Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-22
JUST TWENTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS HE DIDN'T COUNT
Chairman of Finance Committee
Thought Money in Special Fund Was
Yet to be Taken From General
Fund-Hearing Defense's Testimony
in Annexation vase May Conclude
Today.

-s-lFrom a Staff Correspondent
WARWICK COURT HOUSE, VA,
April "Retrenchment," the bare
foot burglar the school boards pro
pOsal to close the schools before the
end of the school term on account
OF deficit in their treasury and var
iOus other matters that have furnish
Cd topics for conversation in New
rOrt News of late were discussed and
commented upon freely at Warwick
today during the continuation of the
annexation hearing. Other matters,
including the alleged lawless condi-
ton in Bloodfield, the lack of fire
facilities in the territory proposed TO
be annexed the ability of the present
city police force to guard the city as
now constituted, etc, and the ques-
ton of whether or not the city can
or will furnish adequate fire AMI
police protection, schools and public
improvements TO the suburban set
Elements in the event they are taken
into the city also were dweIt upon by
the witnesses. All of these things
were brought out in an effort TO prove
that it is advisable and eXpident, OF
the reverse, to extend the limits as
projected
treasury Better VII.
Probably the most interesting of all
the testimony offered was that OF
c. ID. West, chairman of the joint
finance committee OF the city coun-
Gil who declared on the stand that
until two nights ago he had been lab
cring under a misrepresentation as TO
the state of the city's finances, and
that as a mater of fact there is just
"a IL, IN
he estimated. Mr. West had learned
from the auditor that S2l 900 which
he had supposed was yet to be taken
from the city's general fund already
lad been set aside in a special fund
Excellent progress was made in the
annexation proceedings today and
when court adjourned the taking of
testimony for the city had been con
Guided and several of the witnesses
for the parties defendant had been
examined. II is probable that the evil
dence for the defense will conclude
its testimony early Tomorrow after
noon. and the argument may be-
gin at once, as Judge Chris
ton, or counsel for Warwick, is
Obliged to get back to Richmond
tomorrow. 1t is possible that
the argument will be held for the
preparation of the record. If this is
not done. the argument may be con-
cluded tomorrow night and the case
given to the judge for a decision.
Although the proceedings were con-
Quoted with dispatch today, there
was a running fire of objections and
counter objections by counsel for the
respective interests throughout the
sessions of the court. City Attorney
Massie inferrOgatcd all of The city's
witnesses and crOss-examined every
witness for the defense. And prac-
tically every witness for the city was
closely crOss-examined by both Mr..
Read and Mr.. Cumming. while Judge
Christian. Judge Montague and Mr.
Wilcox questioned all OF most of them
as to certain points.
Judge ShackelfOrd's rulings upon
all points raised came promptly and
clearly. the court showing a DISPOSE
iiOn TO get along as speedily as pos
sible ard eliminate all unnecessary
delays. Frequently the judge would
question the Witnesses himself in
order to bring out information he dc
sired. OF TO settle a dispute between
counsel as to how a query should be
Tut. The judge has been inclined to
put a liberal construction upon the
rules Of evidence. indicating that he
deems such a policy desirable in a
case Of this kind
The court will rcconvcnc this morn
ing at $50 O'Clock.
W A. SpruiIl. a member Of the
common council ~ Ncwp>Tt News and
a loan broker. was the first witness
today He said that he deemed IL
advisable and expcdient TO take in
the territ ~ proposed to be snnexca
10 the CITY. that Il was advisable
from the standpoint Of frc and 20
lice protection and public schools Tor
the communities involved. and from
the standpoint % public health. Wit
ness vent on 10 say that the ncccs-
sity n coming O. Warwick court
housc every time there w7s a little
civil case 10 be appealed from the
magistrates court Was very annoy
ing. and that he frequently lost
money because he DID not care 10 20
60 this trouble. Mr. Read objected
90 the question a. 90 the ecccssibii
fty e the comfy court aud noted