Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-07
committed in our midst and against the
neace of the city? He modestly referred

made to himself. At the time he took
the case it was hid in mystery, aud he
took II not with the idea Of getting any
glory out Of it, for there then seemed
but little chance Of glory, and he GER
tainly did not take it with an idea OF
saddling a debt upon the city. He
thought, however, that the city ought
TO pay the debt. 1t was plainly the
debt of the city-not the State. He
could not have done less than
he did, and if fault rested any
where, it should be put upon
himself. The papers at the time
he took hold Of the case teemed with
talk about the crime. and the commu-
nifty was in excitement over it. De-
tective Wren was authorized by the
Mayor to act in the matter, being told,
however, by the Mayor that he could
not tell him where he could get his
pay.
Mr.. Meredith said he went into this
case within thirty-six hours after he
was asked to take hold Of it, finding
opposed to him four Of the ablest law
yers Of the State.
Mr.. Meredith said that an ex-Judge
and ex-councilman had said in the pa
pers that the State should pay the
claim. He respectfully submitted that
when lawyer went into the papers to
instruct the public that he should con-
suit his law-books. The State did not
pay these claims. Two Governors had
refused to pay similar claims-one Of
them the present Governor. The county
of Henricc paid her officers in case of
great crime additional sums.
Mr.. Meredith said he asked nothing
for himself; il onered, he would re-
fuse it; but he did ask that this bill Of
Wren's paid. 1t was reasonable bill,
and debt owed by the city, and not
by the State. The city charter pro-
vided that the Council should suppress
vice and prevent crime, and this gave
ample authority to pay the bill. Wren
showed him his charges, and he told
him that he had nothing to do with the
charges, but to go on, that the Council
would settle with him; and he knew
that Wren had put his price lower than
the printed charges on his list Of prices.
Mr.. Meredith explained the nature
and the value of the services rendered,
and he characterized them as being
faithful and effective in the case re-
ferred TO. The detective had provided
witnesses that could not otherwise have
been obtained, and these witnesses had
stood the test in court as well as could
be. More than that, Wren had traced
to an end hundreds of false rumors.
Besides, it was necessary to watch the
defence's witnesses, and this was also
done by Wren. Whenever it was pos
sible, Wren advised the employment of
policemen. and thus showed his hon.
esty Of intention towards the city.
The city had received the benefit of the
service, and he did not believe the
Council would refuse to pay for it. lie
said he not only believed that the city
had the right to pay the bill, but that
it was the city's duty to pay it. He
said that Mr.. Wren had heard that
some complaint had been made as to
the price charged for his assistant. If
necessary he would reduce that to IS
per day.
When the matter came up under
the head Of claims and salaries,
Mr.. Hargrove moved to refer the
claim of SLIGO made by Mr.. Wren to
the Finance Committee.
Mr.. AmmOns opposed this, saying
Wren had long enough been kept out of
his pay.
Mr.. Turpin offered a resolution that
Mr.. Meredith report what other ex-
penses might be brought against the
city growing out of the Cluyerius case.
Not acted upon.
Mr.. Guy moved to refer to the Com
mittee on Claims and Salaries. Lost.
The ayes and noes on Mr.. IIargrove's
motion to refer to the Finance Commit
tee resulted as follows:
AYEs.-Messrs. Archer, Cutchins. Frlsch-
korn. HaTgTOve, Lewis, Phillips, Riddell,
Turpin. and Ellyson-9.
NOEs.-Messrs. AmmOns, Bahen, Bryan,
Cabell, Campbell, Curtis, Griffith. Guy.
Hughes. Jones. King Parater. Pearman,
Pizzini, Rankin, Redford, and Robinson
II.
1t was announced that the bill had
been reduced by the Committee on
Claims and Salaries to 81, 500.
The ayes and noes were called, and
the bill was ordered to be paid by the
following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. Ammons, Bahen. Bowie
Bryan, Cabell, Campbell, Curtis. Frsch-
Born. Griffith, Guy, Hargrove, Hughes,
Jones King. Parater. Pearman, Pzzini
Rankin, kedford. Kiddell, Robinson, and
IL yson-22.
NoIs.-Nessrs. Archer, Cutchins, Gum,
Lewis, Phillips, and rurpin-6.
THE MAYORS VETO.
On motion of Mr.. Campbell the veto
Of the Mayor regarding certain sewers
in jackson Ward was taken from the
table, and, on motion of Mr.. Campbell,
the resolutions authorizing the cul-
verts were passed notwithstanding the
Mayors veto. The discussion over
this question was long and tedious.
NEW CITY HALL.
The report of the advisory commit
tee on new City Hall was read, as
heretofore reported in the proceedings
of the Board of Aldermen, together
with the resolution adopting the plan of
Messrs. Wait, Cutter 4 Co., architects,
Of Boston, and authorizing the adver-
tisement for bids for building the hall.
Mr.. Rankin asked if the building
was to be built Of granite.
The Chair said he thought that was
the intention of the Council.
Mr.. Frischkorn said the committee
was united on this subject, and the
resolution heretofore adopted said of
Virginia or other granite" 1t was
not policy to say to one or two compa-
nies here that might pool against the
city that we intend to use no other
granite but theirs.
There was considerable discussion
about the granite and the relative me-
rits Of Wait, Cutter & Co.'s plan, and
the second choice, that of Mr.. b. j.
Black, Of Richmond.
Mr.. Pizzini explained the labor of
the committee. and asked the eoncur-