Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-07
THE FEES OF JURORS.
THEY ARE NOT AMENABLE FOR
EITHER, STATE or CITY TAXES.
Csses-Powhstan'sR Railroad Bends-
A Mysterious Death Case.

tCorreepondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
PETxRsBUsa. Va, February 6.--Judge B.
A. Hancock opened the term of the Cir
cult Court of Petersburg to-day and rem
dered an important decision in the matter
Of Jurors fees, especially bearing upon the
fees Of Jurors in the coupon cases, large
number OF which have recently been tried
IN Petersburg. Mr.. j. L. Verser, one of
the Jurors who served in the coupon cases
and who was entitled 10 s3 for his services.
applied 10 the Treasurer of the city Of Pc
tersburg for payment of his certificate.
In tho mean time Mr.. W. Irving Smith, col
lector Of city delinquent taxes, acting. as he
contended. under an ordinance OF the city,
filed statement with Treasurer Slaughter,
showing that MIR. Verser owed the city de-
linquent taxes to an amount exceeding the
as Jury fee allowed by the court. Being IN
doubt a. 10 whether he should retain the
money under the ordinance, as contended
by Mr.. Smith. or whether he should retain
IL for the taxes due by MIR. Nerser TO tho
Commonwealth, or whether il was his duty
TO pay IL 20 Mr.. Verser himself, the Urea
surer refused TO pay the amount 10 any
one.
CAN'T BR GABSIsHEED.
Mr.. verser applied to the Circuit Court
OF the city for a mandamus 70 compel the
Treasurer to nay the amount allowed him
as Juror. The preliminary mandamus
being granted, after hearing argument OF
counsel-Ir. j. NJ. Mullen for the Com
monwealth and Captain +. X. Lassiter
for the city-the court held that a
Jurors allowance could not be Rarnisheed
in the hands Of the Treasurer and could
not be returned by the latter for either
city or State taxes; that Juror stood III
the same position as pubhc oincer, anu
that IL was contrary TO pubic pOhcy 70
allow his compensation 10 be garnlsheed
in the hands OF the Treasurer or To be re-
tanned in his hands for taxes Que either
the city or the State. 90,
Under this decision the Treasurer Will
pay all the Jurors without any warrant
from the Auditor.
IMPORTANT RAILROAD DECISION.
In the Circuit Court to-day Judge Han
cock also delivered his opinion III the case
of Bell Il Flanagan against the farmvllle
and Powhatan Railroad Company. which
was elsborately argued at the last term OF
the court. THIS case was first removed
from Powhatan to Chesterfield county.
and thence 20 this city. 1t involves lmme-
diately about $4,000 of bonds issued by
Powhatan county in aid of the cOnstruc-
ton of the railroad. and indirectly much
larger amount OF bonds. The opinion Is
in favor of the railroad company. Judge
Hancock said that the case OF Randolph
Us. the County of Cumberland, which was
decided by himself. acting for Judge
Irving, Of the Third Circuit. having been
recently affirmed by the Court of Appeals,
disposed of most Of the questions raised
in the record. and that after careful con-
sideration of the questions not covered 10y
that case he was Of OPINION that decree
should be entered in favor OF the railroad
company, Diminishing the bill. An appear
was appiied for and the case will now 20
TO the Supreme Court of Appeals.
SERIOUS SUSPICIOUS OF MURDER.
The mystery surrounding the death OF
James Woodbridge. who was recently
found dead on the Petersburg railroad
track, almost in the heart OF the city, has
not yet been cleared away. The pollce
have been actively working upon the case
and the developments thus far made con-
firm the impression that Woodbridge was
murdered. II Is probable that arrests Will
soon be made.
QUALIFIED AS CLERK.
MIR. Robert h. Butord. who on the lSt
day of February was appointed CLERK OF
the Circuit Court of Brunswick county. III
place of Charles +. May, resigned, appeared
before Judge Hancock to-day with his
snreties. qualified as such clerk, and exc
cuted a bond IN thu sum Of $4,000. The
election for this office will take place next
May.
THE iRRETREssIBLE COUPON.
In the Circuit Court to-day Colonel
Maury. of Richmond. filed the requisite
papers in fifteen new coupon suits. re-
curing $50 Jurors. The Court set the trlal
Of the cases for next Monday.