Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-17
lHoMAS r OfIt NJ RlAN
THOMAS F.. RYAN OWES
s1,700,00O IN TAXES
States Wealthiest Citizen to BE As
scssed on 500, 600. 900
Estate.
MANY CONFERENCES ARE HELD
John l.. Lee, Counsel for Examiner
Of Records of Nelson County, Says
Congressman Hal ID. Flood VIII
Appear rs Mr.. Ryan's Attorney.

Thomas Fortune RYAN. commonly
rcpu,ed to he the wca!thiest citizen OF
Virginia. is called upon 20 settle with
the State for hack taxes due on
omitted taxable values estimated 20 be
In the neiEhborhood OF $4,000 900.
=1aEhe estimated :ndebte<5UssaAep@A!Nf Nfre
Ryan TO the state on this enormous
amount, tho accumulated omissions Of
ten years. is sl..Oo.OOo.
These facts have become known since
negotiations were opened between rep
rcscn,atives Of the Ryan estate and
State officials, with a view to satisfy
inc the requirements OF the tax laws
and at thc same time safeguarding MIR.
Ryans interests against any possible
imposition.
The State Auditor. the Attorney Gen
cral. Governor Stuart. Examiners OF
Records James s. Eas!cy. OF Lynchburg.
and r. H. Drummond. Of Amherst. all
OF whom have intimate knowledge OF
the matter under consideration. have
preserved the utmost secrecy with
reference 10 the case 10 this time At
torney John l.. Lee. OF I.ynchburg,
who has been employed 10 push tho
collection OF the tax claims to a final
conclusion, likewise declines TO discuss
any Phase or the matter.
LEE AWAITS CONFERENCE
WITH RYAN's ATTORNEY
When Mr.. Lee came to Richmond
last Tuesday and conferred with Gov
ernor Stuart and Auditor Moore, il was
reported that he was representing the
Ryan interests. Later ne admitted
that his services had been engaged by
the examiners and the taxing officers.
Inquiry made by The Times -Dispa ,ch
last night elected from Lynchburg
the information that Mr.. Lee will
make no statement until after n con-
ference in the near future has been
had"
State Auditor Moore said Yesterday
that Mr. Lee had called on him last
Tuesday and that they hat "a quiet
little business talk" the Lynchhurg
lawyer merely asking to he advised on
certain matters pertaining to the prob
ing of the Ryan estate Mr. Lee also
conferred with Attorney General Pol
lard. asking of him what assistance he
might expect from him in the effort
to compel payment OF the large amount
Of back taxes due. Mr.. Pollard replied
that the Attorncy-Gcnerars Office
would lend every assistance in its
monwealth from any source, matters
of that kind being in line with the
duties and functions of the Office.
ESTIMATE OF s1.70O.O00 BASED
ON CoNSER VATIVE FIGURES
Out of the numerous secret confer
ences held In the last two weeks, the
information, apparently authentic,
comes that the estimate of the amount
Of omitted taxes due by the Ryan es-
tate, s1,700ooo is based upon an esti-
mate fixing the total wealth OF Mr..
Ryan at S50,0O0,oO0 The popular be-
lief Is, however, that the Ryan fortune
is nearer s10o.00o.Oo0.
Figures available in the taxbooks in
the State Auditors office show that
the total amount of taxes for which
Mr.. Ryan was assessed in 1914 was
S24,095.76.
The taxable values of tho Ryan es-
tate were listed in 1914 rs follows:
lands and buildings, 1921 .S79.S4: per-
sonal property, tangibles $500. 900; in
tangibles. s1,5ooOoo, income. $780,
900. 1t was on this statement OF his
taxable values that Mr.. Ryan paid t,
total of his taxes in Virginia. s24,-
095.76
The books show. too. the amount of
and intangible property. 1t amounted
to only $13.500
CONGRESSMAN FLOOD TO
REPRESENT RYAN
Attorney Lee is quoted as saying
when he was in Richmond last Tues
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