National Republican., 1883-05-12
PRoGREss IN VIRGINIA..
The Cause or Education PLACED In the
Hinds OF the Liberals Decision of the
Court OF Apponls-Ncws from Rich

The Cause OF Education Placed In the
Hinds OF the DISQUALIFICATION Of the
Court OF AppooIs-Ncws from Rich
mond.
SPECIAL Dispatch.
RICHMOND, VA, May 1.-The supreme
court ofappeals to-day decided what is known
rs the Richmond school board case in favor
Of the now board appointed by the state board
Of education, and against the old board ap-
pointed by the city council of Richmond.
Judge Richardson delivered tho unanimous
opinion of the court. The issues presented to
court were whether il was necessary for a
school trustee to take tho oath Of office or not,
aud if he fails TO take IL can tho city council
cure the defect by any subsequent roappoint.
inont of trustees or appoint their successors,
and in this way defeat the power of the state
board of education to fll vacancies caused by
tho qualification of school trustees. The
opinion fof the court fully sustained the
action of tho state board of education,
composed of the governor, attorney general,
aud the superintendent of public instruction,
aud pre-emptory mandamus in favor of the
new board was awarded, commanding the old
board to deliver nm all the books records,
papers, property real and PERSONAL including
all buildings and all other things belonging
to the public schools of Richmond into the
custody and control of the new board, which
has been declared the only legal board. A
unanimous court held that all trustees must
take the oath of office, and that there must be
evidence of the fact, and asserted the right of
the board Of education TO fill the vacancies
where such oaths have not been taken. Tho
court also held that u school trustee is an Off
Ger, that he muss take the oath Of office as all
other officers of the state do, and he must
produce tho evidence Of his qualification in
HI 1a... sI..,s
town council can appoint school trustees
within sixty days after vacancy,
but if they fail to do SO then the
board of education has the right to appoint
all such trustees for the terms of one, two,
or three years, as tho case may be. Atty.
Gen, Blair upon tho conclusion Of this case,
moved the court to advance to the head of
the docket the Manchester school cases, and
argued as his reason therefor that they were
wholly and in every particular covered by
the decision in the Richmond case. The
court granted tho motion. This decision
covers similar cases in Il number of the cities
and towns of the state-principally among
them are Alexandria, Lynchburg, Staunton,
Manchester Winchester, Wytheville, and
fredericksburg. The old school boards of
the cities of Petersburg, Portsmouth, and
Danvilio have already surrendered to the
boards appointed by the state board of educa.
tion. Judge Richardson's opinion was an
the legislation eli the subject of public free
schools, and defined in a very clear manner
the respective powers rights, and duties of
the state boards Of education and city and
town councils
This opinion is one of the most important
and interesting that has been delivered by
the present court, and more anxiety and in
forest has been shown in it than has been ex-
hibitcd in any other case that has appeared
on the docket of the supreme court for q long
time. IL virtually places the public schools
that are now under the control of the
staunchest bourbons in the state in the hands
of men moro friendly toward public educa-
tion, and who are recognized as earnest sup
porters of the cause OF universal education.
While the opinion was being delivered the
court room was crowded with representative
men of both parties, and at the conclusion Of
the case Attorney General Blair was con-
gratula5ed by quito number of lawyers
Judge Joseph Christian, of the old supreme
court, was among the first 10 shake hants
with him and said, you have won again"
A little six-year-old son of Mr.. James Rob
ertson, u lumber merchant of Manchester,
met with very singular accident this morn
ing which may probably cause him to lose
his life. He ran into a window breaking the
pane and fell upon piece of glass, which en-
tered beneath his chin, near tho neck, and
went through to his throat. Two physicians
have been attending the unfortunate little
follow, and it is feared that the wound will
he more than he can stand. The parents of
the child were preparing to attend tho funeral
of their grandmother, Mrs. Anderson, widow
of the late DIR. William Anderson, Of Gooch-
land county, when tho accident occurred.
The case of Billy Conners the noted
burglar who was arrested in Baltimore and
brought TO this city, was TO day identified in
the police court by Miss Stratton, the house
keeper of Mr.. T. w. Pcmberton. Miss Stratton
a La M Vic in
her room on tho night Of the robbery at Mr..
Pemberton's, and looking the prisoner
squarely in the eye, sho said the prisoner is
the man who was in my room that night.
Conners was sent on to the grand juiy and
Temanded to jail.