Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-29
For tho Dispatch

ney suit.
Mr.. W. L. Royal says, in note to
the Dispatch of July 25th: 81 hear
many inquiries as to what the State did
pay Messrs. Tucker and Allen. Rumor
puts it high. Can you inform me?"
A short time before that Mr.. Royal
had made a similar inquiry in the State,
mpsDied by similar remark.
can inform him. But allow me to
preface the answer shall give to him
and "msny inquiries )" by the remark
that, knowing Mr.. Royal to be gen.
tleman, l had supposed him to be aware
of the etiquette obtaining at the bar,
which makes it indicate for one law
YER to ask what another lawyer may
have charged or received for his SER
vices, unless in the rare case where he
is considered to lower the dignity Of the
profession by charging too little. Gen
orally it is outsiders who complain of
exorbitant charges ; and sometimes even
when they arc allowed by courts. But
Mr. Royal may wish as public-spirit-
ed citizen to look iDto this possible
abuse Of power by the Board Of Indem-
pity-a pIeiseworthy wish and pre-
cedent which shall endeavor to follow.
The facts in regard to the employ
ment Of counsel in the case of Mr.. DID,
laney are the following Certain parties
bad stood upon their tender Of coupons
in payment Of license and other State
taxes, and had, 10 consequence, been
levied upon by collecting officers acting
under authority aud command Of State
laws. Suits for trespass had been
brought by several Of these parties;
and in one Of them--Ford proprietor
Of Ford's Hotel Us. Taylor, Treasurer,
&c" actual damages had been
found for the plhinuf undcr illegal in
structions from Judge Bond. In an
otheI-Dulsuey' case--sult had been
brought agsinst G. W. koont2, tfessu.
Ter Of Shenandoah county, and the
Board of Indemnity, consisting Of the
Auditor OF Public Accounts, the
Second Auditor, the Treasurer, the
Attorney General, and the Secretary Of
the Commonwealth, for conspiracy with
said Kooniz TO make the levy upon DID,
lsiey and the damages had been laid
at 100000.
In furihersnce of this and all other
cases that might arise, a paper entitled
The Circular of tie Foreign Bosdhold-
ers had been spread broadcast over
the State, exhortipg the people to pay
their taxes in coupons, and promising
every man who should tender them aud
he levied on, exemplary and punitive
damages in suit which he eau bring
in the United States Circuit Court,
where he is certain to have an impsr-
,isl jury to try his case that will Gu
force the law as the Court instructs il. ;"
At the same time Mr.. Royal had in
spirited the bondholders by predict.
ing" through the London Financial
! Ners, "that the plaintiff will recover
heavy demages,' and assuring them
THAT it is mere question Of time
when the bcndbolders will compel th.
State to make terms with them III. e.,
compel il to take coupons at par. These
things had some effect and new 3's,
notwithstanding the determination o.
the Sinking Fund Commissioners to buy
ESQ, 600 of them in July, fell from 6ss
to 67!-a fall from ahich, by the way,
they recovered the day after the verdict
in Dulaney's case became known.
Under these circumstances the Board
Of Indemnity determined to employ
counsel, a., though they did not expect
heavy damages from an impartial
jury, (" they could not tell how the Court
might "insiruct it to enforce the law"
And so, with the full concurrence Of
tho Attorney.Gerersl, they deemed ii
Ibe part Of prudence TO engage Hon. |
J. Randolph Ticker, whose name speaks |
Ior itself. But they did not choose to
IMPAIR the force Of their official action
~ bringing their conduct under suspi-
non. They were pretendedly sued as
individuals, though they knew they
we're really sued as officers Of the State,
Vhich was struck at through them
I'D therefore they made their contract
nth Mr. Tucker, not as officers Of the
tate, but IS individuals. As such thsy
greed TO guarantee him $500. G.,
100 for each Of the fse individuals OF
70 Bosrd--he to be associated with the
ttornsy. General in the case OF Delaney !