The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-04
ST|EG SECURES
DELAY IN HIS
TRIAL ON GAS
Absence of Lawyer Basis of
J. P. NorfIeet'S Plea for
More Time Judge Fitzhugh
Resets Case for Thursday.
ALARMING INCREASE y
IN THROAT TROUBLES
Doctors Will Consider Poison
out Gas at Session in Hotel
GayoSO Tuesday Night.
Show How Meters Work.

The Memphis Gas and Electric COM
pany is playing for time. Two days
grace is better than none at all when
the cufpability charged is so grave and
enormous.
C. X. Steig, vice president OF the gas
company, did not dare face trial before
Judge L. r. Fitzhugh, in the city court
Tuesday morning, on the charge of fur
nishing inferior and injurious gas to the
consumers of Memphis. 1t was neces-
sary that the attorneys of the company
have time to get their legal lumber to-
gether and erect defense.
The officials OF the gas company are
frightened at the temper which has
developed among the people; they feel
that they are at a decided disadvantage
and they must move with hestating
and cautious step. They must be
guided, in this momeht of what they
regard as peril, by the prudent mind of
the lawyer. 1t must be a welI-steeTed
vessel that will successfully ride the
gale Of public wrath, The public is
patient, but the public in anger is like
the tempest.
l.. P. Miles, Of the legal firm of
Wright, Miles, Waring g. Walker, some
how could not appear in court Tuesday
morning, and because of this Mr. Steig
needs must have a continuance until
Thursday morning when Mr.. Miles
could appear with his long protecting
arm of legal knowledge. Sam P.
Walker, of the coterle Of advocates, was
present in the back of the court room,
but he did not venture to come for
ward in defense of the client of one
member of the firm.
j. P. to Rescue, -
j. III f,orfIeetr presented the plea for
time for the gas company He stated
that he was a director in the company
and member of the executive commit
tee. Mr.. Miles was out Of the city, he
asserted. and as he was the genera
counsel of the company, a delay would
be necessary.
Judge F'itzhugh wanted action and in
a hurry. He propounded questions to
Mr.. Norfleet which were to show that
the plea for a postponement did not
set well with him. Mr.. Norfleet replied
that Gen. Luke f. Wright and MI
Walker were both in the city, but main
tanned that only Mr., Miles was the
proper counsellor to defend Mr.. Steig
Meanwhile the people suffer Gas is
not gas. and the nacal passages, the
throat and bronchial tubes are not re-
ceiving any especial benefit from fire.
quent douches of sulphurous fumes. AZ
fections of the nose. throat and bron-
chial tubes have had a greater preva-
lance among the people of Memphis
during the past seven months that the
gas has been of inferior quality, than
during the entire two-yedr period just
previous.
Specialists consulted by The News
v Scimtar to know If this we're true
would not undertake to say positively
that the bad gas is responsible for this
virtual epidemic of mas |, throat ant
bronchial affections But they did con-
cede that fumes escaping from the in
ferior gas might well be contributory
factor. One doctor, an eminent and a
thoughtful man, was asked this ques-
ton; Has it been your experience that
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