Chap. 323.—An ACT for the relief of the sureties of James P. Critz,
late treasurer of Patrick county.

Approved March 1, 1888.

Whereas a judgment was recovered on the twenty-third day
of February, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, in the cir-
cuit court of the city of Richmond, by the commonwealth of
Virginia against James P. Critz, late treasurer of the county
of Patrick, and W. D. Smith, John P. Williams, W. H. Ayres,
Green Penn, John M. Ayers, W. F. Padgett, C. P. Nolen,
George W. Via, J. W. Dalton, T. W. Dalton, C. K. Joyce, J.
I. King, Jesse Collins, E. L. Penn, T. J. Penn, senior, J. L.
Saunders, P. J. France, and W. 8. Ivie, his sureties on his
official bond as treasurer as aforesaid for the sum of five thou-
sand and sixty dollars and sixty-six cents, with interest
thereon to be computed after the rate of six per centum per
annum on one thousand three hundred and fifty-eight dollars
and thirty-four cents, part thereof, from the first day of
December, eighteen hundred and eighty-four; and on five
hundred and fifty-eight dollars and sixty cents, another part
thereof, from the fifteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and
eighty-five; and on one thousand four hundred and forty-
seven dollars and twenty-seven cents, another part thereof,
from December first, eighteen hundred and eighty-five; and
on four hundred and eighty-two dollars and fifty-four cents,
another part thereof, from June first, eighteen hundred and
eighty-six; and on one hundred and thirty-five dollars and
sixty-six cents, residue thereof, from December first, eighteen
hundred and eighty-six; and seventeen dollars and forty-
nine cents, costs; and whereas Samuel G. Staples and Wil-
liam S. Ivie were co-sureties on the bond aforesaid, but upon
whom no process was served and against whom no judgment
was obtained; and whereas on the thirtieth day of October,
eighteen hundred and eighty-six, and on the —— day of
November, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, the said James
P. Critz, conveyed by deeds to John F. Rison, trustee, all of
his property accessible by his creditors in trust to secure as
well other creditors as the sureties aforesaid, on such propor-
tions that only about fifty per centum of the proceeds of the
sale of his property can be applied to the relief of said sure-
ties; and whereas the proceeds of the sale of the said prop-
erty will scarcely pay fifty per centum of the indebtedness so
secured, so that the burden of paying more than one-halt of
the judgment aforesaid will fall upon the said sureties; and
whereas a large number of the sureties on said bond are in-
solvent, so that the burden aforesaid will fall on a compara-
tively small number of said sureties; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the auditor of public accounts be and he is hereby authorized
and required to accept from the sureties of the said James P.
Critz, bonds of the state of Virginia, issued pursuant to the
provisions of the act of February fourteenth, eighteen hun-
dred and eighty-two, commonly known as the Riddleberger
bill, at their par or face value in payment and satisfaction of
the balance that may be found due on said judgment after the
application of all payments that may be made by the said
James P. Critz or his trustee, or arising from the sale of the
property and effects of the said James P. Critz: provided,
that nothing herein contained shall be construed to discharge
the said James P. Critz from the payment of the full amount
of the said judgment: and provided also, that the said sure-
ties shall be liable as amongst themselves for contribution
according to the amounts paid by them: and provided also,
that the bonds aforesaid shall be delivered to the said auditor
within one year from the passage of this act.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.