Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-19
BAILED TO APPEAR IN
LOCAL POLICE COUR !
Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton Officers and Delegates, Caught
on Virginia Soil ct Hot Springs, Will
Face Justice Brown on Charge of
Unlawful Conspiracy, June 8.


Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton. including President Dan b. har-
ris, were arrested at Hot Springs,
Va. yesterday morning by Chief OF
Police J. w. Reynolds, of this city,
on warrants charging them with I'M
lawfully conspiring to establish and
control insurance rates in this city.
Ali cf the defendants were released
on bonds of $500 each for their ap-
pearance for trial before Police JUS
tice J. d. G. Brown in Ibis city on
June 8, 1910.
The news of this development IN
the fire insurance night reached here
yesterday afternoon, and created
something of sensation. Only a
few people knew that Common
wealth's Attorney C.. c. Berkeley and
Chief Reynolds left Tuesday night for
Hot Springs, the chief being armed
with about sixty warrants Of the
John Doe" type
The warrants were issued by JUS
tice Brown, upon the complaint OIL
Captain Berkeley, and the police
court has exclusive original jurisdic-
ton in the cases. The charge Is pre-
ferred under the common law, and
the penalty is fine or Imprisonment
or both, without limit.
Caught on Virginia Soil.
BY taking this step, the common
wealth's attorney actually has laid
the hands of the law upon the heaas
of the Insurance Trust and has made
it possible to compel them TO come
to- Newport News for trial on criminal
warrants. This might have been I'M
possible but for the prompt action or
the officers. Most of the officers CT
the Underwriters Association, which
is made up of some seventy insurance
companies. live outside of the State
of virginia, and ordinarily it would
have been practically impossible 20
get them into a Virginia magistrate
court to answer to misdemeanor
charge. Captain Berkeley had been
considering for several days the mat
ter of putting the action of the asso-
citation in advancing the insurance
rates here ten per cent in retaliation
against the city's increased license
tax. Monday he learned that the
Southeastern Underwriters Associa'
ton would meet in annual session at
Hot Springs yesterday. and he decid-
ed to nab the members of that body
from outside of the state while they
we're on Virginia soil.
Step Taken Advisediy-
Before swearing out the warrants.
Captain Berkeley carefully looked in
to the case himself and consulted
with another member Of the local bar
who is recognized as being as well
versed in law as any man in the city.
In this consultation 1t developed that
there was a possibility that legal
technicslity might make it necessary
to actually bring the insurance men
to Newport News Immediately upon
making the arrests. To meet this
contingency. arrangements were
made for the transportation Of the
psrty. and Captain Berkeley decided
TO make the trip with Chief Reynolds
in order to render an assistance
that might be necessary In the event
the insurance magnstes attempted to
evade arrest
Tuesday night a prominent local
merchant secured a $500 policy under
the new rate. in order 20 give the
officers evidence Of an overt act
70 was the purpose Of the oficers
10 serve warrants only upon members
Of the association sho live outside
4 the state. as those living within
the state can be arrested or summon
cd a. any time. Warrants were
drawn fcr about sixty members. and
= dispatch from Hot Springs shows
that twcnty-;hree were served.
The Defendants.
Those upon whom warrants we're
served arc: Daniel p. Harris. presi-
dent: a. n. Andrews. general man
aeer: A. u. Harris. l.. v Warren. ".
Y. Chsiicriy. y u. Dewey. George
Nccoodridrc. " \ Hamiin. y r.
Jones. jefferson Pcsrsc. Wm. r Ro-
bins, A. u. Trsvcrs. r. r Caldwell.
Cup CARPENTER. q ~ Collins. a T.
Rro>ks. a " HUGHES. W r Pres
cott Dana Biackmor. n. c. Hare. ,. >.