The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-24
Coupons 20 bo Tested Under the "Cou-
nou.KtuIerv Act Of Assembly.

In the Hastings toult va h'S!niohu sew
enty-two parties have hled petitions, mosi
Of them on a printed form, representing
that, being indebted to the state OF Nir.
ginia for license-tax he (or they rendered
s. G. Greenhow, or Mr.. Tinsley, bis assist
ant, Treasurer OF said city, ana the officer
appointed By law 10 receive said tax, IN
Fpayment Of so much thereof, - dol.
lars In coupons, "as per schedule here
with, cut from the bonds OF said Common
wealth, which by law are receivable for
all taxes. debts, and demands due the state
OF Virginia, who received the same for the
purposes OF Identification and Veriiication,
and forwarded them 10 this court for that
purpose, according 10 law. lsee his re-
ceipt therefor, herewith filed and marked
Exhibit.V
"And tbereupon your petitioner paid
/ him the full amount OF his tax IN money.
Your petitioner alleges that said coupons
are genuine legal coupons, and are legally
receivable for all taxes, debts, and demands
due the Commonwealth OF Virginia, Esd
prays that a Jury be empanelled 10 try the
question whether they are genuine legal
coupons, legally receivable for taxes, debts,
and demands due the Commonwealth OF
Virginia.
"IIe prays that the State Of Virginia be
summoned 10 answer this petition, and
that when said coupons are ascertained to
be genuine legal coupons, receivable for all
taxes. debts, and demands due The Com
monwealth Of Virginia, that this court will
so certify, TO the end that he may receive
back the money so paid by him as alore-
said, according TO law," &c.
In accordance with said petitions sum-
monses were issued, and yesterday Com
monwealth's Attorney ;. Il. Witt and At
torney-Gencral Frank :. Blair appeared 70
represent the Commonwealth. Richard l..
Maury, W. W. Crump & Bcv. T. Crump,
and Davies Il Hooper were preSentas cOun-
sci for the petitioners. Mr. Witt stated
that the answer and plea, Of the Common
wealth were i'm the hands a the printer,
but would be ready during the day. There
upon the eases were continued until 10
O'Clock this morning, 10 which hour the
Jury were adjourned.
The answer OF the Commonwealth re-
cites the law in brief and states that there
are spurious coupons out. and prays that
an issue he framed for tIial, &c.
IL is understood that there will be two
pleas on behalf Of the COmmOnwealth-firs
non est fdctUm second, that il the coupons
are genuine they are not receivable FOR
licen.e-taxes, which the law requires % be
paid In money.
1t Is likely that il will be further main
tanned that the coupons cannot be proved
% be- genuine, il at all, unless accompanied
by the bond; that they bear q number cor
responding with the number Of the bond,
and that the reason for so numbering them
was 10 identify them in case their genuine
ness was ever called in question, as in these
cases.
II seems that when the old funding bill
was first framed il required the Treasurer
TO sign the coupons, but il was soon a,cer-
tanned that the work would be a stupendous
one, and there was IN amendment allow
ing the fac simRe Of the Signature Of the
Treasurer George Rye 10 be printed
on the coupon, which was done. II i all
steel-plate work. Mr.. Shackelford, chief
clerk in the Office Of the Second Auditor,
has been summoned a. a witness by the
petitioners. He has handled millions Of
dollars worth Of coupons, and knows their
whole history.
1t * quite likely that there will he some
preliminary questions TO be argued before
witnesses can be introduced 10 testify what
they know Of the genuinencss Of the cou-
mons In question.