Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-05

} was closed, did not like to intrude anG
therefore paid $5 to have his bid taker
in.
Witness acted in the purchases ss hi
own agent and that of J. D. Williams and
Daniel G. Worth, and the stock was pur-
chased for tie benefit of steamboat com
panies.
Does not think Mr.. Orrel had anything
to do With making arrangements with
Byrne. Witness and Orrel had been to.
gether end had talked together, but formed
few plans. They went together to see Mr..
Ashley, to induce him to make the sale,
and he was at first much displeased at the
interference, but afterwards concluded to
recommend the sale. In answer to ques-
ticn as to what inducements he held out to
members of the Legislature to vote
for the bill. Witness said they wanted to
improve the river. and thereby make
their railroad of some use. Did not re-
member saying he wanted to make the
river free river. nor that he wanted to
| sink the stock, nor does be remember say
ing to Mr.. Slocumb Or any one else that
he had held out such inducements to mem
bers of the Legislature. Such were never
the Intentions of witness or those of the
| Companies he represented. Cannot say.
| to his best recollection, that he had ever
said to member of the Legislature at that
session, that if the stock WIS purchased
| by those he represented it would be sunk.
Had told persons that the tolls had been
put SO low they would amount to nothing.
Don't recollect telling any one that the
object in purch asing the stock was to get
rid of vexations litigations, but it was SO
| while l was interested in stock, from
August, 1865, to time of purchase,
| because though be run boats and
carried freight, he did not consider the
tolls due, and in fact part of the time
| they were not exacted. Sometime in 1867
| or '68 tolls were demanded to the amount
| of 81, 400 or So, 500 and suit was brought,
| which suit was pending at the time of the
purchase Of the stock.
The pending suits were an inducement
to the purchase of the stock, though ad-
vised by his attorney that the Company
could not recover.
Does not know how Byrne know he
wished to purchase, but he CB) first intro
duced the subject. Does not know whether
Byrne was present or not when bids were
opened. Ashley told witness, first bid was
accepted, but had concluded not to sell as
at first advertised.
Andrew Jackson Jones was in Raleigh at
the opening of the bids, and promised to
aid him by getting the board together, &C.,
If witness would pay him from 400 to 500
dollars.
Adjourned until 9 a. m. 28th.
Raleigh Sentinel 28kh.
FRAUD COMMISSION. of Mr.
T. s. Lutterloh continued.
The suits against him and Worth were
discontinued when stock came into hands
Of new company. Was not interested in
any Steamboat Company when he came up
here to make the purchase of the stock. -
1T a. hoo L. i
not get the Board together by himself, and
because he was Conservative and Byrne
of the other party. Agreement to pay
BYrne was made after the service was per-
formed. Reported to J. D. Williams that
he had paid Byrne $500. and that Byrne
would be in Fayetteville in few days ard
then he would pay him the balance $3.50.
which was the amount, at e dollar "a share,
to buy off an out-ider who was running the
stock. On his first visit to Raleigh, wit
ness limited to SIS pe@ share, afterwards
restriction was removed. The condition
of the river from the middle of tho war I'd
time of sale very bad, and had not paid
tolls claimed on that account. The mar
ket value of the stock was SIS up to time of
sale. Had offered his stock to Mr.. Siocumb
for $40. Had never demanded tolls as
agent Of new Company. The tolls were
demanded by the new Company about IL
menced they wanted money to make the
improvements.
Had asked Mr.. Foster. member from
Bladen county for his aid in the passage
of the bill and Foster asked, sis there any
money in it % Witness replied, ''none
from me. Had paid Foster nothing neith-
er Mr.. Ashley. Witness retained none of
the stock for himself. It was divided out
among the several companies according to
&l1nf1a iT1to in
purchase was determined on about the
time the Legislature authorized the sale.
Witness and Mr.. Orrel might be consider
ed as active in procuring the passage of
the bill.
DR.. G. T. Murphy sworn:
Was a member of the eee sion which
passed the bill for the sale of the States
interest in the Cape Fear Navigation Co.,
and think he voted in the negative. After
the vote, but before it was announced, he
stepped into the lobby to speak to friend
and was accosted by Mfr. Richardson,
Senator from Moore, and asked with
much emphasis, why he had voted against
the bill, that his (the witness) friends in
Fayetteville would be ''uown on him. >
Impression was made upon his mind eth
er by Mr.. Richardson or those favoring
the bill. its passage would insure the clear
ing out distractions and secure the free
navigation Of the river. They seemed to
understand the full import of the bilI.-
Witness thought he had voted against the
bill, but he stands recorded in the affirma-
tive and may have changed his vote under
representation. None of the boat owners
represent to him that if the bill passed the
river would be free, but he understood
that if the States interest was sold the
river would be free, because that stock
stood as an obstacle to improvement.
The matter was not much talked of in
the Legislature, to the knowledge of wit
ness. though after the passage OF the bill
he made inquiries and satisfied himself
that the advantages above named would
be secured.
Mr.. J. II. Williams sworn:
Thinks il would cost So, 900 to put the
river in ordinary boating order, and 50, 800
per annum to keep. it so. The freights on
the river now, he thinks, amounts about
$3.50, 900 per year, and the rates of toll
about 124 per cent. The rates were raised
by tie new Company to about Is per cent.
with q view to making improvements, but
Lozo hoo- ra1uoo6 fo ahouf IN mar cant