The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-17
Farmer FILES
MANN CHARGES.
Alleges That the Governor caus-
ed His Financial
Ruin.
TOOK HIS FEE. AND LEFT HIM
TOOK HIS FEE AND LEFT HIM
Declaration Asserts That After
Advising Suit, Governor Be
came Counsel for Other Side.

Z 4 eg. = r *
A formal declaration in the suit OF
John H. Farmer against Governor
William Hodges Mann was filed yes
terday in the Law and Equity Court
by Attorney William L. Royal. The
paper is in the handwriting of Mr..
Royal and is substantially along lines
already Indicated in The Times-Dis-
patch. Mr.. Farmer alleges that, hav-
Ing consulted the Governor, then a
practicing attorney at Nottoway
Courthouse, and having acted on Gov
ernor Mann's advice as attorney, and
so involved himself in litigation. the
Governor then became the attorney
for the other side and actually pre-
pared the papers and brought suit
against him.
Farmer claims that as a result his
business in lumber was practically
ruined and he asks damages in the
sum OF $4,000. It is understood that
Governor Mann, whose attorneys have
not as yet filed any answer, does not
deny the substantial facts of the de-
claration. The Governor admits hay-
Ing given Farmer certain legal ad-
vice. for which he received fee Of
S.. Later, having forgotten the mis-
nor transaction entirely, he was res
tained by the lumber company, and did
bring a suit for It against Farmer.
His attention having been called to
the former employment. however, the
Governor says that he at once with
drew from the case and accepted no
fee for his services. and that he so
notified Farmer at the time. The
whole matter was extensively aired
at the time Of the last campaign.
Text OF Declaration.
The text of the declaration filed by
Attorney Royal follows:
John H. Farmer, plaintiff. complains
OF William H. Mann, defendant, of a
plea Of trespass in assnmpsit on the
case. and, therefore, he shows the fol-
lowing facts: IS
IN the year of 1907 plaintiff was
engaged in the business Of cutting and
saving lumber In Nottoway county,
Va. and marketing the same. Plain
tiff had been engaged in that business
for a, number of years, and his bust
ness was thoroughly established olle.
In the year 1906 he bought from
the defendant and from one Bradshaw
all the timber on a certain tract OF
land in Nottoway county, paying for
|it# $4,000 in cash,
Plaintiff had borrowed this $4,000
from the AkerS Lumber sCompan! OF
Lynchburg, Va, upon this q greement
made with said company in tho month
OF August, 1905. Akers Lumber Cons
pany was to pay plaintiff 50 per ]. 900
feet as it was loaded on the cars at
Crewe, on the Norfolk and Western
Railroad. OF this the said Akers Lum-
Der Company was to pay plaintin N
hand so much as was necessary 70 cut.
manufacture and load en- the oars SAID
lumber. and the rest It was to retain
to secure the return to 1t of the S6,-
900 advanced to pay for the standing standing
timber, 4 s . 5
s Plaintiff then asked defendant II he
carry this contract out. and the SAID
SAkers Lumber Company paid plaintln
regularly. according to its contract
until the monthSo OF August, 1907 when
without any reason or Justification fol
Its conduct. It ceased paying plaintiff
for the lumber he furnished according
to- his contract, besides making un
lawful charges against plaintitf.
Consulted Governor Mann.
The defendant is an attorney at law
who practices his profession ut Motto
way Courthouse Va, About tho 6tl
day OF September. 90J, plnlntifr con
sI3Sl 77 Continued on SscQpdF Page. Ssg