The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-18
MAKING FIGHT ON
V.EW COCAINE Law.
Counsel for Negroes Indicted iii
Petersburg Raise Question Of
Constitutionality Of Act.
't'imes- Dispatch Bureau.
10s North Sycamore Street,

Times Dispatch Bnren,i, w
1903 North Sycamore Street.
Pctcrsburg. Va. July ~.
Tho question of the constitutionality
Of the cocaine law was ably and elab-
oratcly argued before Judge Mullen,
OF tho Hastings Court, today by Messrs.t
Lassiter and Drewry, against, and Com,
monwcnltts Attorney Il. II. Mann, for
sustaining tho law. At the conclusion
of the argument Judge Mullen an
nounced that he would take tho mat
ter under ndviscment and probably
FENDER his opinion Tomorrow. The
question OF the constItutionality OF
the law was raised yesterday by
Afessrs. Lassiter and Drewry. counsel
for two negroea indicted for having
IN their possession some cocaine, such
possession being considered under the
law as primu facic evidence OF intent
to sell, give away or otherwise dispose
Is broader than Its title. embracing
subject matter not embraced in the
title. The title OF tho act specifically
prohibits the selling. giving away or
otherwise disposing Of cocaine. but u
silent as to '.posscssion,'' which Is
made a felony. with penltentiary Inn
prisonment the penalty, in the second
section of the act. 1t may be stated
in this connection that indictments are
held in the Hastings Court against four
parties charged with selling or having
cocaine In their possession.
Local Option Election in Cheste rficld.
A local option election to decide
whether or not liquor shall be sold
In Matoaca District. in Chesterfield
county, has been ordered to be held on
The 18th OF August The district en-
braces the towns OF Ettrick Matoaca
and the precinct OF Wlnfree's Store.
The election is exciting good deal
Of interest in the district, al we'll as
In Petersburg. which It so closely adj
Joins. The prediction Is that the dis
trict Will go dry. There are no licensed
saloons In the district outside OF Et-t
trick. which has two or three. and
which are we'll patronlzed. Should the
district go dry those who may desire
wines and liquors will find the dealers
In Petersburg ready and willing to
serve them.
Two white citizens OF Chesterfield
county. o. II. Mann and j. II. Wilson.
were arrested here this afternoon for
violating city ordinance by fast driv-
Ing down Sycamore Street. They will
morrow morning.
The two local baseball teams. the
Riverside and Petersburg. have ar
ranged for series OF three games to
be played on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday,. The first series was won
by the Petersburgs. before the largest
crowd assembled this season. and as
much rivalry exists between the teams
and their respective friends, big crowds
will attend next week.
box Company Chartered.
The f. j. Kress Box Company the
purposes OF which t. to manufacture
wood products of all kinds. to buy
and sell timber lands, to establish and
operate sawmills and planning mills.
etc. has been chartered with capital
of $4,000. The principal Office of the
company VIII be In Petersburg. though
the incorporators live in another State.
The prcsidentis r. J. Kress; Secretary,
j. c. Robinson; Treasurer, l. "A. Eyer
all OF Pittsburg. Pa.
Personals and Brifea.
State Secretary Thomas 3. Ivey, OF
the Jr. Q. U. a. NJ. left this morning
for Walkerton, Va. where he is to
speak tonight in the interests OF the
order.
The season OF excursions to the sea-
side begins this month. the first, for
the benefit OF Market Street Methodist
Episcopal Church. to take place via
the Norfolk and Western Railway on
July 23d.
The executive committee OF the re-
Gently organized board OF extension O!
the Methodist Church, will meet with
the congregation of West Street Church
next Tuesday night to confer about
the new edifice 1t is purposed to build
in the western section of the city,
which Is to be called the Owen Memo
rial Church.
Miss Helen Sommers left yesterday
to spend the summer with relatives
in Connecticut.
Misses Louise Banks and Alma Hill
Will leave Tomorrow for Virginia
where they will remain for several
weeks as guests at Kinsey's Cottage.
Mr.. Robert Parham. well-known
employee of the Virginia Trunk and Bag
Company, left this afternoon for the
beach to spend his vacation.
Rev. DR.. W. G. Taylor. pastor of the
First Baptist Church, left to-day to
visit friends Mt Arlington Heights and
to assist in revival meetings.
Sycamore Council, Royal Arcanum,
to-day sent check for $4,000 to Mrs.
w. N. Mays. the amount OF the bene-
f1ciary policy in the order held by her
husband, who died July Sd.