Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-10
NO SAYING NOW WHEN
TRIAL WILL CONCLUDE
Prospect Of Agreement Upon Facts
Has Faded Awsy--Commonweaith
Proving That Rates Are Fixed and
Controlled, While Defense Brings
Out Desirable Features of Trust.

One witness, Robert Lecky, Jr.,
Slee-president of the Virginia State
Fire Insurance Company, OF kich-
mcnd, was ON the stand throughout
the entire second day of the trial OF
officers and members OF the South
eastern Underwriters Association be-
fore Justice Brown In the police court.
Mr.. Lecky was on the stand when
court adjourned for the day, and he
will be recalled this morning. A. the
possibility OF an agreement upon the
facts by counsel seems 10 have
dwindled away, there is no saying
when the hearing OF this case viii
be concluded.
Only four OF forty-eight witnesses
summoned for. the commonwealth have
been On the stand and. while 1t is
certain that hardly half of the wilt
nesses summoned will testify. II Is not
likely that the commonwealth will
lest its case before Saturday night, II
then.
Well Informed Witness.
Mr.. Lecky, who Is ready. convinc-
irg talker with an amazing knowl-
edge OF fire Insurance business facts
anu tHtoilCrs ttotiitu III OF 40 W tht
existence and purpose of the under
Writers association, giving the names
OF the companies in the State which
belong to the association and the
Eames of those which do not belong.
He told OF the methods Of fixing fire
Insurance rates. and said he knew OF
no licensed stock fire insurance COM
pany In Virginia that were doing
business at rates other than those
prescribed by the association. The
object OF this testimony was to cor
roborate testimony already given to
show that the combination fixes and
controls rates. Then, crcss-examined
by counsel for the defense, the wit
ness told at great length OF the hene-
tits derived by the public from the
work OF the underwriters organiza.
ton. The commonwealth objected to
this line of testimony on the ground
~shkt Vt has nothing to do with the
Ease, but as in the case OF most OF
the evidence heard Wednesday. this
was allowed to 20 In. with the under
standing that the objection to II
would be argued later. Mr.. Leckey
was cross-examined at length by the
Ire new matter brought out by Mr..
Bachelor.
Newport News An Exception.
Just before he left the stand after
trying and tiresome day, Mr.. Leckey
made statement OF especial interest
10 Newport News. He said that IN
less there had been a great many mis-
takes in classifying risks In Newport
News, this city is an exception to the
.ule. He meant, II seems, that unless
the local public is paying entirely too
much for its insurance. Newport News
has been exceptionally fortunate in
the matter OF IRE losses, as shown
ny the great difference between prem
,ums collected and losses paid.
The witness laid great stress upcn
The beneficial effects Of the campaign
Of education carried on by the under.
Nrisers- Captain Berkeley wanted to
know II the combination was not edu-
eating the people against the peoples
VIII and at the expense of the people.
and Mr.. Leckey replied that Il was q
TACT that every cent spent by the as
soesatiou in this way was paid BY the
people.
Court will reoonvene this morning
al 10 O'Clock, anc the examination OF
Mr.. Leckey will continue. Such a
mass OF evidence of the character
each side deires 70 bring out has been
gwen by this witness. II Is possible
that the attorneys will not consider
" necessary to question others so ful-
~ Hence it may be that a number