The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-14
TALLEY RESIGNS
TO PRACTICE LAW
Assistant United States District
Attorney Quits Federal Service
After Serving NineY ears.
HIRAM SMITH TO GET PLACE
Likely to Be Named, Plan Being
to Have Him Succeed Groner
as District Attorney.

Robert II. Talley, for nine years as
sistant United States district attorney
for the Eastern District OF Nirgi MIA.
has resigned from the government SER
vice and will take UP at once the pri-
Vate practice OF law in Richmond. He
sent In his resignation to the Attor-
ney- General on March to take effect
Immediately.
Mr.. Talley was appointed in 1904.
In 1905 President Roosevelt named him
district attorney. position which he
held for four mouths, while his former
chief, Judge I.unsford l.. Lewis. was
campaigning for the govcrnorship OIL
Lewis. Mr.. Talley resigned and was
at once rcappointed assistant district
attorney
1t has been known for somo time
that Mr.. Tallcy desired to retire from
the government service. He FIRST made
this intention public last summer, an
nouncinE at the time that his resigna-
| tion would take effect September l.
| Before he could carry out his purpose
President Taft appointed ID. Lawrence
| Groncr of Norfolk. United States dis
| trict attorney. to succeed Judge Lewis,
| tho incumbent. and Mr.. Groner re-
! ouested as particular favor that MIR.
| Talley remain in the service to take
| care Of certain cases with which he
| pending In the Federal courts
Smith After Position.
| With the news of MIR. Talleys re-
tirement yesterday was revived a new
| conjecture as to his successor. on what
! apears TO be good authority il is stated
that Hiram NJ Smith son of H. NJ.
| Smith, Jr., Will be named for the posi-
ton II has been known for some
time that MIR. smith would be APP
mi eh RI icf,. lot hy
friends arc now urging that he he
named to succeed Mr.. Talley. stepping
higher when District Attorney Groner
| retircS
Congressman Montague is reported
| to be strong for the appointment OF
AIR. Smith and he is said also to have
| the indors cmcnt of other members OF
| Congress from the Eastern District OF
| Virginia. y delegation of these, 1T is
reported. has already conferred with
the Attorney General with regard tn
Mr. Smiths appointment.
Mr.. Talley was out Of the city last
night. and no statement from him
could be secured. He has on several
occasions said that his private prac-
tice demanded his entire attention. and
that he would take the earliest oppor-
tunity 10 resign lie argued the case
Of the United states against the VIII
liam II. TricS Company in the Virginia
supreme Court Of Appeals on March .
Since his resignation was filed the
same day it appears that this was the
last case he had consented to handle
Fought Brond Rock Cnsc.
One of the big cases pending when
District Attorney Groner took charge
was the prosecution OF officers and
employees OF the Broad Rock DistilIins
Company. of Chesterfield County. The
case was prosecuted for tho govern
ment in the District Court by Judge
Lewis and Mr.. Talley. The removal
of Judge Lewis left MIR. Tallcy in sole
| charge Of the case, which had been
taken to the Circuit Court of Appeals
He argued il before that tribunal and
was Instrumental In securing an
opinion for the government
The Office Of assistant district attor
ney for this district has greatly in
creased in Importance during the past
few years. and appointment to the post
is regarded as n decided distinction
District Attorney Groner took of'ic:
last August under a fouryear commits
sion from President Taft. 1t Is re-
Sarded rs hardly probabl that he will
he permitted to serve out his entire
term, although the usual practice has
been 10 respect presidential commits
sions. An apparent violation OF this
rule by President Taft in removing
Judge Lewis before the expiration oil
his commission is condoned by the fac,
that Judge Lewis had already served
more than two four-year terms.