The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-04-26
THE DAVIS CASE.
l. Now on Trial AT " Wilmington.


The Wilmington papers contain
very lengthy accounts of the trial of
the lawyer. John c. Davis, who en-
bezzled very large sums of money there
and whose plea is the time-worn one
of ''insanity." When Davis entered
the court Saturday he was very cool
and collected. and stopped several
times on the way TO shake hands with
said he was in Jail in January. con-
fined in the same cell with Davis, |
who read the Bible great deal and |
took a text and preached to the pris-
oners often; had his meals sent him
and while eating would burst out in
laughter and talked to himself Il great
deal. City editor Clawson of the
Messenger testified that he believed
Davis was not of sound mind. Another
witness had seen Davis standing
near the Fifth street NJ. +. church,
looking up at the building, rubbing his
hands and talking TO himself in an IN
coherent way. Mr.. J. l. Macks testi-
fled that not long before the trial Davis
greeted him and said: These lawyers
are trying to make me out crazy, but
| am no more crazy than they are, and
have not employed Mr.. Strange" Mr..
Macks said he had talked with Davis
some years ago and asked him how it
was he made somuch money practicing
at the bar, when the older lawyers
could not make decent living. Davis
reply caused him to believe that lie
was either big fool or II knave. Davis
appeared to him as If he was Hnbal-
anced or a knave. Ii was in evidence
by jailer King, who has known Davis
seven or eight years, that at first, after
the latter was in jail, he thought he
was insane; afterwards changed his
mind. and came to the conclusion that
be was all right. Since DR.. Murphy
examined Davis he has been acting
worse than ever, and King said he now
considered him insane.
The Political Situation.
Special Cor. State Chronicle.
RALEIGH, \. c., April 25.-In the
present condition of public sentiment
in North Carolina there is urgen,
need of prudence as well as courage
adherence to principle as well as cor.
: ciliation. Whatever the truth may
: be, it is apparent that a majority o.
: the members of the Alliance in thi:
D State do not believe that the declara
] tion of principles made at St. Loui
includes resolution favoring the ap
e preparation of sum large enough {,
2 make good TO Union soldiers Their
0 losses on account of the depreciate'
b, currency in which they were paid. l
a all voters of North Carolina who ar
!, inclined to favor the ST. Louis platform
! (excluding this resolution) decline t.
!, participate in, or are excluded from
# the Democratic convention, it is mani
e fest that the State convention will no
S represent majority of the voters @
ii the State. Upon the other hand
e would tend to subvert all party ties
d Democrats are asked to participate i
n political action with men who have VI
It alterably resolved to make new tests {
e faith, and who boldly declare that the
4 will vote for the nominees of no part
:, that does not include the doctrine
'e enunciated at st. Louis as its platform
'e There are many good citizens of Mort
Carolina who unfortunately as
lg think, but honestly approve the )
$ Louis platform, but who do not inten
Iy TO sever their connection with I'll
~ Democratic party, just as thel
a are many earnest Prohibitionists wi
er approve the platform of the Prohil
81 tion party, but who do not make t Il
40 test of their political faith. Ii seen
lg to me that the line should be draw
ed Just here, and that this is the true j
IL terpretation of the utteraDces Of d
be State executive committee. The m;
y. whose vote is to be determined by 1
by adherence or non-adherence OF {
es- Democratic party TO the ST. Lol
platform, and who has determined
vote for no man who does not suppC
such platform, whether nominated
Raleigh or Chicago, slTely should ]
attend convention or primary. /
object would. seem to be merely
"captdre" the organization. VIII
ever he might hope to do in No
Carolina convention, he can have
IN, hope that his peculiar ideas {
o' prevail at the National Der
,tl- cratic convention. To elect delega
III to a National convention who are
'he structed, either expressly or by I'M
cation, to Withdraw unless the Natio
party shall make declaration OF pr
ciples entirely at variance with
od former utterances, is mockery.
,;,b to those citizens who appreciate
,ua condition of affairs in the South, "
no from reasons | DO not concur in