Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-30
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
CLAIMS AND SALARIES.
Detective wren's Bri Against the Ctr Re-
commended 10 she Council for Payment.

EUAIflutIs tltbtht Attf
lor (chairman) and Messrs. griffith
Curtis, and Pearman. The object o.
the meeting was the consideration o.
the claim Of Detective John Wren
against the city for services in the Ciu-
yerius case.
The following letter from Mr.. Charles
v. Meredith, who represented the Com
menwealth in the case mentioned, was
read, as follows:
To The Honorable the Members Of the
City Council Of the City Of Rich
moHd:
Herewith attached you will find the
bill OF Mr.. John Wren for detective
services rendered in the case of the
Commonwealth against T. j. Cluverius
in the Hastings Court Of the city o.
Richmond. earnestly request its pay
ment--
First. Because of the faithful and ef-
fcient services rendered in that case
second, Ibelieve it is fair bill.
AS many Of you are aware of the
circumstances under which | undertook
the case, need not detail them to you.
1t is sufficient to remind you that
when I took charge of the case the
people of this city were demanding a
full and earnest prosecution Of it, and
that many of the trails pointing to the
murderer were cold. 1t was under
such circumstances absolutely neces-
sary for me to have the services of an
able detective. Knowing that, unhes-
itatingly accepted the services Of Mr..
Wren, telling him that, while had no
authority to employ him, | had no
doubt but that the City Council would
pay any fair bill incurred in that mat
ter, in which the reputation of our
city for good order was so deeply in
yolyed. Mr.. Wren was not only faith
full and efficient, but untiring in his
work in the case. He furnished
the Commonwealth with some of the
most important testimony she Of
fered. lie has not charged his regular
printed schedule prices for his work,
his regular prices being sl2 per
day for himself and $40 per day for
each operator. In his bill he charges
$40 per day for himself and s. per day
for an operator, and for one Of his
operators working in this city only s3
per day. During the preparation Of
the case he would frequently suggest
that expense be saved by having GER
tain work examined into by some men,
Der of the police force, instead Of being
done by one Of his assistants. In
every way believe he has acted fairly
toward the city.
While in many ways the Common
wealth has been greatly benefited by
the faithful and efficient services of diff
fcrent members Of the police force of
this city, | unhesitatingly say that with
out Mr.. Wren's services the Common
wealth's case could not have been as
fully presented as it was. As any other
citizen regret that the city should be
called upon to bear this expense. Nor
would | have incurred it could it have
been avoided. For myself | expect no
compensation, nor would | receive it
were it rendered me. All | ask is that
the legitimate expenses incurred in
prosecuting the case will be paid. 1t
is the only recognition of my services
that ! ask. Very truly,
C. V. MEREDITH.
Mr.. Meredith, being present, was ask
ed to express his views. lie stated, in
frank terms, that he thought the city
should pay the claim, and in straight
forward terms told his reasons. lie
said that he had done all that he could
in order to relieve the city from this
cost that he had seen the Governor
and the Auditor Of Public Accounts.
and they had given it as their opinion
that no provision Of law would author
ize the State to pay the claim.
Mr.. Meredith also explained that the
charge, everything considered, was
and gave it as his opinion as
City Attorney that the bill should be
paid. He was so plain in his state.
ments that the committee were i'm
pressed, and Mr.. Curtis moved that the
recommend the payment OF
the bill.
Mr.. August read the following note
from Mr.. Thomas Potts, addressed to
Mr.. Chaifn, a member of the commit
tee, who was absent
Il see that your committee will have
the Wren bill before it this evening.
have read Mr.. Meredith's letter to the
Council, and fully endorse every word
of it; and ! hope your committee will
order the payment Of the bill. The
good name Of cur city must be protect
ed, and the stranger within our gates
must feel that the city Of Richmond
will grant shield over his or her life
while within her borders.
I'VE cannot stop to count dollars
and cents under such circumstances,
and as the accomplished and successful
for the city asks no pay for his
long and able work, ] think your COM
mittee can pay him no better compli-
ment than to approve the bill he sends
to you. You know me too we'll to
think for moment that | would spend
the city money unless for a good cause,
and consider Mr.. Wren's bill fair
one, and one that should be paid by the
Council, and | think you will use your
influence to that end. believe if the
City Council refuses to pay the bill that
our people will make contribution. Our
house will be glad to pay part.
Yours very truly,
THOMAS POTTs."
Mr.. Taylor dissented. He said he
hought the charge exorbitant, and re-
,retted that Mr.. Chaffin and Mr.. Glas-
;ow were absent at the meeting.
Mr.. Curtis said that Mr.. Chaffin had |
old him that the bill was correct, but
hat he thought the State should pay it.
Mr.. Pearman thought that the SER
ices Of the detective had been shown |
~ Mr.. Meredith, fully deserving the
Imsunt charged, and expressed himself |
n favor of recommending that the |
Council pay the same. He said he |
hought that in so doing he was ex-
PRESSING the wishes of the people, who
cit that in crime so great as the one
no expense should be spared |
n bringing the offender to justice.