The Osceola times., 1876-05-27
GOOD NEWS.

""N ""o uN'i"t', t"o hcWo VI VIM
will bring JOY to many a home in
Mississippi county. Eor five long,
weary years the mills of the law
have been grinding at II, and by
lucky turn II was disposed Of in
few minutes at our last court, Civ
ing back to our people many thou.
sands Of dollars, out of which they
had wclI.nigh been dcirnudcd. We
allude TO the suit of DR.. Davies
against John B. Driver, as sheriff
and collector of Mississippi county,
for tho return OF tho so-called
equalization tax" of 1871. When
tho case was called, Mr.. J. b. Best,
the former county clerk, appeared
for DIR. Davies and the people Of
Mississippi county, and S. S.
Scmmes, Esq. foI Collector Driver.
There was but little or no argu.
ment Mr.. Bcst's bill being no I'd
TO the court, and Mr.. Semmes maxi
ing but snort reply, tho court i'm
mediately dccreed a return Of the
tax already collected to tho people
who paid it, and cnjoined the col.
Iect'r from making any further
collections on that account. Ia
this manner thero was returned TO
our people about five thousand
five hundred dollars, collected by
Joe Murray, former collector, and
nearly the same amount collected
by J. b. Driver. Out of this sum
Ta'00 The expenses Of the suit,
amounting in all to about fifteen
bandreA d"liars. including fees of
counsel, and sIl incidental en-
pensss-s sum which VIC aro sure
viii not bo begpDdgsd by tho peo.
pie ~ wbosa BEHALF the suit was
eaYr'sd on, and TO whom this re-
iur. comes as wihdfall-s yerita.
Bile God-send, like 50 much money
'ound upon tho highway. The
credit Of Insulating and prossuut.
ing this suit, from its very inccp
ton, through the five long years of
its course to its triumphan, Gn0l at
the late term 81 court, " duo to ono
man-to JAMES B. BEST. lie alone,
OF oil our people, bad tho nerve TO
induce certain Taxpayers TO allow
their rames to be used us complain
ants and tins on rfomIss to ,hcm
that II should cost them nothing
10 paid all costs OF cour, he feed
other lawyers to help him he pur.
sued the cause from cour, TO court,
takipS VII chances, and paying all
expenses 'launtcd by no reverses
stopped by no impcdimenis untlI
final y, Mt this court, he triumphe,
ever every obstacle, and caused t,
be returned to our. .povcrly.s,ricksn
people upwards of ten thousand
dollars. money that they had pait
ont undcr stress Of an iniquitous
Radical, ihieving law. Nor is TIN,
the measure of his services. TIVE
thirds of our people soaH not, o.
did not, pay this extra tax. Thcil
lands were liable to its full cxten
for the amount levied on them thu.
iniqniiou,ly, had tins suil termina
ted other than il has done. Twenty
thousand dollars would not cover
the delinquency, and hence, in es
tima.iny his services, wo must give
Mr.. Best credit for saving this sum
as we'll as that already mentioned
to our people.
The course of sheriff Driver hal
Dcea comincndsble throughout
His duty rs collector demandc,
OF him that he use every Lawful
means to collect this tax, until In,
courts of the state should doolar,
it Illegal aud unconstitutional. II,
employed us his solicitor Mr.
Scmmcs, who, rs in duty bound
presented the moagre array OF lcga
points that might be construed int
delanse of the actian OF tbs SO
called Board Of Equalization. /
only remains Tor Mr.. Driver 10 10
turn the amounts duo 10 the pcnpl,
who paid the tax (less the percent
age Tor costs), and then Misslssipp
county will have done with Radica
rule and it's consequent robborie'
for ever and aye. This, We are as
sured, ho is ready to do, so 500,
- the books can be prepared
showing exactly tie amount gong
to each person. These books are
now in the hands OF competent
parties and will soon be turnc,