The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-09
GREAT LAWYERS
AWAIT OUTCOME

Continued From First Page.)
during his campaign for the presis
dency. had stated In his speeches thar
we had all the law necessary to curb
the trusts and that criminals could
% prosecuted under the common law.
the result of this first effort along that
nne Is being watched in the depart
ment OF justice In Washington with =
great deal of interest. 1t is stated.
Taxation Starts 1t.
In making up the city budget in
the spring OF 1910. the Council OF
the city Of Newport News decided
tnat was necessary for the city OF
Newport News to increase It's revenues
and that the fire insurance companies
were not paying a just taxation and
should be raised. An INCREASE OF
per cent in their tax rate was recom~
mended and adopted.
Following this. the executive COM
mittee of the underwriters met at Hot
Springs, Va. to take action on tbs
situation at Newport News. A few
days later every policy holder in New
port News received one OF the famous
pink slips" informing him that his
insurance rate had been increased 10
per cent. These pink slips were
mailed from the office of the secre-
tary In Richmond. The City COun@
Gil and the Chamber OF ConmarcA
of Newport News decided to light and
Captain Berkeley was instructed A.
Commonwealth's attorney to proceed.
He secured the names OF twenty
three officials O fthe association. and
a fey weeks later learned they would
again be in session in u few days 1t
Hot Springs. In the mean time he
had prepared and sworn out his wars
rants. Taking Chief Of Police John
w. Reynolds along to serve thu war
rants. he proceeded to Hot Springs
sent in his card to the president dur.
ing the session in the Homestead Ho-
tel and was invited n. He orienyl
informed them Of his mission. ana
tina the had an officer with him with v
warrants to serve.
1t was like a bombshell In c4Mp
when the officials learned that thoa
matter Was not a joke. but very -
rious one. Captain Berkeley wan
amiahle and willing To agree to any
arrangement that would provide To-
the appearance Of the men IN the D0~#
lice court on the date specified In the
warrant. The officials assured h&A
they would all appear in person. 49,
though most OF them lived in othaE
States. and they were recognised 49,
fore a Justice Of the peace for tht1r
appearance.
They were there at the proper ttslaak j
when three OF them showed that they
were not ohicials at the time OF thos
alleged act OF conspiracy. and 49,
warrants against them were quAehe1s
The other twenty were convicted n&s
ter q lengthy police court heArin4s
and the cases appealed to the cos~s
poration court. There a jury ffUnsy
Nansemond county. after listening -
a,ysI - RSR <UA
months, found them all guilty AN0s4
faned each 1900. Jail penalty not havas
ing been asked.
On motion to set aside the voSNa
dict. Judge T. J. Barham. after oona
sitferfng the case for seine times - 81
aside the verdict as to fourteen thoS
evidence tending to show that tAt3
were not present at the meeting. AnAs
confirmed the verdict as to the re-
manning six. who made no denial o.
their presence.
1t is argument on the appeal o&a
these six that will be heard in IT,
Supreme Court to-day. II the deeG@
sion OF the lower court Ia upheld. thos
underwriters have announced tAetM
intention of carrying the case IN tml#
the Federal courts and on to the 9a-sl
preme Court Of the United States ~
necessary. Ia
The nnes OF 1900 are regarded olS
no Importance to either side, ~ ca1lA8
has spent many times this amount lmss
the trials OF the case. The Quest1o1M
of whether or not the common ta&k#
applies and can he used In crimtmmEM
prosecution In other trust husetMe II
casss by the government - tsse 80 sAs
4portant one. and tho greatest 1awyeGs
In the United States are Watching tM4a
case with interest, SsS