The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-27
APPEAL GRANTED
INSURANCE n N { n
Officials OF Underwriters Asso
citation Will Be Heard i'll
Supreme Court.
DENOUNCED BY PREACHER
Rev. EFT. Wexford Said to Have
Made lmpassioncd Speech
lavoring War.

Granting writ OF error yesterday
from the decision OF the Corporation
Court of Newport News, which was
intended to break up The INSURANCE
trust, the Supreme Court or Appeals
has Indicated It's Willingness TO open
the case on appeal and consider II on
Its merits. The record is probably
the largest ever received by Clerk IL.
stewart Jones, and may. make 1000
printed pages. II contains several
volumes OF stcnographic testimony
ana much printed matter which is to
be reproduced
\ AT the time of the trial of this case
several months ago, it attracted u
great deal OF attention throughout the
state. The interest began with the
swearing out OF warrants against
prominent members of the Southeast
ern Underwriters Association, and
their arrest at Hot Springs. Va. while
in meeting. on the charge Of crimi-
nal conspiracy. When the case came
10 trial. some OF the defendants were
not convicted. and the court later set
aside the verdict as to some OF the
others. The remainder. who are the
petitioners In the Supreme Court, we're
4 fined 800 and costs each. They were
Archie II. Harris, r. b. Dewey, L. K.
Warren. 3 a. Hamlin. T.. II. Jones and
". r. Robins Mr. Harris. the sccrc-
iary OF the Virginia committee Of the
Underwriters Associat ton. is now sec.
rotary OF the Virginia State Insurance
Company
Purpose OF Annexation.
The petition sets forth that the
southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton is an association of fire insurance
companies organized for the purpose
OF lesscning the are hazard, and.
therefore. as necessary result. OF
ultimately decreasing the premium
rates In this State Its affairs arc
administered by what is known as the
Virginia committee
The City Council OF Newport News
passed an ordinance early last year
fixing the license fee 10 the city 10
be paid By fire insurance companies
at SIS for each concern, and in addi-
tIon 5 per cent. Of It's premiums col
lected In Newport News. Thereupon
the underwriters made Nat increase
in the rate OF premiums OF 10 per
cent saying that this covered the
Increased taxation imposed upon the
companies HH
A, once Indignation meetings were
held the Chamber OF Commerce and
other bodies taking the tight up and
Hppropriatng money to aid In the
prosecution OF the officials of the un-
i
out and served at Hot Springs. In
Police Court the men were fined $500
each. and on appeal the finc was made
500 each by the Corporation Court.
Goes Back for Centuries.
In discussion OF the many points
involved. the petition for a writ OF
error discusses some very ancient law.
IT IS set forth that Queen Anne in 1902
granted an exclusive right to ma nu-
facture playing cards. and that this
was decided by the courts to be ille
gal. a statute OF Edward VI. made
in 1852 is referred to. as Is also q
celebrated case In 1911. The claim is
that no Virginia statute has been vio-
lated. and that the prosecution can
rest only on the old Engiish common
law. which Is the common law OF Vir-
GINA. iI.
Inaemuch as the common Law refers
to a monopoly in articles of prime
necessity. this question is argued at
length. The petition sets forth tina,
an insurance policy is not an article
at ail-that while religion. educa ton.
exercise and labor are necessities
they are not ARTICLES OF prime ne
cessity." To suppoEe that the insur-
ance companies agreement ts & mo-
nopoly. when any concern with as
little a $4,000 capital can start in
business in Virginia. Is TO argue, ac-
cordins to the petition. that the cap