The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-21
THE BURTON
PROSECUTION
RELIEF BILL.
Matter of Payment of Attor-
neys' Fees Is Carried to
the Legislature.

The matter Of the payment OF out
side counsel in the prosecution uf the
Burton case has been carried 70 the
state legislature as wili De seen by
the bill published below.
1t will be remembered that when
the Burton forgeries in the office OF
The circuit clerk were discovered tn"
county commissioners, despite the
fact thai they had a paid attorney OF
the board and that the county solicit
or's duty required him To prosecute
criminal cases of that nature, EN-.
ployed Maxwell & Reeves TO help
prosecute Burton in the criminal
court.
Certain taxpayers. however, objec-
ted to this additional. and what they
considered unnecessary, expense. and
one of them, ThOs Pebley secured an
Injunction preventing the board OF
county commissioners from spending
the money for attorneys fees.
Through the following bill which
was introduced by Mr.. Beard in the
senate and Mr.. Reese in the house,
an attempt is being made to secure
the payment of these fees by the
state. The bill has passed the SEN
ate. but was reported unfavOrably by
the committee on claims in the
house and is now on the calendar OF
bills on second reading in the house.
The bill is as follows:
The Relief Bill.
A bill to be entitled an act for the
relief of r. c. Maxwell and l.. J.
Reeves. attorneys at law, doing tusi-
ness VAnder tn finn name. of Max
MizIl VIZ. n :. 80 -.
1eiaz nm G111; -
by the state auditor, of the records
of the office of the clerk of the cir
cult court in and for Escambia cOun-
~. Florida, il was discovered that one
p. II. Burton, deputy in said Of
flee by d series of forgeries and by
inducing the chairman of the board
of county commissioners in and for
said county 10 sign numerous and
spurious vouchers covering a long
period Of time and many intricate and
difficult transactions. had fraudulent
~ obtained many thousands Of dol
lars of the various funds belonging
TO said state and county. and
Whereas. on account of the vOlumi-
nous and intricate nature of said
fraudulent transactions II was thought
by the state auditor. the clerk of said
court and the board of county COM
missiOners III and for said county, eX-
pedient TO employ counsel TO assist
the county solicitor in preparing in
dictments against the said Burton
and in the prosecution thereof, and;
Whereas. z. c. Maxwell and l.. J.
Reeves. attorneys at law. ana doing
business under the firm name OF
Maxwell & Reeves. were employed 10
assist in preparing said indictments
and in the prosecution thereof, and
Whereas. the said Maxwell x
Reeves did assist in the preparation
of said indictments and in the prose
cution thereof. and
Whereas. the said Burton was on
the $500 day Of July 4. ID. 1908. in
said prosecution convicted OF said Of
Tense and is now serving a term in
states prison under said conviction,
and
Whereas. the said board of county
commissioners a a regular meeting
thereof held on the Goth day Of June,
A d. 1903. prior TO the rendition of
said services by the said Maxwell d
Reeves and in order to secure said
services adopted a motion which was
in the words and figures following:
Motion was made and carried
that Judge l. J. Reeves be employed
in the prosecution of & Fl. Burton,
the cost not 10 exceed 100000. and
Whereas. after the conviction OF
the said Burton at the instance of
tax payer residing in said county the
board OF county commissioners were
enjOined from paying said sum or
any part thereof upon the ground
that said board of county COM mission
ers was without authority 10 employ
or pay counsel TO assist in the said
prosecution. and
WheI cas-. the said Maxwell <
Reeves have received no COmpcnsd-
lion whatever for said services, now
therefore
Be il enacted by the legislature OF
The state of Florida:
Section l. That the comptroller be
and he is hereby authorized and IL
rected 10 draw his voucher o. warrant
in favor OF Maxwell & Reeves for the
sum Of three hundred 100000 dol
lars on any fund OF the state not
otherwise appropriated
Sec. >. That this act shall take et-
feet upon its passage and approval by
the governor
lie neE7rf