Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Special Correspondence PUBrIc LRoGER.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., December o.
The great lawsuit in which
the people Of Memphis are
interested, will probably be argued
before the Supreme Court Wednesday.
The style of the case is: Minor
Meriwether, receiver, etc, Of the
city of Memphis, ct. al. appellants,
versus Robert Carrot & Sons, ct. al.
appellees, from the Circuit Court Of
the United States for the western dis
trict of Tennessee, in equity Since
Memphis was incorporated into a city
no lawsuit has had so much interest
or been invested with so much impor-
tance to her people and property own
ers. tax payers especially, as these. Its
decision will affect more directly
the prosperity of Memphis than
all the yellow fever cpl
denies combined, for upon it
rests questions of vital Importance.
As the readers Of the LEDGER know
the character of the subject-matter of
litigation it is unnecessary to give
more than a syllabus in order to un-
derstand the effect Of the decision,
which the United States Supreme
Court will soon render after hearing
the argument. These causes, insti-
tuted on the equity side Of the Circuit
Court Of the United States for the
Western district ofTennessee, are as
follows First, by Robert Garrett &
Sons, ct al, judgment, creditors upon
coupons and bonds; second, by Hop
Loudon, to recover alleged sums due
him per contract for pavement; third,
BY Ahren's Manufacturing Company,
upon a Judgment for a fire engine in
1878; fourth, by Talmage E. Brown,
judgment creditor 10 the L. S. Court
for $l5O,000, balance due Of $292, 000,-
900, on account Of the celebrated
Nicholson pavement contract; fifth,
by Furman Rogers ct al, judgment
creditors on coupons and bonds. The
total amount involved in these con-
solidated Cases is 1926, 7S7, though the
decision Of the case is hat Of the en-
tire Indebtedness Of Memphis, which.
is between s5,O goo aud s., 800, 600.
Messrs. VIM. NJ. Randolph, Julius A.
Taylor and D. L. Myers represent the
creditors. Messrs. George CANT,
Joseph B. iHirskell and Minor Mer-
riWether are counsels for the appellants
Dir. Randolph is the attorney for Mr..
Brown. Before the repeal of the
charter the above named, having Sc
cured judgments, and some having had
taxes levied, though a part Of the
latter remain uncollected, were pro-
eeeding to have the same collected.
The repeal Of the chatter stopped fur.
Their effort in this direction. There
upon these creditors fled bills asking
the court to empound all taxes levied
that remain uncollected, and have the
proceeds applied to the payment Of
their debts. Now, upon the hearing
you remember, that the United
States Court decreed as follows
LIST. The creditors are entitled to
recover the amounts of their debts.
Ind. That all the property belonging
to the City Of Memphis, including I'M
paid taxes, shall be applied to the
payment Of those debts. Bird. That
the receiver (Latham) should proceed
to collect the assets, including the
taxes, to be applied to the debts.
4th. That Meriwether be perpetually
enjoined from interfering with the
receiver or anything in his hands.
9TH. That al. he property within the
limits of the territory Of Memphis i,
liable and may be subjected to the
payment of the debts Of the city, sucl
liability to be enforced in such manner
as the court may order. 9Th. That
personal DEGREES may be rendered
against persons owing taxes in fayol
Of the receiver, and personal exeou
tons may issue against them for the
amounts they owe, and the court vii.
enforce all liens for taxes against al.
pro2erty suisct thereto.
The State receiver, Minor Meri-
wether. g.. ais, appeal from this de-
cree, and Aey certify to the Supreme
TfustoI Etatne