The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-14
SELECT ATTORNEYS
FOR FLACLER SUIT
Reese and Stokes Will institute Pro-
ceedinas Against Trustees of
Estate For Back Taxes.

BY resolution Of the county commits
sioners, as passed at their weekly
meeting yesterday morning, John p.
Stokes viii be associated with the
county attorney, r. Pope Reese. in the
tax suits which have been instituted
by the county attorney, against the
Flagler estate. The county has agreed
to pay Mr.. Reese $500 contingent fee,
and twenty per cent on the money re-
covered. At this rate Of payment, it
is estimated that the fee on the county
taxes alone would be $46.608. Twenty
per cent on the state taxes would be
$110.72O.22.
The resolution as passed yesterday
at the meeting, and the letter from the
county attorney, follows:
Resolved by the Board OF County
Commissioners of Escambia county,
Florida, first, that the letter from r.
p. Reese, attorney, addressed to this
board, dated December Il, 1921, with
reference to the employment by Es-
Gambia county Of Mr.. r. P. Reese as
attorney to institute suit against the
executors and trustees of the estate of
Henry NJ. Flagler, deceased, for taxes
back taxes for the years 1916, 1917,
1918 and 1919, be and the same is here
by accepted by this board as being in
conformity and accord with the under
standing of this board of the resolu-
tions heretofore passed by this board
on July II, 1921 and August 8. 1921.
BE it further resolved that this
board. by this resolution, announces
itself as being agreeable to John F.
Stokes being associated with the said
r. p. Reese in said tax suits against
the said F'lagler estate.
BE it further resolved that the said
letter of the said r. p. Reese, dated
December II. 1921, be incorporated and
spread upon the minutes of this board
for permanent record"
The letter referred to in this reso-
luton was in explanation OF the reso-
lutions passed previously, and to prove
that the county commissioners had I'M
derstood these resolutions thoroughly
The letter follows:
Board of County Commissioners,
'Escan1bia County, Florida.
Gentlemen:
"The resolution which your board
pa ssed on July 18th, 1921 employing
me as attorney to bring suit against
the estate of Henry M. Flagler, de-
ceased, or the trustees and executors
of Henry NJ. Flagler, deceased, for
taxes due to Escanlbia county and the
state of Florida for the year 1920, and
also the resolution adopted by your
board on the 9th day Of August, 1921,
employing me as attorney to bring
suit against the estate of Henry NJ.
Flagler, deceased, for the back taxes
due the county for the years 1915, 1916,
1917, 1918 and 1919 was thoroughly I'M
derstood by your board and myself
'F'irst--That the employment was to
collect taxes due Escambia county by
the Flagler estate or the trustees or
executors of the Flagler estate as men
toned in these resolutions, and the
retainer fee and con-
tingent fee as mentioned therein had
reference solely to employment of me
to collect the county's part Of these
taxes due Escambia county,
"Second-That the amount to be
paid me as contingent fee mentioned
in said two resolutions out of what
ever amount was recovered, was not
upon a judgment, but to be paid only
out of the money when recovered as
stated and intended in the resolutions
The resolutions says that You are tC
pay me twenty per cent of whatever
amount recovered
The county attorney then quotes the