The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-19
| THE LAWYERS
AT OLD POINT
Capt. BlackfoId Makes a
Fine Address
ON JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Trials and Trial Of the Confederate
President Depicted.
THE TORRENS SYSTEM,
The Question Of Formulating Statue
Was Discussed, but No Action
Taken Memorials Were
Read-Niany More New
Members Arc Eli
THE T0RRENs SYSTEM,
fsnecial Dispatch to The Times.)


at the morning session of the second day
of the Virginia State Bar Association was
much larger than on yesterday morning,
many more members having arrived in
the meantime. All told. there are now
about one hundred and fifty present, with
quite a number coming tonight nnd to-
morrow. The families and friends of the
attending lawyers seem as much interested
in the proceedings of the association as
their professional kinsmen, and attend
the sessions with great regularity.
The principal event OF the morning ses-
sion was the reading of a paper by Captain
Charles NJ Blackford. of Lynchburg, en-
titled The Trials and Trial of Jefferson
Davis" The speaker was frequently in
terrupted by applause, and many Of his
sallies called forth hearty luughter.
Captain Blackford began with a sketch
of the situation in which President Davis
found himself upon the surrender at APP
pomattox: he detailed the flight of the
party south, read the orders showing the
precautions taken by the Federal COM
mnnderS to capture or XIII JEFFERSON
Davis, the late rebel President" and, by
quotations from various writers, demon
ment so often reiterated that Davis was
disguised in woman's clothes when cap
tured, which, he said, was Il subject OF
Joke among the officers Of the forces en-
gagged in the capture, all of whom Knew
that it was simply the fabrication OF
newspaper reporter
MIR. DAVIS F'ETTERS.
Tha speaker then narrated, FREQUENTLY
citing from official reports the return OF
tha party to Fort Monroe. He read Gene
raj Halleck's report to the Secretary OF
War, that .'the commandant Of the tort
was an efficient man. but hardly sharp
enough" 10 hold this dangerous prisoner
He showed the elaborate precautions taken
to effect the transfer of President Davis
to his cell, body of skirmishinS light
morse sweeping the difficult country that
lies between the wharf and the fort two
solid lines of infantry on either side OF the
prisoner and General Miles holding this
dangerous septuegenarian firmly by the
arm.
General Miles, it will be noted, had been
considered SHARP enough for the occa-
sion. The President was put, according to
Dana (of New York Sun fame), in an in
ner casemate, the window of which was
protected by a grating of heavy iron bars;
the door between the inner and outer case
mate was bolted on the outside, and
heavier door with a grating will soon be
substituted for this door, Lamps were
pus in both Mr. Davis cell and in that of
C. c. Clay and the guard at the doors OF
each were required to view the prisoners
every fifteen minutes. Soldiers were al
ways on guard in each outer casemate,
and in the room between the cell of Mr..
Davis and that of Mr.. Clay number OF
soldiers were always gathered
With fine sarcasm, Captain BIackl0Td
in
with the placing of fetters upon Mr.. Davis
laving stress upon General Miles state
nent that the fetters were put there to
prevent his escape while the new doors
were put in. and that they did not prevent
the captive from walking, but would rem
der il impossible for him to escape by
running! But public sentiment in the north
would not permit such treatment livery
effort had been made to keep this ironing
a secret, but the soldiers tongues would
wagsle." and. once known, sentiment de-
manded that the irons be removed, which
was done.
THE TRIAL
The speaker then reviewed at length the
trial of Mr. Davis. his portrayal OF it be-
ing extremely graphic. He closed by say
ing that the paper had been written not IN
a spirit of captiousness or with any intent
to start a controversy; that we are one
people now ana SHculu eNSl lSiiiS1iii
but that his object was to give perfectly
correct and trustworthy account in order
that historians in future would be able to
have the whole matter plainly before them
AT the conclusion of the paper a member
moved that ten thousand copies OF it be
printed and distributed to all the SCHOOLS
of Virginia and the libraries Of all the
States saying that he would rather ms
son and his grandson should read that
hoy SiD10n,a from the best
college in the land. Amid great enthusiasm
the motion was adopted. Several members
stated that they would be willing 10 ad-
vance any amount of money that might De
needed to have this printing and distribute
ing carried into effect.
ToRRENS SYSTEM.
Another subject of great Importance al
the morning session was the report OF the
special committee appointed last year 10
investigate and report upon the T0rre3ls
system of Land Registration. Mr.. Eugene
C. Nassie, OF Richmond prepared and read
that report. which. owing to the lateness
of the hour was merely received and
filed. Further action upon it will doubtless
be taken later in this session. On account
of the great importance Of this matter, the
Following account OF the inventor ana MS
system is given:
Sir Robert Richard Torreus, G. c. NJ G.
was born in Cork. Ireland, in 1914. educated
at Trinity College, Dublin, emlgrateo 20
South Australia in 1876 ana suoseaue:,is
became Collector Of Customs at Adelaide,
COLONIAL Treasurer and Registrar-Gensral;
and when the Colonial Government was
establish in 1857, represented the CITY OF
Adelaide in the House Of Assembly and
became First Premier Of South Australia.
He conceived the idea OF applying the
nrinosples OF the shipping laws TO the reg
;stration of land, and, after elsht years OF
afsnre his system was adopted in South
.,.s+ral;a A amended later. it is now the
law of the whole OF Australia. and proba-
bsv b ninety. per cent. of the land of that
ooyt;nant Is now under its provisions.
Nha states OF Illinois, California and