The Detroit times., 1909-03-16
COURT WHITES
RAOF0RD'S FEES
DEEPLY
WHERE ATTORNEY CHARGED
COL. MYERS $4,000 ONLY 81 900 10
ALLOWED AND INTEREST Is
CUT OFF ENTIRELY.

A substantial victory Tor the nels
Of the late Col. e. K. Myers. the aged
architect, who died two weeks ago,
was the decision OF Judge Murphy.
handed down Tuesday morning, III the
suit brought by the colonel 10 compel
an accounting OF the funds collected
by Attorney George w. Radford on a
judgment against the County OF Lu'
cerne. Pa The total amount collect
ed was s1i,960 After payment OF the
costs OF the suit to secure the judg-
ment there remained $l2,7ll in Rad
ford's hands.
Mr.. Radford became Col. Myers at
torney in the early eighties. and con-
tltinued to act In that capacity until
1903. During all that time the only
accounting made was In 1899. when
Col. Myers owed his attorney S4,6l3.
This was acknowledged by note
given by Col. Myers. Then followed
the suit In Pennsylvania and the col
lection OF the judgment Col. Myers
claimed he could never get an account
ing from Mr.. Radford. and the matter
ran along until, recently, suit was
: started To compel the latter 10 make
an accounting. According to Mr..
Radfords figures the colonel owed
him s2.5SS.63 in February or this
year.
The largest item In his bill against
the colonel was one of $4,000 for his
services in collecting the Pennsylvania
judgment The other charges were
for interest. loans. etc.
Reviewing the work done by Rad
ford, In collecting the judgment, Judge
Murphy points ont that most OF the
service was rendered by Maj. Levi I.
Griffin former Detroit attorney. at
that time residing in Scranton, Pa
Maj. Griffin advised the starting OF the
suit In the United States district
court. which was done. AS showing
the dependence placed by Radford In
Mai. Griffin. the former wrote in 1902:
Now | feel that the matter is In
safe hands and | shall be guarded en-
tirely by what you advise
II was under Mai. Griffin's manage
ment that the case was brought TO an
early trial and the entire amount
claimed was collected
Mr.. Radford testified at the trial
that he could never get Col. Myers
attention long enough to have set
Element. but Judge Murphy holds that
the colonel was anxious for settle
meut as is shown by letter intro
duced as evidence. IL was written by
Radford To Mai Griffin and reads:
Aside from my personal need or
the money, Col Myers is anxious to
have the matter closed up
Speaking OF Radford's delay in
furnishing an accounting Judge Muir
ply says:
"A clear legal duty devolved upon
the defendant to account 10 complain
ant when demand was first made"
Referring at length 10 Maj. Griffin's
work in connection with the litigation
In Pennsylvania, Judge Murphy says:
mo one may read the voluminous
correspondence which passed between
the defendant and Maj! Griffin with
out being driven to the conclusion that
the legal questions involved, both In
the main case and In the intervention
proceedings, were investigated by the
latter and not the former; that Mr.
Radford relied implicitly and almost
exclusively upon Mr.. Griffin for in-
vestigation of the legal principles In
issue, and that the real work OF pre-
pairing and directing the federal case,
done by the latter.
matters, the action against the county
of Lucerne and the proceedings. both
federal and state, instituted by Geo
w. Myers. he will be amply compen-
sated by an allowance OF $1,000"
The court, however, makes other
small allowances to Radford. which
bring his total compensation up to
about 81 $50, but cuts on all interest
charpes on so-called loans which are
construed as payments on account. and
awards the plaintiff interest for un'
paid balances.
A formal decree for an accounting
Is entered.
Attorney Latham. who was interest
ed with William c. Stuart In the case
against Mr.. Radford, says that the re-
suit OF the decision will be that, IN
stead OF Col Myers being $2,5S8 in
Radford's debt, the latter will owe TO
the colonel's heirs about 81 800