Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-20
lFor tho Dispaich.l
Mr.. RovalI and SIR. Mnben.

In Tuesdays paper Mr.. Royal, his attor-
new. attempts to defend MIR. Cooper for not
complying with his covenant 20 save
harmless Mr.. ID. A. Maben. of Amelia, who
had attempted TO pay his taxes in cou-
pOns. Mr.. Maben. it appears, failed to
force the coupons on the Treasurer, who
levied on and sold his property for two
thirds cost six months before.
This transaction with Mr.. Cooper was
had in 1888. and Mr.. Royal apologies for
the non-performance Of his contract. lie
even intimates that he showed merit in
keeping his contract Notwithstanding
what he calls the atrocious legislation
which occurred after the contract was
made. As if "atrocious legislation"
after "a well as before, was not one of the
things TO be insured against under the
contract to save Mr.. Maben harmless.
Here is the contract, or what l. presume
must be the contract, since l find 1T as an
advertisement in the Richmond Dispatch Of
November z, 1885,
Wheroas - Of - has purchased from
James e. Cooper = OF Virginia tax-receiva-
bio coupons, now, therefore, II the said ----
shall tender said coupons for his state taxes,
the said James T. Cooper hereby covenants, ana
he is authorized by the Corporation Of Foreign
Bondholders Of London 40 70 covenant, that II the
said - Is mOlested in any way by the officers
Of the state OF Virginia, he, tho SAID james +.
Cooper, Will furnish the said - with all ne
cossary counsel and Will save him harmless on
account Of said tender.
Witness my hand and seal this day Of -
1SS-. - lSealJ
81 Main street, Richmond, Va.,--, lSS-.
Witness WILLIAM |. ROYALl-
Suppose an additional clause had been
asserted. TO this effect But if any afro
cious legislation ia perpetrated by the
General Assembly Of Virginia, the said
Cooper shall not be bound by his said con-
tract and in case judgment is obtained
against the said -- of - by the trea-
surer of - county whereby the said
- of -- shall have his property
levied on and sold. he shall not have re-
course against the said Cooper under the
above contract until anappeal can be taken
to the Supreme Court Of the United States
and that court shall have given an opinion
in all the points that the counsel OF the
SAID Cooper can raise. How many men
would have bought the coupons in that
case? But is not that the condition that
Mr.. RCyall has superimposed against the
logic OF q contracty SuperimpOsed with
out notice?
Here is man who has been levied on
and sold out nearly two years ago; and to
his demand for redress under the contract
Mr.. Royal replies: Dir. Cooper IS not
bound to give redress the minute the judy
Court decide that the legislation is void
there can he no claim that he has not kept
his contract TO the letter. The man has
been sold out, but Mr.. Cooper was not
bound to protect him until he has had one
ore two more trials TO prove that the State
Of Virginia has passed atrocious laws; as
If Mr.. Royal had not made that conten-
ton in the cOupon-killer and the coupon
crusher, and almost any other law that the
State has passed.
No doubt Mr.. Maben, with whose loss /
have not the least sympathy, thinks such a
plea as "atrOciOus" as the legislation
which Mr.. Royal condemns
There was q stout man once, so runs the
fable, standing upon the wharf at Albany,
n. Y, on q cold, bleak day. and observing
poor ragged man shivering IN the crowd
he offered to bet him $40 that he could
throw him across the North river. Driven
by his necessities the ragged man accepted
the banter, when the stout man gathered"
him by the seat Of his breeches and the
collar of his shirt and slung him plump
into the river about five feet from the
end of the wharf. Swimming out he
claimed the money he had won. "Oh,
no." said the stout man, mot yet.
| did not say how many trials l was to
have. / was getting the heft of you. The
next time / think | may succeed" The
dripping wretch told him his conduct was
"atrOcious," and walked off amid the jeers
of the crowd. who had no feeling for a man
who had no more sense than TO make such
bet as that.
Moral. Mind how you make foolish bets
with sharpers. $50