The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-09
NEGRO VS.. SOLDIER
An Old Confederate Veteran Is
Turned Down.
BY THE COMMISSIONERS
And a Negro Appointed in His
Place.
JAn,roR Or The COURT HOUSE
The New County Officers Give Ac-
censab]e Bonds and Are Sworn
H.-A New Jailer
Appointed.

Yesterday elected successor 10
Mr.. will Allen, Superintendent OF the
Comfy Home and Workhouse. For this
they chose Charles B. Ray, an alleged
ponulist. who lives near Rogers Store.
Ray was chosen over large number OF
councillors. some Of them the best men
Ia the county, in spite of the fact that
some grave charges have been preferred
against him. Whether these charges
ever came to the ears of the Board
cannot say. but they were very generally
talked on the streets and it is hardly pos
sible that the commissioners could es-
cane hearing them. But why should
that make any difference. The trade
had been made away back at the county
convention last summer, when Joe hog
ers' friends feared Ray as a candidate
for register of deeds, and now the con-
tract must be carried out. To be sure
the commissioners voted in the AIR Tor
awhile. but they fooled nobody, every
body knew that Ray would be chosen IN
the end as Rogers friends had promised.
But ii was when they came to the
election of a janitor for the court house
that the commissioners disgraced, not
only themselves, but the people OF the
whole county. by turning out an ola
Confederate soldier-poor, but honest,
faithful and competent-and appointing
in his place a strong negro partisan ana
ward politician And this too, when there
were many other applicants, both White
and colcred, of al political parties
For many long years Mr.. Booker has
been ianitor Of the courthouse, and a
faithful one he has proven. Wounded
on the field of battle and bent with years,
he has get discharged his duties in
most efficient manner. He had almost
become a fixture there, but no matter
who came into Office or went out he was
a friend to them all and their good will
and best wishes were his. / hardly
think the people of Wake county will
endorse the Board in this unseemly pro-
ceeding But this is not the first time
the fusionists have preferred negro
politician to an old Confederate soldier.
ALL THE BONDS ACCEPTED.
All but one Of the bonds of county
officers have now been accepted by the
commissioners and the officers sworn in.
This lone exception is the county sur
veyor, Pittman Stell, who sent in his
bond signed in pencil and otherwise
irregular.
As soon as their bonds were accepted
these officers were sworn in. All of
them but Sheriff Jones are old officers
and no installation was necessary, ex
cept in the case of Treasurer Knight,
who has heretofore farfned out his office,
and now proposes to take it in hand and
run it himself Bit unless he has better
success than he had yesterday he will
have to employ a special clerk to un-
lock his safe every day. He spent an
hour and a. half. with the combination
written out on piece OF paper before him,
trying to open it, but never once did he
succeed As soon as he gets breakfast
this morning he will begin again, and if
the combination does not wear out he
will probably learn it by the time Mr..
Rigsbee gets ready to go back home to
enter upon his canvass for the Durham
postoffice.
During the afternoon the sheriff
office and the jail were formerly turned
over to Sheriff Jones, and his chief de-
putty, r. G. Rivers, entered upon the
discharge Of his official duties. Capt.
r. Ell. Brooks is still in charge of the
Jail, though Mr.. Jones has appointed Mr..
w. A. King, of Cary, jailer. Mr.. King
will come to Raleigh to-day to enter
upon the discharge of his duties.
The tax books will still remain in
charge of Sheriff Page, who will continue
to receive the taxes due for this year.
While engaged in this work Sheriff
Page will probably occupy an adjoining
office.
THE MORNING SESSION.
The board met at 10 O'Clock The first
business considered was the bond of Sher-
NJ L
This was divided into three separate
bonds: State tax bond in the sum Of 500
600; county bond for $4,000 and official
bond for $1,000. The first two of these
bonds were given in the Fidelity and De-
post Company of Maryland the official
bond is signed by Mrs. K. ]. Carver and
John Jones These bonds were accepted.
The new county officers were then sworn
in. Jones and Rogers taking the oath
before Fl. FL. Roberts, and Knight before
Clerk of the Court Young.
Clerk Young then renewed his bond for
$4,000, with Charles III. Belvin and w.
b. Mann as sureties. This was accepted,
as was also the bond of DR. r. Il. Ellis,
coroner, in the sum of $4,000, with A. Nj.
Powell and ]. T. FL. Adams as sureties.
He then took the oath Of office. The bond
of Surveyor Stell was turned over to at
torney Harris to have it regularly filled
out and signed and other defects in 1t
remedied.
The clerk was ordered to notify the
fence commissioners that they were ex-
pected to personally inspect the work on
the county fence and certify as to number
of rails used in repairing, and character
of work done.
The committee on the treasurer's office
then made its report The committee on
registers Office also made its report, and
II was ordered that the clerk be author
lied to have the register Of deeds Office
made comfortable.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The business set apart for the afternoon
session was the election of officers. The
election Of superintendent Of the Coun-
ty Home and the Workhouse.
Commissioner Barbee favored dividing