Evening journal., 1896-04-22
COMBINATION BROKEN.
Cog Slipped and the Simmons
End President Chambers Way
ONE THOUSAND FOB NIB. KNOWLES

Director Pratt's Club Dropped to the
Floor and no Longer Hangs over the
Head of tho CITY soIicitor-Presldent
chambers Meant business.
Toward the close Of the meeting of
the Board Of Street and Saver Director 8
last evening President Chambers
whipped Director Simmons into line and
psrSlyzed Director Pratt and This we'll
laid scheme to hold as q club over the
head Of City Solicitor Harmsn the claim
Of Horace g Knowles FOR 81 600 for
professional services in the conduct of
the defense in the damage suits Of
Wilckens and Sewavd VS.. the Mayor and
Council Of Wilmington.
81 promised TO bring a certain m after
before the board this evening and / am
going to do It," said President Chambers
by way OF introducing the subject 1T
is In regai d to renumerating our attor
neys for services rendered Mr..
Knowles was OF great service snd assis
tance to the city solicitor In the VIII
ckens and also in the Seward case. In
which we have had, we might say, yer.
diets In our favor by reason OF disagree
ment OF the juries. There has never
been a doubt that It was through the
ability of these young men that
we won these cases. | think It Is the
duty Of the city to pay for those services.
Take the Owen Hession case. We
paid Mr.. Bird 5000 By way Of settlement
and the cost to the city for outside law
yers' fees was from 81, 200 70 81 500 Ia
each Of these other cases We could not
have got outside counsel for less than
81. 600 l bslive tha5 the public at
large appreciates the services Of Mr.
Knowles more than we are aware II Ne
had had some old lawyers like Bradford &
Yaudegrft, With Mr.. Bird opposed to
them, and they had caused a disagree
ment, the effect against Mr.. Bird would
not have been so bad as for him to have
been defeated by two lawyers so young
ss City Solicitor Harman ard Mr..
Knowles. THIS will dishesrten those
who mediate bringing suit against the
city. and also tend to restrain those who
do bring suit from taking their cases TO
Mr. Bird / move that an order be drawn
in favor OF Mr.. Knowles for $500 in the
Wilkens case and $500 IN the Seward
case as remunera ion for his services. I
should hate to offer him anything less
because believe that he has earned that
much
Direstor Prstt-"HGs Mr. Knowles
made any written application here2'
Director Simmons-'I brought this
question up at one Of our special meet
logs l then said that Mr.. KnoWle
services should be recognized by this
department still think so It IS hard
to calculate ihe benefit he has done to
the city IN the defense of these cases BY
even causing a disagreement OF the
juries IL will deter many people from
bringing suits against the city. l have
already heard OF one or two cases where,
in all human probability. II these cases
bad been decided against us, we should
nave had to defend them. Oshers
already instituted have now been
dropped have been In favor Of making
an allowance TO the city solicitor and am
still moro In favor of doing that and
allowing him to dispose Of the money as
be sees best.
President Chaubers-'I think the law
speci6ss Mr.. Harman's salary"
Direc or Simmons am disposed to
vote for the motion because the services
rendered will not be any TO well paid
for
Director Pratt-"i appreciate Mr..
Knowles services Ny only objection to
this motion Is the stand that the city
solicitor has taken in reference to this
board In refusing to employ additional
counsel in the case he now has In hand
He has taken the ground that ne will Ios
employ additional counsel at our sug
gestion. He has simply stultii d him
self In the eyes of this board, By saying
pootively that he will not allow euy
additional counsel to Be employed. You
can't pay Mr.. Knowles except through
the city solicitor. He has to approve the
allowance
President Chsmbers-'Not necessarily
so"
Director Pratt-''The law is plain on
that point"
President Chambers-"He will approve
the action OF the board Ia this respect.
Director Pratt-"Then he fdmits that
he will employ additional counsel, some
thing he has declined positively to do st
our request That Is the only objection
that | have Co make / am perfectly
willing to pay additional counsel now.
an perfectly willing to psy him $500 In
each OF these cases but l want IL dis.
tinctly understood that the city solicitor
has 40 right to decline to appoint sddl-
tional counsel when we ask hin to. "
This ended the debate and the club
that Director Pratt had been holding
over the bead Of City Solicitor Hsrman
fell to the floor with dull thud" when
President Chambers aud Director Cham
bers voted the 81 900 to Mr. Knowles
THROWN FROM 4 MOYIHG TRAIN