The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-27
The Scrutiny OF C0upOns-yertict for
Taylor-Thc Commonwealth Ap-
pcafs.

The Hastings Court yesterday resumed
| the consideration OF the case OF G.. Watt
! Taylor. petitioning for the examination OF
! $3.50 in coupons, by him rendered fol
! license taxes TO the Assistant Treasurer OF
| Richmond, and forwarded to said court in
compliance with the "coupon-kiler act
Acknowledgement Blair and Common.
wealth's-Attorney Witt represented the
Commonwealth, and Messrs. w. w. Crumr
& Bcv. II. Crump and X. l.. Maury,
the petitioner. Mr.. Newman, OF the Of
| flee OF the Auditor Of Public Accounts
Mr.. N0land, Of the Treasurer's Office, and
Mr.. W. Il. Simons were examined on be-
half OF the defendant Qhe Commonwealth,
/ the Attorney-Gencral seeking to show that
/ it was not improbable that coupons once
received for taxes might have again gotten
| into circulation; also, that the counter
/ feitng Of steel-plate work like that OF our
coupons was by no means impossible.
The Attorney-General submitted the fol-
lowing instructions, and asked that the
Court give them to the jury:
The Court inStructs the jury that under
/ the act Of the General Assembly approved
January If, 1852, chapter !, entitled "An
act to prevent frauds upon the Common
wealth." in the proceeding now on trial the
petitioner is the plaintiff and the Common
wealth the defendant 10 the issue, and that
the burden OF proof i. on the plaintiii.
>. The Court instrllcts the Jury that by
the act OF the General Assembly approved
January II, 1882, chapter !, entitled "An
act TO prevent frauds upon the Common
wealth. the petitioner in the proceeding
on the trial OF the cause is made the plain
tilr and the Commonwealth the defendant,
and by her Representatives is directed to
appear and require OF the plaintill proof OF
the gcnuincncss and legality OF the coupons
in issue.
3. The Court instructs the jury that in
this case the genuinencss and legality Of the
coupons in issue must be proved by com
petent legal evidence, and that the mere be-
| lief OF the witnesses for petitioners that the
said coupons are genuine and legal, how
ever strong that belief may be on their part,
will not suffice. but the petitioner must pro-
ducc facts before the jury which will salts
/ iy them that the coupons in issue are gcnu-
| inc and legal.
!. The Court further instructs the jury
that by the lljlh section OF the assessment
act OF the General Assembly Of Virginia,
approved April -, 1889, all taxes assessed
| by that act upon licenses are required to be
| paid in lawful money Of the United State'
/ before the person applying for said liccns,
/ shall be entitled 10 receive the same, and II
the Jury shall believe from the evidence
| that the coupons rendered 10y the petitioner
were offered 10y him in payment OF Ii
cense tax then they are not legally rcceiya
/ bic in payment Of said tax; and they mus
/ find for the defendant.
The Court gave the first and second in
structions, and it refused to give the thirC
and fourth: whereupon the Commonwealth
| filed a bill OF exceptions.
The ease was then given to the jury with
out argument. The jury found the cou
pons M issue genuine and legal, and recciy
able for taxes; verdict for the plaintiff
/ G.. Watt TAYLOR. The usual motion to Sc
aside the verdict was made and ovcrruled
and the Commonwealth will apply for ;
writ OF error. The bill OF exceptions vii
/ be prepared to-day. Monday the Cour
will proceed with the trial OF other OF thes'
cases. and the evidence here taken will b.
printed for the Use OF the Court.