Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-05
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
WHAT THs OLD NORTH STATE Is
Doing.
The Attendance Terms-A pastardly
Aet--A Sensation at Durham
The Bank Robbers.



increase Of the colored race as compared
with the white is n subject OF much IN
tercst and conjecture. At the last cen
sus there were 566. 900 children between
the school ages (sixto twenty one years.
The increase Of the white children since
has been 9.92 per cent. of colored chill
dren. or pcr cent. This shows re-
markahle equality. The whites increase
only Is in the 10000 moro rapidly than
the colorcd.
The State Superintendent of Public
instruction gives me some interesting
facts in regard to the attendance at the
public schools. The enrolment IN the
white schools last year was 81. per cent,
OF 200, 1874 ont of 1853. 4Sl children while
in the colored schools 1t was 5IS per
cent, or l23. l45 out OF 2l2, 1S9. The
daily average attendance IN the white
schools was 35.2 per cent, and IN the
colorcd schools 33.j per cent In the
past four years there has been small
increase in the average attendance and
enrolment OF whites and small de-
crease Of the coiored. This reiutes the
popular idea that the colored people ut
tend the public schools better than the
whites. The whites also have, OF course.
n larger attendance al private schools
than the colorcd race.
Tho Superintendent ssys that because
there are enrolled IN the public schools
only 81 or - children Of every 100,
there is a widespread belief that the re-
naming q or AZ do not attend at all.
This is an error The school age covers
n period OF fifteen years. During any
one session large number of small
children will not be enrolled. who at
some subsequent time VIII he, while
great numbers drop ont 10 60 to work or
10 attend private schools or colleges.
The fact is that during the sho5t time
the schools are IN session the enrolment
j. larger per cent OF population than
Massachusetts. Connecticut, or New ork
have. Here the enrolment Is 2O.o3 per
cent Of the entire population, while IN
Massachusetts, II Is only Is; IN Connect
cut. ISL. and ia New York, 1928 per
cont The daily average attendance Is
better than ~ Connecticut or New York.
SCHOOL TERMS.
But North Carolina is badly behind
the times. or the other states named, IN
tie matter Of school terms. Here the
lencth az the annual term Is only go days,
while Mas .qchusetts has l12 days, Con
uectcrt l7J. and New York us. SO
those States have in TINS respect thrice
the advantages of North Carolina, and
t.is State is far behind IN the educational
race. 80 doubt some Of these remarks
apply 10 Virginia as well as tins state
II Is true some counties have four-months'
schools while others have only two
months.
pAsTAEDLY ACT.
Near Nahunta, Wayne county, last
night. while Mr.. Gray Boswell was ab-
sent from home some person went to ms
house and shot at ms wife and child
through the door. Tie huckshot struck
the bedding Int did not strike either the
wife or child, though the escape was
narrow.
Durhlm has a sensation. Last au-
tumn man named t. ii. Mabry went
there from Georgia with woman whom
be claimed vas hiS wife Last Sunday
Mabry and his reputed wife were at
the depot. when on the train came \. Il.
Mahry. who IT once claimed the woman
rs his wife, and declared that she had
eloped with his brother, Il. Z. Mabry.
The two men at once fought. They were
arrested and required 10 give bond, as
was also the woman. Tire latter He'd
night before last. leaving both her nus
bands 10 the lurch She admits that she
is A. IL. Mabry Is lawful WIFE but that he
had squaudered $1,000 of her money !;
that he has wife aud children at Lit
Teton. y. c.. whom he deserted and
went 10 Georgia. She loved Il. II.
Nlabry. who lett his wife and children
to fly with her from Georgia.
TIE BANK ROBBERS.
In Wake Superior Court to-day the
grand jury returned two more true
bills against Charles +. Cross for
forseries-one OF note for $3.50,
signed by II. A. Morgan. jules Parker,
and c. O. Riddick, and another Of a note
Tor =. 600, signed by j. L. Walton, L.
+. Walton, and George b. Coston. all Of
Gates county. This makes the aggregate
amount OF the forgeries for which Cross
stands indicted here ST, $50. All the
parties above named on whom notes were
forged were here to-day and went before
the grand jury this afternoon. The at
tornevs here received a telegram from
the Toronto lawyers that the creditors Of
the State National Bank of this city
could take no proceedings there to at
tach the funds found in the possession Of
Cross and White.
Ii is learned tonight that there is
strong probability that Cross will be
brought here. 1t is stated that parties
from this city now 10 Toronto are en-
deavoIing 10 make arrangements by
which he will be surrendered and brought
here to be tried for forgery and for no
other offence. lie can certainly he
convicted OF that crime if brought
here, for the evidence against him
is overwhelming. be has admitted
forgery 10 the detective at To-
ronto. Cross acts IN all this matter
have been simply unaccountable. If
he is tried here he is apt to get thirty
years for forgery on the three charges.
Much interest was shown to-day III the
trial Of Sperry W. Hearn for criminalhbel
in Wake Superior Court The evidence so
far is said to he very favorable to Hearn.
Mr.. l.. l.. Holk, editor of the Progress
siUc Farmer, was on the witness-stand
to-day. His evidence was to the effect
that an attempt had been made to bride
him to make no publication IN regard to
the matter for which Hearn was indicted.
Day before yesterday, in Castor coun-
~, limb from burning tree fell upon
Dalton Aderhold, aged eight years, and
dashed out his brains.
Missouri Elections.
tBy telegraph to the Dspatch.l
ST. LOUIS, April 4.-The municipal
elections throughout Missouri yesterday
were unusually spirited contests. much