Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-28
CRIMINAL CIRCUIT.
4 New One Created Agreed Upon by
the Fusion Caucus.

RALEIGH, y. c.. February 2.-tSpe-
cial)-The session of the Senate to-day
was occupied by the discussion OF the
bill to create a criminal circuit of Wake.
Halifax, Edgecombe, Hanover, Craven.
Mecklenburg. Wayne. ard Forsyth. TINS
had been agreed on by the Fusion eau
Gus Two Populists bolied that caucus,
and opposed the bill. An amendment was
adopted, striking out Wake, Wayne,
and Forsyth, and inserting Vance, Robe
son, and Warren. The bill passed.
Bills were introduced TO govern the
insurance business to amend the charter
of the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
way, so the Legislature Will appoint di-
rectors; to protect tobacco-growers
against warehousemen: to amend the
charter of Asheville; to regulate passen-
ger-rates on railways, making frst-class
fare cents per mile and second-cldss
fare 10 cents per mile; children under
IL one half these rates; penalty for vio-
lat!on of act, 500.
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
A bill was also introduced TO so amend
article Of the Constitution that :he
LegisIat ure, in enacting laws for registra-
ton, can only prescribe the taking or
an oath TO support the Constitution and
laws of the United States and Of North
Carolina. and no other requirement can
be prescribed. Other new bills are 10
reduce salaries of officers. and faculty
of the State University - per cent; 10
prevent preferences in assignments.
Both houses voted for officers Of the
new Criminal Circuit of Buncombe. Ma Ii
son. Haywood. and Henderson counties.
They elected II. q. Ewart Judge; r. s.
Mccall. Solicitor, and w. II. Wilson,
Clerk.
DEATH OF A SENATOR.
Early this moNning Senator T.. L.
franck, of Onslow, died at his boarding
house here of pneumonia, after seven
days sickness. He was IS years Of age.
and was president pro TEN. Of the Senate.
He was a Populist, and was one of that
party's leaders. member OF the Fusion
Committee OF Fourteen" which pre-
pared the compromise bill for county
government. He was the largest men,
Der of the Legislature. weighing over
800 pounds. He was popular. and well
informed. and this was his second term
In the Legislature. His body will be
taken to Jacksonville. Onslow county.
for burial. escorted by committees from
the Senate and House. He Is the Sc
cond member TO die this session. Several
other members are quite sick; some here.
and some at their homes.
There Is strong pressure being brought
to bear to induce the Legislature
to pass the bill to compel fire insurance
companies TO pay the face-value of all
policies on buildings entirely destroyed
by fire. .. ..-.. .....-
MURDER TRIAL.
Next week at Marion the trial Of Hake
Secrest, noted murderer. will begin. Sc
crest killed his wife and child, was de-
clared insane, escaped from an asylum.
and fled TO South Carolina. After serving
term In the penitentiary at Columbia,
he was arrested at the entrance and taken
to Marion. His crime was one of the
most horrible ever committed In the
State.
There are now five legal grounds for
a divorce In this State. The fifth has Just
been added.
A special from Lexington says affairs
are now quiet there. since the shooting OF
DIR. r. l.. Payne, Sr. No threats OF lynch
Ing Baxter Shemvill. his murderer. are
now made, and the people say they will
see that he has q fair trial.
The Republican leaders in the House
were not here on the day when Crews.
the negro member from Granville. offered
the now famous Douglass resolution. One
OF the leaders said to-day: II would have
called of Crews. Here were our people sit
ting still. pretending to manage the affairs
of a political party. and yet letting such
a resolution pass. 1t Is awful"
A GOOD CROP.
The statement having been made that
the peach crop In this State was dam
aged by the cold. your correspondent
asked Professor Massey. Of the Expert
ment Farm and Agricultural College. II
II was true. The reply was that there was
no damage at all. but prospect for q
great crop
AZ the Experiment Farm no less than 81
varieties Of Irish potatoes are to be plant