The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-12
General Assembly of Virginia.
WEDNESDAY, February II, 1874

SENATE.
Lieutenant-G Governor WRITER'S presiding.
Prayer by the Rev. Joshua Peterkin, D. D.,
of St. James's (EpiscopaD church.
HOUSE BILLS REFEREED.
A number of House bills were taken up,
twice read, and appropriately referred.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Mr.. WARD, from the Committee Oh Roads
aud Internal Navigation, reported bill to
authorize the Valley railroad to contract for
building free macadamiZed road from tue
town of Fincastle to their road.
Mr.. KIRKPATRICK. from the Committee on
Public Institutions, reported joint resolution
authorizing the directors of the Contra! Lu-
natic Asylum to purchase the ground on
which tie present buildings are erected !;
also, minority report on the same subject.
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
The following bills, ETC., were presented
and appropriately referred
Ry MIR. Penn: Petition of j. A. Noel and
others praying the repeal Of certain prov'
sions of the charter Of the town Of Christians
nv MFR, F1sNEY Petition Of citizens Of
Northampton praying that the Code of 1873
he amended relative to the hauling of seines
in certain waters of the Commonwealth.
Nv Mir. DUFF1ELD A bill to enable mar
Rod women to insure the lives Of their huS-
bands.
By Mr.. WARD: A resolution as to the eX-
pediency of amending the 9Th section OF the
9Th article of the Constitution so as TO pro-
vide that the capitatlOn tax and the annual
tax upon property collected in each county
of the State for public school purposes shal!
| be expended in said county for said pur-
poses.
By the same: A bill for the protection of
| sheep in the counties of Clarke and Frede-
rick.
| By Mr.. HoLLADAY: A resolution as to the
expediency Of so amending the mechanics
| lien law as to give protection , to sub-con-
| tractors.
Senate bill in reference to suits against the
| Common wealth was discussed at great
length, and finally laid on the table.
| THE CASE OF W. D. COLEMAN.
| At 8 O'Clock the PRESIDENT laid before the
Senate the following communication from
the Executive:
i COMMONWEALTH OF FIRGINIA,>
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS,
RlCRM0ND February IL, 1874.
To the Senate and House of Delegates:
have the honor to transmit herewith q
communication from the Board Of Com
missioners OF the Sinking Fund in relation
TO the recent defalcation on the part of Will.
liam D. Coleman, late secretary Of the Board
respectfully recommend an investigation
by the General Assembly Of this the frs
defalcatiou which has occurred in any STATE
/ Office during the present generation, apC
that stringent precautions be provided
against its repetition in future.
JAMES l.. KEMPER.
OFFICE BOARD SINKING FUND.
RICHMOND, Va. February II, 1S74,S
To his Ercellency J. L. Kenaper, Governor:
2 Some days ago the attention of the
undersigned, Commissioners of the Board
of the Sinking Fund, was called to rumors
in relation to the conduct Of w. ID. Coleman
late secretary Of the Board, involving
charges of q grave character against him.
conference vas had with your Excel
lency in regard TO these rum0rs, at which il
was determined to summon Mr. Coleman
before US. lie acknowledged Irregularities
and improper conduct, but denied any OIL
cial delinquency. 1t was resolved to proceed
at once to examine all the stock purchased
by the Board and compare it with the re.
cords in the Second Auditors Office. This
examination was the work Of Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday, after the adjournment
of the Legislature, running into the night Of
each day. 1t appeared Saturday night, after
discovering that an erasure of an entry of
November II, 1878, from $l8,100 to SS 100
had been made, that the amount Of stock on
hand, which was kept as the proper aud
only safe depository in the large safe in the
! Treasury office, was short Of the amount
j appearing on the books Of Second Auditor
Of about six thousand dollars in stock,
showing defalcaiion of that amount.
On Monday the Board pursued the ex-
animation, and learning that MIR. Coleman
| confessed he had made the erasure referred
| to, and being satisfied that be had distracted
4 and Improperly disposed Of the missing
stock, the undersigned proceeded to sue out
from the Police Justice Of this city war.
rant for the arrest of Coleman, aud he is
now In the hands of,he law. lbe ezamina.