Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-05
COURT WILL ADJOURN
TWO DAYS FOR ELECTION
Judge Barham Has to Stamp Ballots
and Southampton County Jurors
Want To Go Home To vote-C. D.
and ). (. West and City Clerk
Hudclns on stand.

A start on the taking of testimony
in the insurance case was made yes
terday. Only three witnesses were ex-
amined during the day. however. and
II the trial proceeds at the rate 1t has
been going up 10 this time there Is
no saving when ii will be finished. As
Judge Barham will have TO be of the
bench Cor half a day 10 stamp the bal
lots to be used in Tuesdays general
election. and the members Of the jury
desire to return TO their homes in
Southampton county to vote. court
will adjourn this afternoon until
"Wednesday morning.
objection after objection to certain
lines Of examination was made yes
terday by counsel for the defense dur
ing the direct examination and by
the commonwealth during the cross
questioning. Sharp Tits between coun-
sci enlivened the proceedings at
times, but on the whole the day was
q tiresome one.
Admitting Nothing.
As in the police court trial. the com
monwealth is slowly proving the ex-
istence and the objects OF the South
eastern Underwriters Association, and
establishing the connection between
the defendants and that body. The
defense admits nothing. and II is es-
sential to prove these facts which al
ready are known to everybody in a
general sort of way. While Col. j.
+. West was on the stand yesterday
the commonwealth attempted TO
Introduce the associations let
ter-head, which was used in the po-
lice court trial and on which appears
a list Of the members of the Virginia
committee of the association. Be
cause the commonwealth was not pre-
pared to show when this letter-head
was printed. the paper was ruled out.
City Clerk First Witness.
City Clerk Floyd A. Hudgins was
the first witness called to the stand.
Mr. Hudgins testified as to the pas
sage Of the license tax ordinance i'm
posing a tax of S25 fiat" and 5 per
cent. IF premiums collected upon fire
insurance companies doing business
in the city. A copy of the ordinance
was identified and put in evidence.
Caleb ID. West. formerly chairman
OF the finance committee of the city
council and a member of the firm OF
Barrett & West, real estate ana insur-
ance agents. was the next witness
called Mr. West testified that when
he voted for the license tax ordinance
this year his firm was representing
eight Are insurance companies. all OF
which, he underk TODD, were members
of the Southeastern Underwriters As
ISOLATION. He was questioned at some
length as to insurance rates in New
port News and testified that SO far
he knew all the companies used rates
fixed, by the associations committee
Mr. West identified the famous
pink Slip" by which notice of the ter
per cent. increase in local rates was
given the local public one hour he
fore the increase went into effect. He
told of a conference he and f. I. Ford
had with Mr. Harris, chairman OF the
Virginia committee of the association
a few days before the arrival of the
"pink-slip." Mr.. Harris said that the
license tax OF the city was exces s've
and Messrs. West and Ford told hin
that the ordinance was in effect and
could not be changed this year. but
that II the association would not place
penalty upon the local public. they
would undertake to see to IL thai
amends would be made next year IL IL