Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-17
LIBERTY OF PRESS.
CASE or THE NORFOLK NEWS
PAPERS AGAINST THE CITY.
The claims of the Defencc--Thc sus-
pectcd Donna n. Driggs-Thc
Charges on which She Was Libel
led-PoIIticai.
I. of the pefence-The sus-
Ied-Poiiticai.

NORFOLK. VA. November ie.-fspe-
olai THE case OF the daily newspapers
Of this city against the city Of Norfolk
viii be argued on Friday before Judge
Prentls In the Circuit Court. Messrs
Goode & Taylor will appear for the plain
tins and City-Attorney Walter H. Tay-
lor FOR the city The defence have pre-
pared a strong brief in support Of their
contention against the license-tax i'm
posed on the newspapers by the recent
city ordinance. They maintain that a
license implies a power to control the
press. II the city has the authority to
declare that n newspaper shall not be
issued unless II shall have obtained a
license. 1t has also the right TO claim a
censorship Of the press. That would be
an abridgment OF the freedom OF the
press and unconstitutional. Hence the
hcense-tax proposed by the recent city
ordinance is null and void, and the pa
pers do not have to pay it.
THE BRIGGS.
The government has specified the
charges on which the suspected flibus-
terlng schooner Donna T. briggs was
libelled yesterday. after having been de-
tanned here for a month. IT is alleged
that she has engaged in two filibuster-
ing expeditions as follows: That she
loaded munitions Of war at Bridgeport,
Conn. and transferred them TO the
Iaurada at San Salvador for transpor-
tatlon to the insurgents in Cuba; that
she has loaded munitions of war at
New York and carried them TO Orange
Key. in Bahamas, whence they were
carried TO cuba by the steamer Summers
n Smith. These are alleged TO have
been in violation OF the neutrality laws
and the schooner being licensed only for
coastwise trade. the making OF said
trips are alleged 10 have been in viola
ton OF the navigation laws. The first
trip was. II is stated. in February, and
he second in August OF this year. Her
captain, Allen L. Quincy, is charged
with conspiracy I'm. the matter and
criminal proceedings may follow the
libel suit. Messrs. Whtehurst
Hughes, attorneys, represent Captain
Quincy and District-Attorney White the
United States
THE PICKER MUTINEERS.
The special grand jury which has been
summoned in the United States District
court 10 lIg inc case VI the
OF the Inflated schooner Olive Pecker
will meet tomorrow. Newspaper-men
from several cities who interviewed the
prisoners will be examined by the jury.
~ 5. Newberne to-day replied TO j. II.
Coles notice of contest as TO the for
mer's seat I'm the House of Delegates as
a member from Norfolk county. Mr.
Newberne will begin taking dispositions
at the courthouse in Portsmouth to-
morrow morning. In reference TO this
matter, Judge Prentiss, Of the Circuit
Court has written a Letter in which he
declares that no utterance Of his could
have been taken TO mean that the fail
ure of the Norfolk County Electoral
Board to comply with the order of the
court. and their subsequent imprison-
ment for contempt. was justification for
the riotOus act Of the Berkeley parties
who fOrciby took possession OF the polls
there at the late election.
Messrs. Venable e McIlwaine and
Mr.. George w Mcintosh, attorneys for
Octavia c. Luehorn, to-day brought suit
in the Court Of Law and Chancery
against Louis Richardson, a prominent
merchant. for breach Of promise Of mar
rage. She asks 5000 damages In the
same court her attorneys brought a suit
In chancery. She claims to have a legal
interest in the defendants business, and
wants the court to see that she gets
her rights.