Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-19
Annexation Proceedings to be
Taken up.
BITTER CONTEST AHEAD
Free State" Of Warwick viii Fight
10 Last Ditch Against Proposed 6S'
tension Of the City Limits-many
Witnesses Summoned.

Orange county, will convene speclai
term of the Circuit Court of war
wick county this morning TO hear the
annexation procee dings of the city OF
Newport News against the counties
OF Warwick and Elizabeth CITY. un-
less counsel for the counties can OBJ
tain further delay. and II is not
thought that they can. the case will
be heard ON its merits at tins term of
the court. The length OF the hear
ing IS wholly problematical. but II
is believed that the triai will be nm
ished this week
This promises to be one of the btter'
est annexation fights in the history of
Virginia, The old Free State" OF
Warwick will battle TO the last ditch
and already its counsel has proclaim
ed that every Technically that the
law affords will be taken advantage
OF by the defendants. While IL has
but little at stake IA this fight. Eliza
beth City county is vitally interest
ed on account of the probable effect
OF the case upon the proceedings insti-
tuted by residents OF the Boulevard
for admission 10 the corporate lin
its of Newport News.
Many Delays In Case.
City Attorney J. A. Massie. who Is
prosecuting the fight single-handed
began the proceedings against the
counties last November, but counsel
for the defendants were successful IN
causing many delays. The first delay
arose in the appointment of trial
Judge by Governor swanson. The gov
ernor would not name Judge until
the attorneys In the case could agree
upon a date for the hearing. Judge
Christian. who represents Warwick
county, said that he would not be
ready TO go into the case until Jan
nary and the governor did not APP
point a judge until that time.
Judge Thornton. of King William
county, was named and he convened
special term Of the Warwick county
court in February to hear the case.
Counsel for the counties raised the
contention that the supervisors of the
counties had not been properly mott
fed OF the proceedings and .heir con
tention was sustained by the judge
who threw the case ont of court.
Another Judge Named.
MT. MdSSie tntu DtSdu the pro-
ceedings anew and served notice on
the supervisors while they were in
session. Governor Mann then named
Judge Jesse F. West, OF Sussex coun-
ty, to hear the case and he convened
the Warwick county court early this
month to fix date for the trial. The
attorneys raised the point that Judge
West was not competent to hear the
case because of the proximity of his
circuit To this section. The Judge
did not pass on this point. but
ruled that he vas competent to sci
the date for the trial and he named
'-->ssl 10.
5ometime after he returned TO Sus-
*, Judge West notified Governor
Mann that he was not competent TO
hear the case and last week Judge
George Shackelford was designated
by the governor to hear the proceed
lngs.
Many Witnesses Summoned.
Twenty-Five witnesses from this
city and probably as many more
from the COUNTIES are 10 testify al
the case and Denbigh will be crowd
ed with visitors today. A num3er OF
city Ornciais and others from this city
who are not summoned as witnesses
also will 20 TO Warwick to hear the
case. The fast train which leaves
this city at 1900 O'Clock this morn
ing will stop at 0riana and many OF
the witnesses. attorneys and specta
tors will make the trip on that train
Judge Christian. Of Richmond. At
forney J. Winston Read. of this city
and Commonwealth Attorney vii
: cox. are counsel Ior Warwick county
and Commonwealth Attorney Mon
tagae and Attorney $. Gordon Cum
ming. OF Hampton. are representing
Elizabeth City county. Attorney X
G.. Bickford. OF this city will be on
Rand to represent the Old Dominion
Land Company. which Is opposing the
annexation. City Attorney MaSsis
will appear for Newport News