The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-16
.REC|TES HIS CASE
AGAINST GOVERNOR
William H. Farmer Files De-
claration in Suit Against
Judge Mann
BREACH OF CONTRACT
CHARGED TO LATTER
Alleged That Chief Executive Ac-
cepted Retainers Fee and Then
Represented the Other
Side.

The wrongs alleged TO have been
suffered by William H. Farmer at
the hands of Governor William II.
Mann, which have resulted In suit
for $4,000 damages being brought
by the former against the latter, are
set forth in detail In q lengthy dec
laration aied 10y the attorney for Mr.
Farmer in the law and equity court
Tuesday.
Briefly. the plaintiff charges that
he has been financially ruined as Il
result Of breach OF contract on the
part of the chief executive of the
State. He says that from a position
of being in comfortable circumstances.
possessed of property and other be-
longings valued at $l4. 600 he has been
reduced to a position closely Dor
dertng on want. that his former lucre-
tive business, that of saving lumber,
has been ruined. that he has been
forced to sell all his property, in
Guiding his home, and that the pro-
ceds of the sales, all OF which latter
we're conducted al q considerable loss
to himself. haveall been spent.
The violation OF contract referred
to. lies in the alleged action of Gov
Akers Lumber Company In a suit
against Mr.. Farmer. after the latter
says Governor Mann. who was at that
time a practicfng attorney in Motto
way county. had already accepted a
retaining fee of IS from him. Judge
Mann, he says. secured an injunction
restraining him from marketing Ium-
Der from certain tract OF land. to
any concern save the Akers COM
pany. This injunction. he says. be-
coming effective at a time. when he
was hard pressed for funds, resulted
In his financial ruin.
Origin OF the Suit.
The facts leading up to the suit be-
gin back In 1905, when, on August /,
the plaintiff says he purchased a tract
of timber land in Nottoway county
from Governor Aiann and ''one Brad
shaw" for ss.eee. Shortly afterwards,
he says, he entered into an agreement
with the Akers Lumbfier Company, OF
Lynchburg, to the effect that all tim
Der on this tract should be cut by him
and be shipped to the company. In
recompense he was TO receive So per
l.oo0 feet, and was TO receive enough
of this money in hand from time TO
time TO allow him to operate his saw
mills.
This agreement was lived up to on
both sides, he says, until August, 1907.
when the lumber company refused to
advance him money. He told them
that he could not operate his sawmills.
in clearing the land, unless he had
funds, but he says they still refused
to pay him. Accordingly he stopped
sending lumber, and began making
arrangements TO sell his timber to
some other concern.
Advised by Judge Mann.
This caused him to receive a warn
ing fran tha-AksEs- Gem pa ny that he
had no right to sell timber from the
tract in question TO any one bur them.
This letter. he says. he took to Judge
Mann. and after relating the entire
circumstances. asked the latters legal
advice.
He charges that Judge Mann advis-
ed him to pay no attention TO the let
ter from the Akers Company He WAS
told. he says, that the Akers concern
would probably bring suit, but SAYS
Judge Mann treasured him as to the
outcome of such action
Mr. Farmer declares he then ask
ed Judge Mann whether or not the
latter would defend him in case suit
should be brought. and the latter, he
says. replied in the affirmative. Mr..
Farmer says he then paid Judge Mann
a retaining fee OF SIS, and took his
departure.
A few weeks later suit was brought,
but instead Of representing him, Mr..
Farmer says, Judge Mann represented
the Aker Company, and secureed an
Injunction preventing him, Mr.. Farm
er. from selling any lumber from the
tract in question.
This, he says. came at a time when
he was hard pressed for funds, and
placed him in such position as to
force him to sell his property, piece
by piece. until finally he wEs flnan-
cialiy ruined.