Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-30
GREAT WORK PLANNED
BY LEGAL AID SOCIETY
Organization With Important Field
Soon to Begin Activities
i'm Richmond.
WILL OPEN HEADQUARTERS
Secretary Walker Returns From New
York, Much Impressed With Work
ings of Society There-Gnthers In
formation as to Operations.

Within short time the Legal Aid
Society-an organization which gives
promise of rendering much service
along legal lines to deserving people
OF the city unable to employ counsel
will begin its activities in Richmond
The society was organized by several
mon who have been for years Interested
IN the uplift Of mankind and in the
development OF various lines of phil
anthroDic and charitable enterprises.
The prime-movcr In the formation
OF the society was j. T.. Tyler, Of the
First National Bank, who was elected
the first president. The other officers
arc w. Reginald Walker. secretary;
Wortley Dicltic. treasurer. and George
Bryan. Geddcs VI. Winston. George II.
White. Wyndham r. Meredith. Lewis
Z. Williams. John p. Leary and Eu-
gene c. Massie. members OF the adj
visory committee. Five young men,
recently admitted to the bar, volun-
teered their services as counsel for the
society. They are G. w. Crowder. Jr..
Edward b. Munford. j. Vaughan Gary,
w. L. Taylor and Alfred Taylor Pitt.
HEADQUARTERS WILL NE
MADE AT CITY HALL
The Administrative Board, at the re-
quest of Treasurer Dickic and Howard
A.
Dor IN the city. granted the society tho
use or the room in the City Hall soon
10 be vacated by the Municipal EN-
ployment Bureau. Headquarters will
he permanently established and an ori :
Ger VIII he present at stated hours 10
consult with those who may desire to
obtain legal advice and arc unable IN
pay Tor 1t. The accumulation of n II "
library Is contemplated as soon ms tho
offices arc formally opened
Inc work of the society will he man
aEcd ny the five attorneys who havo
pledged their services, who in turn will
work under the supervision of n mum
neF OF wcll-known members OF the
Richmond bar. II is believed that N &c
new venture in Richmond will he Of n,
little benefit to those people who at
tunes ftnd themselves in need of mo
advice of lawyer, but for which thcy
md themselves unable to pay
MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO ALL
ON PAYMENT OF SMALL. FEE:
Membership in the society Will he
open TO business and professional men
ana hrms Interested in It's work, upon
the payment Of n small fee Several
men have already Indicated their will
nEness To make contributions toward
the running expenses While the soci
ctI is no part OF the machinery Of tho
CITY government, and in the nature Of
It's work could hardly he controlled and
administered by the city, It has tho an
prevail Of city officials
In tho constitution is set forth ;,s
purpose The purpose of this society
snail he 10 render legal aid, Eratultous-
-. II necessary. to all who may appoar
worthy thereof and who arc unable to
procure assistance elsewhere. and 10
promote measures for their protection =,
In tho offices OF the society some one
VIII be on duty during Office hours.
which VIII probably be from until 10
o'clock In the morning. The person
seeking assistance will be given an on
portunity TO state the details OF the
natter needing attention, n card Will he
iilled out with these facts. and after an
investigation, If tho applicant is found
worthy of assistance. one Of the attor-
neys OF the society Will represent tho
applicant. whether plaintiff or defend
ant. No cases have as vet been brought
TO the attention OF the society for tho
reason that its offices have not been
formally opened. Furniture has been
secured and IT is expected that within
the next few days the society will be
ready for business.
SECRETARY WALKER SEES HOW
SOCIETY WORKS IN NEW YORK
Secretary Walker went to New York
IN July, visited the headquarters of the
Legal Aid Society Of that city, and in
spcctcd its various departments Mr.
Walker was in the main Office OF the
society and saw clients enter and he
interviewed by the clerks in charge OF
the Offices.
The New York society maintains six
branches in New York and BROOKLYN
and during the year 1914 handled 4o430
cases. 1t is interesting as we'll as sur
prising to note that OF such 81 large
number Of cases brought to the atten-
ton of the society, only 2,296 were car
RED Into the courts. One OF the main
ideas of the organization Is that there
are many difficulties III the life of the
people Of the great cities that seem
serious and complicated. but with an
Intelligent person to assist at the right
time settlements can DO effected to the
satisfaction of all parties concerned
Mr.. Walker was received by the at
tCrney and counsel Of the New York So
cicty, Leonard MCGEE. The secretary in
vitcd Mr.. Niece to visit Richmond, and
no consented 10 do so at a later date
after the Richmond society has begun
is work.