Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-15
LOCAL INSURANCE MEN
GOING ON STAND NOW
Robert Leckey, During Concluding
Examination, Gives Figures Show
creased Since Coming Of Combina-
ton to Virginia.


Corporation Couri Yesterday. The eX-
animation of Robert Leckey. the Rich.
/ mOnd insurance man from whom each
: side drew out mass of information
in this trial as in the police court
/ hearing, was concluded yesterday aft
ernOon, and four lccal agents were
on the stand before court adjourned
for the day. Other local agents will
I ha examined ;oday. and it is thought
: that the commonwealth will rest to-
night or some time tomorrow. AS
. the defense is not expected TO offer
any testimony, the argument On in
structicns may begin as soon as the
commonwealth closes. l. IS hardly
probable that the case VII get to the
! jIry this week, however. as the ar
gument on instructions promises TO
consume a great deal of time. and the
addresses c the jury by the seven at
/ tOrneys in the case hardly will be
made in less than two DAYS.
Yesterday should have been the
I first dar CT the November term or the
! Corporation Court hut rs il was nee
essary to eXte nd the October term in
1 order 10 conclude this trial. no regu-
lar November term will be held.
Significant Testimony.
During the examination of Mr..
I Leckey, who resumed The stand when
court convened Yesterday morning.
! Captain Berkeley drew from the wit
ness some significant testimony. Mr..
| Leckev produced figures. which had
I been brought from his office in Rich
m ond. showing that before the South
eastern Underwriters Association en-
tered Virginia he average rate for
insurance was Sl.2s. that from 1880
, to 1889 the average rate was in
creased to s1.41. and that in the ten
years following the rate had increased
! TO sl.47. II was further testified thai
/ this STEADY increase had been in spite
of a Substantial reduction in the aver
| age fire loss.
jury Is withdrawn.
During the examination of Mr..
! Leckey. Mr.. Harrison objected to a
question asked bv Mr. Let. saying
that the ccmmonwe alth was trying 10
make wrong impression upon the
jury Captain Berkeley asked that the
jury be withdra WI. and when this had
been done objected strongly to the
at itude of counsel for the defense,
such statements as Mr. Hari ison he'd
Just made Mr.. Harrison disclaimed
any intention Of rejecting -ipon ccun-
/ sci fer the Commonwealth. and after
some discussion the jurv was brought
back and the examination of the will
ness proceeded.
/ Mr. Leckey was still on the stsnd
when court adjourned for the mid
( day recess. He was recalled al 2:30
o'clock and soon afterward was *
cused.
/ lccal Agents on Stsnd.
Sci. Miller and W. Lee Powell in
surance men who have been in bust
ness here for v.sars. we're the next
witnesses. Both testified that they
represent various insurance companies
and use the rats prescribed by the
. Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton. They were questioned by the
commonwealth particularly as to the
necessity fer fire Insurance In New
port News. on account Ct the num-
Der OF mortgaged homes and business
buildings.
Tariff Rates Cut.
Mr. Chaplin said he had written
! two or three policies at less than the
4 tariff rate since May Is. The policies
were in the Continental and St. Paul
I companies One was on y. II. Smiths
dwelling and another was on the Old
I Dominion Land Compsny's Pier A.
I The policy on Is. II. Smiths dwelling
1894 Roanoke avenue. was written in
the Continental al the rate OF s2.35. the
1 tariff rate being about Ss.45. The rea-
son he did this was, he didn't agree
with the stamping office and COULD not
, see any reason why the rate should
have been raised He received a no
tice from the stamping ONCE eailins
attention to the violation OF the tarifi.
bat that he had not raised the rate.
Witness said he had written iva no'i-
cies on pier A At rates lower than
/ those prescribed by The tariff. tie
had been notified Of the violations.
but I'D 10 this time the policies had
not been changed. Captain Berkeley
asked the witness whether he had
A,es notified by the Old Dominion
Land Company thst unleSs the insur-
n ancr on its property co@ia b. renew
ed A. the old rates the company
would carry It's own insurance or pro
cure IL elsewhere The defense Oh
s,c;ed 10 toe question. and the jury
I Wa Withdrawn foF the afgumcnt-
Whoa tna jury bad retired. the wit
scss znSVe.es iAsf IS had received
40 such nciicr rrem ne oid Bominio~
\ Land Company then the Common
Il wealth did not press this line Of ex-
II rui-atior and tho Jury was brourh;
hack 20 the court room. CapiaiA
Berkeley wanted 10 know some de-