The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-27
]. HERBERT MERCER
AND PARTY RETURNS
Richmond Men Experienced No
Trouble in Serving Papers IN
Virg mia Debt Case.
WEST vIRGINIANs COURTEOUS
Sheriff Mercer Believes That Cover
nor Elect Cornwell VIII Call Spe-
cial Session of Legislature to Con-
slider Payment

! City Sheriff J. Herbert Mercer, with
party of Richmond men, who served
the papers in the Virginia debt case
on the West Virginia legislators, re-
turned to Richmond Sunday. Sheriff
Mercer declares that the Virginia
representatives. were well received and
cordially treated by the West Virginia
officials, and that the trip was in every
way satisfactory.
/ That the majority of the people of
West Virginia are in favor OF settling
the claims OF this state was the i'm
preston gathered by the Richmond
sheriff while on his trip. There are
/ however, he says, some in the Re-
publican ranks who oppose paying
the. interest declared to be due by the
supreme court OF the United States
They appear TO be willing to pay the
principal OF the Virginia claim,
amounting TO something over s12,-
600 600
Sheriff Mercer stated that he be-
fieved Governor Elect Cornwell. when
he takes Office on March s. succeeding
Governor Hatfield. will call special
session Of the legislature to consider
the payment Of the debt In the
meantime the papers served on the
West Virginia legislators require that
they appear before the supreme court
on March s and show cause why a
mandamus requiring them to pay the
debt should not be issued
Proceedings Are Unique.
The proceedings participated in by
Sheriff Mercer and his party are
unique in the history of the country.
Never has II been done before. The
serving of the papers created great
interest IN the West Virginia Capitol,
and so unusual an occurrence was it
I.44 , e l. H.,
served on the legislators the Virginia
representatives were asked for copies
of the papers as souvenirs
Members al the Virginia party, in
addition to Sheriff Mercer. were
George w Rogers. Frank l. Gentry.
Stanley &. Clarke J. ]. Wicker Jr.,
and K. l.. SaviIc Equipped with a
letter from Governor Stuart to Gov
ernor Hatfield, Of West Virginia. they
left last Wednesday night, arriving in
Charleston the next day The great
est secrecy was maintained regarding
the movement of the men. in order
that all precaution may be taken to
prevent any difficulty in serving the
papers.
MIR. Mercer stated that on arrival
in the West Virginia capital, the par
ty presented themselves at the COVER
nor : office, whose secretary w. s.
Haildnan, arranged with the speaker
I or the house of delegates 10 facilitate
the serving of the papers L. A John
SON Democratic floor leader of the
{ house. assisted Mr.. Mercer. placing the
documents In the hands Of all OF the
delegates. Every member of the
house was prcsent--ninety-fou in all
In the meantime the news had
spread over the senate and when the
Richmond party presented themselves
in that chamber the sergeant-at arms
took the sheriff in charge. and to-
gcther the papers were served Two
members were absent both of them
being confined 10 th.'r homes on &C
count of illness Later the papers
We're served on Governor Hatfield the
attorney genera of the state. and
secretary of state. II was not until
the next day that the party saw the
West Virginia governor in person. at
which time they thanked him for the
Courtesies extended them