The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-09
Files
OF RICHMOND DISPATCH
Seek to Find Market Value OF Rail.
way Stocks During War
Period.
QUESTION IN DEBT HEARING
West Virginia Seeks Offset for Secu.
rifles Owned by This State. Which
Later Became Notwithstanding
Nearing It's End.

Was the Richmond Dispatch during
the war period In 1896 an accurate
and reliable publication? That Is the
immediate question now before tho
master In chancery. former Congress-
man Charles Il. LittleheId. In tho vir-
Sinia-Wcst Virginia debt case. On tina,
point evidence is being sought in Rich
mond by William c. LIE C;endrc, as
sistant manager OF Brown Brothers &
Co. bankers. or New York Up to this
time 1t is stated the evidence has been
OF a character highly nattering to tho
editors OF the paper at that period.
The question OF .he reliability OF old
newspapers as evidence Of fact IL ono
that has often puzzled the courts. and
on which there have been conflicting
rulings, growing out of the different
conditions under which the question
has arisen. The Supreme Court Of
the United States has on more than
one occasion accepted newspaper ar
ticlcs as evidence. when supported by
general corroborattve testimony. Those
interested In the Sampsou-S chlcy con-
trovcrsy following the Spanish War
will recall the argument over admit
ting as evidence In the official invosti-
cation an article prepared for ma,;a-
zine by Captain Philip. who had since
record.
WEST VIRGINIA LAYS
CLASH To OFFSETS
In the debt case tho supreme Court
OF the United states has decided upon
a principal sum which West Virginia
should assume Az it's portion OF the
state debt at the time or separation.
amounting. In round figures. TO ST.
100000. The question OF interest was
loft TO tho SfHtp2 IN ar ms
then West Virginia has set UP the
claim 10 certain offsets. It claims that
ut the time Of tho separation. in 1863.
tho State OF Virginia owned stock In
that time had some value. but which
later ON tho war made entirely
vaiueless through the collapse Of tho
railroad companies. The point before.
the special master just at this time.
therefore. Is what was the market
value OF these stocks AT the time OF
the separation OF the States. DEPOSIT
tions have been taken here from john
!. Williams. John =. Branch and others
who were IN tho banking business dur
Ing the war period
FILES Of PAPER HAVE
BEEN PIOTOGRArHED
The hles Of the Richmond Dispatch
III the Virginia State Library have been
photographed to show the market quo
Lancaster d 60. and by other
banking houses. Dispositions have been
taken In many places to show that the
Richmond Dispatch In 1863 was Il re-
liable publication. that it's market quo
iations were regarded as 4 fair index
OF the current market for railroad Sc
curities. and as to it's general reputa-
ton for accuracy and standing in the
community photographs have also
been produced showing the quotations
published on the aamc railroad securi-
ties In the New York Herald ut the
same period. TIL" discrepancy noted be.
tween tho two papers Is explained by
the bankers on the ground that The
Richmond quotations wcrc IN Conted-
crate money. which vas already be-
ginning to show depreciation. while the
New York quotations were In United
states money. The debt hearing has
raised points which have proved as in
tcrestinG to historians OF the war pc
Rod as 1t has to bankers. II is prob
able that Special Master LittleheId viii
file q supplemental report with tile
United states Supreme Court before the
Christmas vacation, covering the
points raised by West Virginia! In it's
claim for OBJECTS, and that the way will
shortly he paved fos a final decision.