Evening star., 1949-07-01
Horne Wins $4,000
Verdict on Charge Of
Malicious Prosecution

A Washington attorney last
night won a suit for malicious
prosecution and was awarded
$4,000 damages by a Fairfax
County CVa.) Circuit Court jury.
He is Richard C. Horne, jr., 201
North West street. Falls Church,
who has law Offices at 918 F street
NV.
Damages were assessed against
Charles Pickett, prominent Fair
fax attorney of the firm of Bar
bour, Garnett, Pickett. Keith &
Classic, and Buford M. Bridwell,
Falls Church real estate man.
The trial, which required three
days, was concluded at II O'Clock
last night. Judge Paul E. Brown
of the Fairfax Circuit Court dis
qualified himself in the case and
Judge C. C. Quesenbery of the
Waynesboro Corporation Court
occupied the bench.
Will Hear Arguments.
Mr.. Pickett and Mr.. Bridwell
moved to set aside the jury's ver-
dict and Judge Quesenbery gave
them until July 9 to file written
motions after which he will set
a date to hear arguments.
Mr.. Horne's complaint grew out
of a series of interlacing court
actions centering around The
Falls Church. the Episcopal place
of worship for which the nearby
Virginia city was named. 1t also
stemmed from Mr.. Horne's in
dictment last year on charge
of illegally practicing law in Vir-
ginia. This indictment subse-
quently was quashed.
Chronologically. these are
circumstances which led up to
yesterdays award. described by
courthouse attaches as the first
of this kind and amount within
their memory:
In 1947, Lawrence w. Harrison,
treasurer of The Falls Church,
sued Mr.. Bridwell, executor for
the estate of Mrs. Eleanor Camp
bell Russell. The suit questioned
certain items in Mr.. Bridwell's
accounting of the estate which.
after providing specific beauests,
left the residue to the church.
Appeared in 1947 Case.
Mr.. Horne, a folner vestryman
and senior warden at the church,
appeared in couI5 in the case on
May IA, 1947. to question Mr..
Bridwell at the request of Mr..
Harrison's attorneys. Mr.. Horne
declared he appeared to defend
himself. which is permissible.
With Judge Burnett Miller, jr.,
of Culpeper Circuit Court on the
bench. the court made few ad-
justments in the settlement Of
the estate but Mr.. Bridwell was
completely exonerated of any mis-
conduct, fraud or bad faith. The
State Supreme Court subsequently
upheld this verdict.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Bridwell filed a
libel and slander suit against The
Falls Church and it's officials. On
May IA, with Judge Miller again
on the bench, this suit was dis
missed on a demurrer filed by the
defendants.
On May II, 1948, the Fairfax
Circuit Court grand jury, with
Judge Brown on the bench, re-
turned an indictment against Mr..
Horne charging illegal practice of
law in Virginia growing out of
the earlier case of Harrison VS..
Bridwell.
Indictment Ordered Quashed.
In the following month. Judge
Brown ordered this indictment
quashed on grounds that it con-
tanned two types of offenses and
because it exceeded the statute of
limitations.
Mr.. Horne's suit for malicious
prosecution then was filed against
Mr.. Pickett and Mr.. Bridwell. He
had asked for $50,000 damage
from each for malicious intent to
injure his good name and bring
him into public scandal.
Mr.. Horne was represented by
Collins Denny, jr., and John s.
Davenport of Richmond, while Mr..
Bridwell and Mr.. Pickett were rep
resented by the attorneys law firm
partner. James Keith of Fairfax.
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