Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-22
A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR IN THE OLD
NORTH STATE.
A Reward offered by Governor Scales
Mobbed for Taking Another
Wifs-Fire.
special telegram to tho Dispatch.l

pnuS blOlh was lOunn lNlnB on inc Ihll-
way near Lowell. His skull was crushed,
evidently by blow with heavy instrn-
ment. There is no doubt that it is case
of murder. The coroners jury has re-
turned a verdict that Motz was foully
murdered. Motz was an employee in
cotton-f factory, was forty-five years old,
aud leaves large family. There is no
clue to the murderer.
At Ebenezer (colored) Methodist
church, at Wilmington, the congregation
mobbed q man named Fisher. The
cause OF the trouble was that Fisher,
whose wife died only three weeks ago,
has married another already. Upon
their appearance in church they were set
upon, threats against them were made,
and only by prompt assistance were they
saved. The affair creates a sensation
among the negroes.
Troubles and disputes between the
city of Charlotte and tue Water Works
Company have at last been settled to the
satisfaction OF all parties. At Durham
the dispute is still in progress, with no
signs of a settlement The people there
are DESTROYS Of some compromise.
The residence of William Sloop. in
Mecklenburg county was burned yes
terday. The loss is some 81 500, withno
insurance.
The wife, child, and mother-in-law of
Rev. Martin Mcqueen, of Moore county,
all died of pneumonia night or two
ago, and he is very i'll with the same
disease.
In Harnett county search has been in
progress for Archibald Harrington, a
young man, who for a week had dlsap-
peared. His body has at last been found,
about mile from Ellington.
Governor Scales will attend the session
of the National Presbyterian Assembly
at Philadelphia, Pa, which begins Satur-
day. He has been chosen as the pre-
siding officer at the assembly.
The State Sunday School Convention
met here this evening at 1880 o'clock in
Edenton-Street Methodist Episcopal
church. 1t is a new organization, this
being its first meeting. The plan OF
forming a State organization Is due to
some earnest workers i'll the Sunday
school field. 1t is believed that the
movement will be widely extended by
such general effort as is now practicable.
The address OF welcome was delivered
by Mr.. W. S. Primrose, Of the First
PRESBYTERIAN church. Rev. c. ". Byrd,
Of Salisbury. responded. Rev. William
Reynolds, OF Illinois, then delivered an
address on the OBJECT OF the conyen-
ton.
Lieutenant Francis Winslow, United
States navy, who is conducting the State
oyster survey, gives some interesting
facts in connection with oyster-culture,
the falling off OF the production, and the
increase in price. He says that IN
1879 oysters sold in the Chesapeake
at 20 to % cents per bushel, on an ave-
rage ia some cases the price being as
low as cents. In 1888 the price is
about 80 cents per bushel for inferior
oysters, and the average price IN States
north Of North Carolina IS 80 cents. Oh
the entire product Of the country about
50 per cent. comes from the Chesapeake,
or rather did come a few years past. The
telling off of the yield of the Chesapeake
oyster-beds, he says, is remarkable. He
stated two years ago that the fecundity
of certain areas Of the Chesapeake was
greatly impaired and that their destruc-
ton was imminent. The Maryland Oys-
ter commissioner followed him aud
showed falling off from the time OF his
investigations of nearly 30 per cent, and
now ne learns from the best authorities
that all his predictions have been veri-
fed. and that the beds have been
completely destroyed. The like pre-
diction is made for other areas III the
Chesapeake. Lieutenant Winslow says
the vast sounds, bays, &c, OF North
Carolina will next come into use as the
source of supply. With proper care the
destruction here can be prevented, for
from the first restraints can be thrown
around tina oystermen which will give
protection. Comparatively speaking,
North Carolina is virgin field in tins
matter; but the oysters taken from its
waters certainly have no superiors rs to
size and flavor The oyster show at
Newberne proved that, if any proof were
needed.
Hon. Kemp p. Battle, president of the
State University, has accepted the inyi-
tation to deliver an address on the history
of the Supreme Court in commemoration
of the completion OF the new court build
ing.
Major s. VI. Finger, the State superin-
tendent Of public instruction, is exceed
ingly well informed in regard TO public
education in North Carolina. He says
that much more money ought to be ob-
tanned from poll-taxes. The whites have
~. 4 of the school population, the colored
race 37.6. The tax-lists show 14l, 123
white polls and only Ga, sos colored polls,
which makes the white polls GS.6 and the
colored polls only 3l.4 per cent. This
shows failure on the part OF the ne
Croe to list for taxation. Instead OF 81, sos
colored polls there should be 81, S09.
In other words, over 10000 negroes
fail to list. In 1885 the value OF the pro-
perry III the State was S202, 1852, 500. The
school tax, at 121 cents on the $l00, WAS
1858, 440, which was essentially all collect
ed. There were listed 205, 73l polls, which
at 81. 80 each should have made the reye-
nue. S30S,696 From these two items
the total revenue should have been
1862, 1877. But yet the returns show the
receipts to have been only S4973o4.
The net loss, after deducting commissions
due sherifs for collection, was S38,57l,
almost all attributable to this failure TO
pay the listed poll taxes. So the loss on
polls not listed go, 301) is $50, 30l and on
polls listed S3S,5Tl, making the total
loss to the school fund 1888 These
remarks. no dou0t apply to Virginia IS
we'll as to North Carolina. Major Finger
says that by the failure of both white
and colored citizens to list and pay poll
tax the schools lose $4,000 yearly aud
the poor fund $4,000.
The Brfc.a-Brne Craze.
(SL Paul Pioneer Press.l