Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-24
ELIZABETH CITY COUNTY
OFFICERS ON THE STAND
Treasurer, Commissioner Of Revenue,
Clerk OF Courts, Deputy Sheriff and
Constable Testify Against Annexa-
tion-Frank Lake strongly Opposed
to Proposed Extension.
(From 7 stan Correspondent


April 23.-aJ evidence has been
heard in the now famous Newport
News annexation proceedings, through
which the city is seeking TO take N
more than LOO acres of territory SIT
uated in Warwick and Elizabeth cry
counties, and the Circuit Court has
adjourned to reconvcne in Newport
News on Saturday. May Z, at which
time the court will listen to argument
by counsel During the coming week
everybody concerned will have ii rest
except the stenographer, who will be
wrestling with the record and prepar-
ing the 12O.C00 words or more for the
court and counsel. The record IS to
be completed next Friday. then the
attorneys will be ready to put me
finishing touches on their arguments.
Court convened this morning at 10
O'Clock mad was in session only unti
o'clock. Most of the Elizabeth CITY
county witnesses were officers OF tat
county. and their testimony was taxi
en- in short order.
Guesses as to Result.
Judge Shackelford stated that he
had overlooked a preyiou sengage-
ment yesterday when he fixed May
6 as the date for the argument, and
the date was changed to May Z.
Various predictions are being made
as TO what the result of the proceed
ings will be made. Some think the
court will refuse to permit any ex-
tension of the city limits; others
think Ivy avenue, Dawson City and the
Chestnut avenue section in Warwick
county. and Parrish avenue section
in Elizabeth City. will be put into
the city and the farm lands south OF
the present limits left out. But all
of these are mere guesses. Nobody
knows anything or has any better
ground fer speculation that the in
formed had before the hearing be-
gan. Judge Shackelford has been EN-
inently fair in his rulings TO both
sides and the conduct of the case
has not indicated in the slightest de-
gree what opinion he may have form
ed as a result OF all he has heard
Elizabeth City Witnesses.
John Tignor, a constable of Eliza
beth City county, was the first wit
ness called today. He testified that
he had never failed CT refuse to serve
legal papers in the territory proposed
to be annexed to Newport News. and
that he had looked over the record
and failed to find where any warrant
ever had been issued for Caleb ID
West. Of Newport News. (Mr- West
testified that he had great difficulty
IN getting legal service in the cOun-
ties). MT. Massie cross-examined the
witness and brought out the fact that
the county has no lights in the Par
IRISH avenue section.
Edmond Curtis. deputy sheriff of
Elizabeth City county. corroborated
the testimony Of Constable Tignor-
Commissioner of Revenue.
Harry w. Booker. commissioner of
revenue Of Elizabeth City, testified
that he did not deem in advisable
or expedient TO extend the limits Of
the city Of Newport News so as 20
annex the proposed territory. He was
somewhat familiar with the c-ndi-
tons in Newport News and thought
the CITY had enough 10 do 10 take
care Of the territory Il now has with
In its limits. Witness said the A.
scssed valuation Of the territory in
his cOrnty proposed to be ennexcd
was spprc xsmately tee.00o
Elizabeth City Treasurer.
David Johnson. treasurer Of Eliza
beth CITY county. said that he had
watched the growth e the lower pe-
ninsuls for the past twenty years.
he did not regard ~ as either ad-
visablc or cxpcdicnt for the city Of
Newport News to annex the Elizabeth
City territory proposed 20 b. annex
ed witness thought that. under the
condiiions apparently existing IT, ihc
city 81 Newport News. the territory
would get m, better protection han
nov. The assessed valuation 81 nc
territory u approximately fs9.o0o 80
So 900 Witness. answering Tho
ccurt. said that h. could not see hos
the city ~ Newport News would -
benefited more han The county
would BE- damaged b. the extension.
The financial feature is not material