Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-14
Entered At the Newport Nsws, va-
Pes.of,ce as Second-Class Matter.
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IA. 1910
rHg INSURANCE MEN ARE MAD

the INSURANCE WEN +UE "N~'
when the Southampton county jury
before which the Insurance Trust
cas.a was tried in the local Corpora
ton Court returned verdict OF
.'xuilty" against twenty of the defen-
dants. the insurance men we're mad
xhan they we're arrested at Hot
Spripgs the officers and ccmmittee-
men of the Trust were somewhat eN-
asperated. But at that time they were
merely outraged on account OF the
..indignity" heaped upon them by
What they were pleased TO look upon
as the doings of an irresponsible, pet
Nv officer of the law. They supposed
then that they would be put to some
little inconvenience, but the idea that
their methods of doing business ac-
rnally would be interfered with by
the doings of this officer probably
did not enter their heads. Before
tho police court hearing was over
these gentlemen began 10 have a
elsmmering OF what the prosecution
really meant, and then they were
madden still. When Judge Barham
sustained the contention Of the de-
Tense that a combination OF insur-
ance companies TO fix and control
rates Is not in itself unlawful, they
began to assume their outraged air
again and, no doubt. were beginning
20 think over what they We're going
10 say about the commemorative at
forney and his assistants who.
through sheer ignorance, had put
more than a score of such exemplary
end prominent citizens to SO much ex-
pense and trouble for nothing. Then
came the verdict OF the jury. in which
the defendants were found guilty OF
'-malieiously and in wanton disregard
CT The rights Of the public" using this
power which the court had held II
was lawful for them 10 possess. This
fnade the underwriters mad sure
enough. Before they had been mere
iy aggravated and aggrieved, but now
tina; they actually had been convicted
IL court OF record under law the
very existence OF which they had de-
eiined 10 believe. they were too mad
for words That is, they were too
mad for printable words. This paper
would have been barred from the
nails mad il undertaken to reproduce
the conversations carried on by some
OF the groups Of defendants aster the
verdict was announced
In view Of the way the Insurance
men felt about the matter probably
Il is not particularly surprising that
The Insurance Herald. OF Richmond.
Atlanta and New ojeans. should
have published on its front page two
weeks ago an article headed "injus-
lice an Easy wiBer- and containing
such sentences IS the following:
IN sbs display OF pure and uradui-
terated venom. the hght Of Common
wezith's Attorney c. c. Berkeley
against certain members Of the South
eastern Tariff Association az Newport
News. Va. l. probably without a
p1re.fei In the history Of insurance
eases 81 whatever kind. In The hand
ing Of witnesses In this case and IN
his fna' h2-sague before the jury.
Attorney Berkeley showed that he
vas pertouoly very bitter against
thc members Of the association. and
rcso-fcd 20 every snbtcrfuge. ls<ifi-
nate and otherwise. within the range
of bis powers 20 inhsceace the Jury
against them. Mr.. Berkeley insisted
THAI these men Be not fined. but that
they be sent 20 isf fo< the reason
thai whatever fines were imposed
would oaiy Be aided % the Insurance.
rate In Virginia and the public would
have to pav l. He called attention
10 heir white colicrs and Eood cloth
.cE and compared. .heir general an
rc1r>ncs ~ifh that % the Jury befort
whom shcs were being tried
Tt<~r = much more 20 the same Fl
f>c< n ne srticis. <hich IN e6ecs ..
a-~r<;y q rcp.,frion o. Ehsi vas a
r. t>zrs from c>rssis 81 ~ eef~rd
ants = cos.3 room asiees. without th'
fan<s sn1 irlphurcous trimmings
F<-< probably o,< q DC dsfer<znt