The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-12
OLD NORTH STATE NEWS.
REPORTS OF THE SHORTAGE OF
CLERK UPCHURCH.
Rumors Greatly Exsgxerated-His La
bilities Only . Few Hundred Dollars
Romantic EIopement- The Capital Club.
North state GleaniDgss


shortage in the Office Of Charles ID. Up.
church, the late Republican clerk Of the
Superior Court Of this county. Your corre-
spondent has investigated the rumors, and
1t 10 found that although there is some foun-
dation for them the reports are greatly ex-
aggerated. John W. Thompson, the new
clerk of the court, was interviewed, and
states that absolutely nothing has been dis
covered in the books to show that there is
anything wrong. The only tangible
foundation for the ruDor is the
fact that two parties for whom Upchurch
became guardian, by virtue Of his office.
have instituted suit against him TO recover
the amount Of their property entrusted to
him. Both OF these suits do not amount 10
as much as 5000. In the meantime Up
church is away from the city, having ac-
cepted a position as agent tor a well known
corporation Of Farmyille, Va, in the inter-
est Of which he has been travelling for a
week or ten days.
EXAGGERATED REPORTS.
The rumors that there IS total deficit in
Upchurch's office of $4,000 or $20, 600 is en-.
tirely without foundation so far as any de-
yelopments up to the present show. On the
other hand, Upchurch's residence and per-
sonal property here will more than cover
any shortage that may exist. His residence
is one Of the most elegant in the city, and
at low estimate is valued at $4,000. On
IL there is mortgage Of 2.4OO, which is the
only encumbrance that there is upon it.
A. W. Shater, who Is Upchurch's chief
has already instituted action to
recover the house, in case there is short
age. Ii there is he will become mainly re-
sponsible as bondsmaD, will make good the
deficit, and will then have first claim on the
proceeds OF the house, which Will more than
repay him.
SLOW TO BELIEVE IN HIS CRooKEDNEss.
Upchurch was so universally po 'ular
with everybody here that the public is slow
in believing that he has been guilty Of any
in his office. There are reports
that certain books and records have been
removed from the Office by Upchurch, but
inquiry elicits the facIs that no such books
as are alleged to have been removed ever
existed at all, and that no books are mis-
sing from the office. Upchurch was clerk
Of the court OF Wake county for twelve
years.
LIABILITIES GROWING SMALLER.
Colonel A. w. Shafier, Upchurch's chief
said tonight that it had been
found that Upchurch had never been
officially ordered by the court to act as guar
dian in the case In which the largest suit
has been brought against him to recover the
funds which he held as guardian for a
young man named W. III. Lyon. The
amount of these funds is little over
$4,000. Shafier says that the money
was voluntarily placed In the hands OF Up
church, and that he was never officially
made guardian of Lyon, aud that he il not
therefore legally responsible fer the amount
and that Ii cannot be recovered. This brings
the amount for which Upchurch il now liza
BILE down to only few hundred dollars,
one other small suit having been entered
against him, which. when added TO Lyons
claim, made about 5000. John W. ThOmp-
son, now clerk Of court, said this evening
that there was no truth in the report that
Z Upchurch's guardian fund book had been
found and showed l.rge deficits, and said
be had no knowledge OF the existence OF
any such book.
ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT.
News was received here to-day Of the ro-
marriage Of Herbert f.. Norris, a
prominent young attorney Of Raleigh, which
occurred last night at Greensboro. A day
Or two ago Norris went 10 Pittsboro, pre-
sumably on legal business, and yesterday
morning he called, with his horse and
buggy, for Miss Emma Burns, Of that
place. and they started for drive. As the
hours wore on aud they did not return, sns-
picions were aroused, az Norris had been
paving marked attention to Miss Burns,
but il was rot generally thought that his
suit was favored. lt was thought, in fact,
that the young lady was engaged to
another. When the news Of the couple was
received, however, it was learned that they
mad driven through the county 20 Silver, on
the Cape Fear an ladkin Valley railroad,
a nd had taken the evening train for Green's
bOro, where they were married last night in
the parlor of the McAdoO Hotel. They took
The first train for the North. Both are well
known here.
DELEGATES TO ASHENILLE.
The president of the Raleigh Chamber Of
Ommerce to-day appointed Messrs. X. ii.
Battle and JOsephus Daniels, Of this city, TO
represent the Chamber at the Interstate
Immigration Convention. which meets at
Asheylle next week.
CAPITAL CLUB.
The Capital Club Of this CITY has just es-
tablished itself in an elegantly fitted new
suite of apartments in the Henry building,
and now occupies the handsOmest club
rooms in the State. The new apartments
comprise the second ard third stories, and
contain eight rooms, which have been lux
uriously fitted up for the Club at "A cost OF
lbout $4,000. The furnishing is ele-
CANT and costly, and the apartments
ire equipped with electric bells. gas lights,
water works, bath, etc. Tne limit Of men,
bership is one hundred and twenty-five,
and the present membership numbers about
one hundred. Tonight the Club gives a
grand opening reception and ball, compli-
mentary to the young ladies OF the city,
which will be an elaborate and brilliant
affair. The Club ballroom, over the Club
proper, is the handsomest in the State.
EDITOR HAYDN.
The announcement that Editor Robert
HAYDN, of the Charlotte Daily Chronicle.
will resign and accept position in Baltl-
more January lst, is received with deep re-
gret by the entire North Carolina press,
He il a native Of Georgia, and was for years
on the staff Of the Macon Telegraph. For
two years he has conducted the Charlotte
Chronicle, and has made it the leading
daily of Western North Carolina.
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
The North Carolina Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church convened yes
terday at Wilson, Bishop John Z Reener,
Of New Orleans. presiding. The report OF
the Sunday-schoOl secretary, which was
read Yesterday, showed that the Church
has at present $50, 900 Sunday-school sch0l
ars, and 5000 teachers. A report from the
Nashville, Tenn, publishing house showed
tnat the publishing Of the Church the pas
year amounted TO S3S4.0t0.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM BURNING.
William Walker, an aged citizen OF VIII
mington, was discovered in bis house late
Yesterday evening just in time to save hin
from horrible death by burning. He baC
been i'll for some time, and was alone in bee
when in some way the house took fire. Th,
floor burned under him, and ignited tb,
bed-clothng, and he was terribly burned
from head to foot. His condition 10 yer,
precari0us.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Near Fremont, day before yesterday
while a fourteen-year-olds son OF Dir. JohI
Radiord was grinding cane, his shirt sleey,
got caught in the cogs and drew his arm il
and crushed 1t to pulp, so that il was neces
sary TO amputate 1t near the shoulder.
FIGHT WITH A NEGRO.
IL is learned that at Princeton day bsfor,
YESTERDAY a white man named Jesse Pierc'
got into a row with negro, and came on
Itch an fracfura1 stull and WAS IA rria.