Case Name: Staples v. Commonwealth
Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1821-03
Citations: 1 Gilmer 213
Docket Number: 
Parties: *Staples v. Commonwealth.
Judges: 
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 21
Pages: 894–894

Head Matter:
*Staples v. Commonwealth.
March, 1821.
Statute — Appropriation for Completing Armory — Construction. — The act of Assembly of 3d March, 1821, appropriating $20,000 to the completion of unfinished wort in the armory, construed to mean, $20,000 in addition to what had been expended when the act passed; and not including what had been previously applied.
An act was passed by the legislature on the 3d March 1821, directing, that the operations of the armory should cease, after the 1st January 1822. That in the mean while, the appropriation made at that session of the Assembly, shall be applied exclusively to the completion of unfinished arms, and repairs.
An appropriation was made of $20,000 for the armory, including salaries &c. The fiscal year beginning on the 1st October; and it being customary to anticipate the appropriations of the current year, about $14,000 had been expended in the armory before the act appropriating $20,000 had passed. The auditor was of opinion, that $6,000 in addition to the $14,000 expended when the act passed, was a.U the manager of the armory was entitled to draw under this law; and refused his warrant for more. Staples, the superintendant, presented a petition, by wajr of appeal from the auditor’s decision, to the judge of the Superior court of law for Henrico county, then sitting. That judge gave the same interpretation of the law with the auditor, and confirmed the judgment, refusing the warrant.
On argument in the court of Appeals, by Selden, for the appellant, and the Attorney General for the state, the judgment was reversed.
The arguments are not reported, because it is purely a case of construction. — Edition 1821.

Opinion:
*ROANR, Judge.
This court not concurring with the Superior court in its construction of the acts relating to this subject, reverses its judgment; and proceeding to give such judgment as the said court ought, reverses both decisions; and orders a warrant to issue.