Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-21
WITNESSES TELL WHY
EXTENSION IS NEEDED
Prominent Property Owners Say Both
City and Suburbs would be Bene-
fted-Audtor Livezey, OF %. U.
Land Company, on Stand for -e-
fendents.
From a stan Correspondent.

WARWICK COURT HOUSE, Vac
April 2O-Such rapid progress mas
been made in the ehsrlng Oh
the Newport News annexation
proceedings on the merits. which
began before Judge ShacAei-
ford in the Circuit Court this morn
ing, that about half Of all the testl-
mony TO be submitted to the court
has been given. Ten OF the twenty
three witnesses summoned for ne
ci1y were on the stand today. and one
of the witnesses for the parties ue-
PENDANT, who perhaps is the most I'M
portant of the half dozen summon
ed. was examined by agreement oil
counsel.
The city will conclude its testimony
today, possibly this morning. ana II Is
not improbable that all OF the EVIL
dence for both sides will be in wheh
court adjourns tonight. If such is the
case. the PROCEEDINGS shout be in the
hands of the court for disposition by
Friday evening.
Court was in session today from
$50 a m and p. m, and from 10
d. m. This will be the order again
tomorrow.
The City's Case.
City Attorney Massie put on test-
mony, including that of the superln-
tendent of schools and the chief OF
the fire department. to prove that II
is essential that the territory proposed
l. .,If int
limits. in the interest of both the city
and of the people living in the terri
| tory.
The one witness for the defedents
heard today was W. b. Livezey, local
auditor Of the Old Dominion Land
Company. who appeared on the stand
armed with lengthy and carefully
prepared paper in which he set forth
his reasons. and those of his com
pany, for opposing the proposed an
nexation. Mr. Massie objected to the
| reading from this paper, but the read
ing was permitted on the ground that
the witness was giving his reasons
in answer to question propounded
! by counsel
Witnesses Yet to be Heard.
The witnesses summoned and yet
to be examined are: Police Sergeant
T. A. Mitchell and officers S. G. Pear
son, J. F. carp and A. .. P2dgett:
T. A. fowler, G.. T. Kellum, c. f. stone
c. p. Jones. s. A. Howell, J. A. SOM
merville, T. F. Peyton. ]. f. Clai-
borne, r. E. Spivey. S. ID. Book and
f. G. Brown, for the city; Alderman
c. ID. West. President of the common
cornell. d. S. Jones: Sol Miller. Alex
Meyers and A. +. EdmOnds, for the
defense.
The School Question.
Prof. Willis A. Jenkins, superin-
tendent of schools in Newport News.
was the first witness called to the
stand. Prof. jenkins testified as to
the schools located in and near the
territory proposed to be annexed. He
said that Warwick county had white
school on Twenty-eighth street in
which there are q pupils. including
ten from Elizabeth City county; a
negro school on Ivy avenue with Two
teachers. one receiving twenty dollars
per month and the other forty. and
with IS pupils in one room and 10
in another: a negro school at Dawson
City with SO pupils in one room, anS
a negro school en- Chestnut avenue
with 81 pupils on roll. Il was >ex-
planned that the schools are. not grad
ed and are opened only fveynonths
in the year Witness saidfat the
entire cost OF taking care of-kl these
pupils in the city schools would be
about $1,000 annually In the terri
tory proposed 10 BE- annexed in Eliza
beth City county. Il was stated. the
county maintains no school and the
nearest county school house Is at
Rivcrvicw. mile and a quarter away.
He sad that the children could be &C
commodated In the city schools.
Condition Of eosrd's Finances.
+. On cross examination by Mr. Read.
Prof Jenkins said that the city school
board had a deficit Of about $1,000 IN
/, 81 treasury for this year. after So
0l0 addii onal revenue had been pro
vided BY the council. Mt. Read ask
I'd where the board expected 20 get
! the money necessary 20 provide for
the county school children. and tse