Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-06-12

having spent several years in endeavor
}. ing to collect large claim Of the State OF
Delaware against the Government. for
money expended in the defense of the
IL country IN the war of 1872, Attorney
General Robert H. Richards was last
Friday successful. Incidentally he secured
one of the largest fees ever paid a State
ofncer' Under the law appointing him
the agent to collect the money he is en-.
Titled to one-fourth the amount collected.
and the amount which he did collect
from the Government was $50. $50 80
HIS share is therefore over S2O,O
During the war of 1872 there was a
threatened invasion of this section of the
country by the British. The Chesapeake
and Delaware bays we're declared in a
state OF blockade and the British came
as near Wilmington as Frenchtown, Nd,
which is but a short distante away. They
also bombarded the town of Lewes and
attempted to land force there, but was
repealed. The Government was, at that
! time, unable to give proper attention to
this section, and, but for the activity of
the people in Delaware and the Governor
and Legislature of the State, the whole
vicinity would have been without pro
lection. The State went to work. how
ever, with will. Military companies
were formed, forts were built and armed
boats placed upon the river. Finally the
city of Philadelphia came to the assistance
of Delaware and joined in the work of
protection. Through the efforts of Della
ware and the nearby section of Pennsyl-
vania, invasions were repealed and the
enemy frightened of.
The exgense upon Delaware was heavy,
however. The Legislature borrowed
500 900 for the purpose of paying the
debts incurred and also spent additional
money out of its treasury. Just how
much was spent is not known. The
figures are on file in Washington, however
and also in the State House at Dover.
Many years ago portion of the money
was paid back to the State, but the bal
ance remained due, and all efforts to
collect it failed. Several times attempts
were made, but were unsuccessful, and
most of the State officials who had gone
over the matter were inclined to think {
that no further collections would ever be t
made.
At the session of the Legislature in
1891 joint resolution of the two houses
vas passed appointing James L. Wolcott,
/ well known attorney, as agent to collect ,
he claim. The resolution provided that ,
Mr. Wocott should be entitled to % per :
ent or One-fourth Of the amount col :
ected, but that the State should be put /,
o no expense for the prosecution of the :.
lain, and that any expense incurred in .
he work should be paid out Of the per- ,
entage allowed Mr.. Wolcott as agent to :,
ollect the debt. !,
Before Mr.. Wolcott had collected the
money he was appointed chancellor of ,
he State and could not continue as the :,
gent in this matter. At the following q,
ession of the Legislature a law was passed a.
roviding that the attorney general of NJ
ne State should be the agent to collect
ne claim, and providing, also, that the f.,
lme conditions imposed upon Mr.. VOL
ltt should be imposed upon the attorney
eneral. Whether succeeding attorneys
sneral made an effort to collect the
aim is not known, but when Mr. Rich
-ds went into office he took up the r,
inject and has been engaged upon it
nee. fri
In order to get the money it was nee y(
ssary to prove the expenditures of the 70
ate and to do considerable other work M
The proof was submitted to the War CT
apartment and after a long time was
ken up by that body. ~
Last Friday, June 5th, the amount of O.,
e claim, which, with the interest, Sc
mounted to Ss3, $50 so, was allowed. A 70
aft in favor of Mr.. Richards, he being -
e man designated by the law to re- 70
i've it, was made ont and turned over sis
him. Mr.. Richards at once took the ss'
nount to the State treasurer at Dover as
nder the law he received one-fourth of he
e amount or $40, 500, less expenses, on
lich were $2,4OO; so Mr.. Richards or
,ked up over $4,000, and by the col hi,
,tion OF this money the State is richer pa
over $50, 600 at a time when it needs ~
e money. This settles this particular ne
i'm and the State has money which it lin
yer expected to receive. tor
~ vel
Prohibition Party Convention. Tn
ed