, would be avoided Court Of
Chanccry rs fraudulent Heaven however forbid that any
man should be assaed for moral obquty because of the
arguments OF counsel The difficulty which it seemed to
me had To encounter in the case was the statue of Viz
gnia as 1t then was, limiting Attorneys IL shi
ngs, and which declared all bonds taken by an Attorney
Tor certain suits in Court be void if taken for larger
mount ana vet, no Attorney OF any grade would have
sumed the responsibilities of such undertaking that
with Lighnoo for sum falling much short, if ALL Of
that for which undertook.
Since this has been the courts has been tried
by Jury IN the county OF Charles City, who gave me n
verdictcaed for about twenty-five years in the Chance
y Court, both in Williamsburg and Richmond-Inust have
been extensively known all its facts and might have
been known Mr. Bolts all that time If had suited
his purposes 10 have gone before last FALL the Chnnccry
Ohce Ia make enquiry In the mean ime have been
elected by an almost unanimous vote by the people Of the
very county, where the tried and the facts made
KNOWN the Legislature for several successive wears; a
forwards, Gov. Of Va. than once; twice Senator in
Congress- then To the Va. Conventions; then with unan
nlly To the Legislature by the people of James City and
York and Williamsburg; and, finally, Vice President Of the
u. ;. and should most probably have escaped Mr. Bolts
nnmndvcrons and those of hs associates aud allies in
violation OF my oath 10 support the Constitution / had
given my approval a. n Bank Of the United STATES
| leave this matter now, for him and them To make
the most Of 1t that they All / have Ia say tn
Nlr Bots IN conclusion u.s. that should he think proper To
advert to the subject again. his better will be give the
public the entire record, particularly my answer,
answer Of blghoors Executor, and the Commissioner a.
kers special statement made my request. lie had bet
ter exhibit the record than what contains after
hc hngfan mtntcmcnts-dH uniBfenfionaI, doubtless
To which he has shall certainly he drawn into no
controversy with himnor will be- with those with whom
on friendly terms, have adjusted this whole subject.
As to other statements made 10y Mr. Bolts in the pnbica
ton IN the Wing and which aragn the correctness of my
political course shall hand probably the I'D.
or q" the MadisOnan' for publications. certain papers
which may he calculated to throw light upon the extra
ordinary statements founded upon the still more exaordi
nary memory Of Mr. John Minor Bolts and which should
do So hope Messrs. Editors YOU will give place m
your columns.
BE pleased to accept assurances OF my great respect
JOHN TYLER.
Charles City county May H.. 1919
ORLEANS MApKI.r