Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
WILL NOT HANG.
A NORTH CAROLINA MURDERER Is
CAPEs TEE GALLows.
Work Of Train Wrecksrs-Bits Of
War History.
Especial telegram to the Dispa,ch.l

1hLEltH, W. W, vhuuhII II. wv
ernor Scales to-day committed the DEATH
sentence OF Charles Frank Jones, of
Craven county, to Imprisonment for life
in tho penitentiary. He was to have
been hanged next Tuesday. In his en-
dorsement upon the application for CON-
mutation the Governor says Prisoner
was subjected to rigid examination by
medical experts and declared to be men
tally irresponsible"
The Board Of County Commissioners
were present at the examination and
unanimously concurred in the report. A
large number of good men, many OF
whom have known the prisoner all his
life, say that be was idiotic from his
youth up, and that it WAS hereditary.
Several ministers and physicians and the
clerk Of the Superior Court concur In
this view of the matter
Peter G. Fleming, for many years
alderman of this city, died to-day of
paralysis.
The sheriffs OF Arson, Swain, Greene,
Caldwell, and Yancey counties to-day
made tax settlements with the State
Treasurer.
The residence occupied by James
Johnston, near Holly Springs. this
county, was burned night before last.
Loss, 81. 800. No insurance.
1t is claimed by railway officials that
Wednesdays wreck on the Chester and
Lenoir narrow-guage road near Hickory,
was caused by wreckers, and they say
further that two unknown men were OBJ
served proving around the trestle Just be-
fore the wreck occurred. An examination
of the trestle shows that its timbers were
sound and that it was in good condition
at the time Of the accident. 1t is be-
lieved that Instructions were placed on
the trestle which threw the train of,
and that the train in its fall carried the
trestle down with 1t under an unusual
strain.
The result OF the conference at Will
mington between the commissioners
representing that city and the commit
tee on the part Of the directors OF the
Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley railway Is
that the city agrees to subscribe 800, 900
in cash to the road upon condition
that Wilmington Is made its tide-water
terminus. This plan is particularly
agreeable to the officials Of the road, MS
it saves the trouble of negotiating bonds.
The Board of Aldermen will order an
election on the question. The sentl-
ment of the people is almost entirely IN
favor of the plan, it IS said.
1t has been positively decided to hold
n fish, oyster, and game fair at New
berne for three days, beginning March
18th.
At James City, near Newberne, Satur-
day W. II. Keller in the course OF a
quarrel with Arendall Williams struck
the latter on the head with an iron bar,
which caused Williams's death yester-
day. Keller escaped.
THE CoNvICTs IN TIE EAST.
The convict force which for some
months has been Mt work on the Ply
mouth turnpike has completed seven and
half miles of it, leaving only three
miles to be finished. There are one
hundred convicts in this gang. The
road runs through State swamp lands
from Plymouth to the head of Pungo
river. The swamps are now flooded and
work is necessarily stopped. The con
victs are III winter quarters. 1t Is de-
sired that they be put at work in Carteret
county until March. when they can re-
sumo operations on the turnpike. After
wards they will complete the canal in
Hyde county.
BETTER ROAD LAWS DEMANDED.
The popularity Of the plan Of working
the convicts on the public roads is very
great. 1t is felt that the present road
laws are behind the age. The Farmers
Convention favored mixed system OF
taxation and labor. 1t il evident that
this question will come before the next
Legislature. The Republicans have al
ready declared against the present road
laws. and the Democrats will in all like
lihood do the same thing.
A new Episcopal church is in course
of construction in Craven county, at Ius-
carora. The name Of this little town is,
by the way, the only public recognition
OF the memory of the Tuscaroras, once
North Cardinals greatest and most war
like Indian tribe, of which the present
King Of the Sandwich islands is degen-
crate descendant.
Willie Mckee, the young man who
robbed the Asheville post-oflice, has
been allowed TO give 1000 bail for his
appearance mt the next term OF the
Federal court Mt Ashevlile.
A new political scheme is said to be
planned by some influential men in the
East. 1t is to nominate Minister Jarvis
for Governor and Colonel T. NJ. Holt for
Lieutenant Governor then elect Jarvis
TO the Senate, and let Holt succeed him
as Governor.
News has been received of a desperate
fight between whites and blGCSs in BERTHE
county, at the little town of Lewiston,
in which a negro named Allen Williams
was dangerously stabbed. 1t grew out
of a quarrel with some white men who
were attempting to put q drunken man
in well.
ALEAP-YEAR ENGAGEMENT.
Two Gaston-county schoolgirls very
spicily varied the monotomy this week
by quarreling about young man and
then fighting. Their fight was quite
desperate one. They clinched at the top
of hill and, still fighting, rolled all the
way to the bottom. They never relaxed
their grip until school-teacher, by
force. separated them. This is carrying
leap-year privileges to the utmost extent,
and sayors much of the ways OF the wild
and woolly West.
ABIr OF WAR HISTORY.
A curious little book is in my posses
sion. 1t is the record-book of the 81 De-