The true Democrat., 1856-06-10
auditors Office, Little Rock,

SIR:-lp answer to your requistion in writ
ing dated I'd inst, as an officer of the execu-
tive department of the State of Arkansas, 1
hereby report that, on the lst day of May, 1854,
warrant was issued, as appears by the voucher
and records in this Office in favor of James M.
Curran, Tor services rendered in preparing and
filing bill in chancery to divest the trustees
and officers of the Real Estate Bank of the
assets of that institution, for the sum OF five
hundred dollars, which warrant was paid out of
the contingent fund of the executive depart.
msnt that on the oath day of April, 1855,
warrant was issued in favor of Samuel III.
Hampstead for $1,000 90 and that on the 18th
day Of January, 1856, another warrant was
issued in favor of Samuel H. Hampstead for
$500 OO-both of which warrants were issued
to Samuel II. Hampstead for prosecuting the
suit against the trustees and officers of the Real
Estate Bank, showing the whole amount which
you, as Governor, have in any manner caused
to be paid out of the State treasury to law
yers for commencing and prosecuting the suit
against the trustees and officers of the Real
Estate Bank, since the 18th January, 1853, to
be two thousand dollars-of which James NJ.
Curran received for preparing and filing the
bill $500 90
And Samuel H. Hampstead, for pro-
scouting the suit against the truS-
tees and officers of the Real Es-
tate Bank, has received in all $500 90
Showing the whole expenditure
to be as above stated $1,000 90
All of which is respectfully submitted.
A. s. HUEY, auditor Of Public
accounts of the State of A,k.
To Gov. ELIAS N. CONWAY, Little Rock, Ark.
Now who will maintain that $500 90 is an
exhorbitant compensation for the service to the
State performed by James M. Curran? There
is not lawyer in the State who possesses the
done so for less sum than five hundred dol.
lars. It's preparation was herculean task-it
required great ability and experience and the
most laborious research. 1t was prepared by
Mr.. Curran alone, without any assistance from
Gen. Yell, his CO. council" He performed
the whole labor, and in a manner honorable to
his intellect and industry. Truly, no man will
say the laborer eoas not acortAy of his hire
And, too, the compensation to Gen. Hemp
stead is very insignificant when the amount of
service rendered is considered. Hampstead has
been prosecuting the suit for eighteen months.
lie has done so with great industry and ability.
He, alone, has done all that was to be done.--
His " co-council," Gen. Yell, rendered him no
assistance. He has been in constant attendance
upon the chancery court ever since its estab-
lishment. He had the trustees and officers of
the Real Estate Bank dispossessed of the assets
and receiver in chancery appointed. lie is
still engaged in pressing the suit.
In another article, wherein we publish a re-
port of the treasurer, will be found some of the
fruits OF the suit against the trustees 1t will
be seen that over million dollars Of the States
Indebtedness on account of the banks have
been cancelled already. What is the paltrv
sum of two Thousand dollars when compared
to this magnificent result!
And this is not all the service that was per-
formed At the request of the Governor
Hampstead appeared for the State and had all
OF Pixies enormous suits against the State dis
missed. This service was of incaculabe bene-
tit, not only to the State, but to the stock holders
of the bank. Pike had sued the State and the
stockholders upon bonds amounting to nearly
t" o millions of dollars. Had he succeeded in
obtaining judgment, he would have broken up
the stockholders of the banks, and forced the
State to repudiate Or to levy at once enormous
taxes. But, under law which Gov. Conway
got passed through the last Legislature, re-
curing the original bonds, and not copies, upon
which suit is brought against the State, to be
filed in court, Gen. Hampstead had all Of
Pixies suits thrown out of court
For this service and his services in the suit
against the trustees of the Real Estate Bank,
Gen. Hampstead has received fifteen hundred
dollars. In our mind, the only wonder is that
his charges have been so reasonable Gov.
Conway has been very fortunate in having
procured the services of two such eminent
lawyers as Hampstead and Curran. They per-
formed their duties ably and faithfully, and
their charges have been extremely moderate