The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-07

ON May 20. 1852:
Hon. Robert +. Scott. Of Tauduicr
county Virginia. was killed on Saturday.
tho I'd instant. at Frank Smiths, near
Salem. Fauquicr county. A couple or
Gcary's or Blcuker's men. supposed 20 be
deserters having committed many deprc-
dations through the country, Robert j..
Scott with Winter Payne and others,
some ten or twelve, made an attempt 10
capture ihem az Smiths. on approach
Ing the house Mr. Scott and his oversecr.
Delaney. were shot dead by the dosertcrs:
the others ran ara ScOtts double barrel
gun WAS afterwards broken over him by
the williams. The describes escaped. Our
account Gays Nj Scott wen. 20 the Pro-
vost Marshal at Warrcnton 90 hove de
TAN OF soldiers 10 arrest the mafaudeTs.
and that these soldiers were the persons
who accompanied Mr.. Scott 10 their place
OF rendezvous when he was shot. The
event gives the deepest pain i'm Washing
ton 10 an classes. ma particularly to the
Administration. as NJ. Scott was one OF
the noblcst of Nirginias sons and was
seeking the return Of iis state to the
Union.
IS ATTOENEY-GENER
When Major scott became Attorney
General in 1890 the Commonwealth was
involved IN many lltigatlons, growing
oat cs the tender of coupons in pay
mcnt of taxes. lie went TO work with
tho Industry and intelligence that have
always Characterized his efforts. and
brought order out OF chaos. lie not
only fought the suits in the Supreme
Court Of Appeals, but did what tho law
did not require him TO do-he went TO
various cities ana counties and assist
ed the local attorneys in the cases in the
lower courts.
When Major Scott was first nominated
his chief opponent was Hon Henry r.
Pollard. The latter, when brought be-
fore tho convention after the nOmina-
ti0n had been made, made a beautiful
speech in which he aroused great enthu-
siasm by saying that as the convention
did not see III TO nominate himself it
could not have pleased him more than
in naming Major Scott for the place. A
year or two later these two gentlemen
became intimately associated as counsel
fOr Virginia The Board OF Sinking Fund
Commissioners employed Mr. Pollard as
special counsel Ee and Major Scott
foueht the coupon cases until they gained
q great victory i'm an important decision
from the Court of Appeals. of which
Judge Lewis was president This court
decided that officers of the Common
wealth could not DE forced TO accept c0u-
pons in payment Of taxes. II was q case
that required much hard work on the
part of the Attorney General and Mr..
Pollard. The arguments they made be-
Gore tho court could have been pro-
duccd only by men Of great legal learu-
ing and masters of the details concern
ing the laws passed to protect the state
treasury from coupons. This decision
was "A crushing blow TO the bondholders.
.N.ss. ffr. FfrrhH
through q series OF years. The victory
saved the state millions Of dollars and
caused most OF the bondholders who had
refused 90 come under the terms Of the
debt settlement TO accept those terms as
final and the best they could hope 10
get
HIS VALUABLE SERVICES
Major Scott rendered valuable service
10 the commission that brought about the
debt settlement. and he drew the text Of
the act that was passed carrying into
effect the terms Of The agreement. He
also prepared the text of the new bonds
| into which the old were refunded
Major Scott appeared in many i'm
Dortant cases for the Commonwealth.
and was generally successful with them.
lie was a tireless worker and prepared
his cases with the greatest of care. Be
fore a court he was a convincing speak
err lie had q fine command of lam
euage. q pleasing voice and possessed
the faculty Of expressing himself I'm
terse sentences. No man could secure
closer attention from the Court of APP
peals than deceased.
The work Of the Attorney-General
was by no means limited TO preparing
cases for court ana presenting them.
Almost daily State officials would 60
20 him for advice concerning some mat
ter they had 20 deal with. These OIL
cials always found Major Scott a most
courteous gentleman, and ever willing
and anxious TO render them service.
officials at the Capitol and State Ii
brary regard his death I'm the Eight of
personal afilictiOn. Colonel Maryc es-
pecially. who has known Major Scott for
forty years. was greatly distressed. lie
looked upon Major Scott as ono of the
erandest Of men. I'm fact, all Of the
officials and employees admired and loved
Major Scott and the news Of his demise
brought sorrow to them all
Governor O'Ferralrs Sorrow.
Governor O'Forran received the first in
tlmation OF the death OF Attorney-General
Scott yesterday morning through a repre-
sentative Of The Times, who called ON
hlm at his country seat. Dundee. The
Governor was VlSibly aneCteC by the sad
news. and i'm speaking of his relations 90
The late Attorney General Ills EXcellency
[ said:
II am shocked by the news Of the death
| Of the Attorney General For nearly
four years ] have, of course. been init
mately associated with him officially, and
i DO not hesitate TO say that for devo-
ton TO duty. high sense of honor. and
sound judgment Virginia has never had
his superior in the office of Attorney Gem
| eral. He was one Of the most industri-
Gus and painsiaking men / have ever
known. and after he had Investigated n
subject his opinion could be relied upon
with almost absolute safety He always
aug deep, and was never content with u
mere surface examination.
"In his death the Commonwealth has lost
an official whose place will be hard to
nu as well as son whose fidelity 10 her
interests was oven conspicuous. while the
bar has sustained the loss OF one Of its
briehtcst ornaments.
my attachment for Major Scott was so
great that ] mourn his death almost as
that OF brother.
A. Judge flourhoy Knew Him.
Judge Henry w. llournoy who has
known Major Scott intimately for the
| last twenty-five years. and who Was Sec
retary OF the Commonwealth while Major
Scott held MS first term OF Office as At
| torney General expressed himself In the
| following manner I'm regard 10 the rather
| tt,lxpf.ird aQafh of his latc friend