The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-09
WORKING The LEASE.
Continued from First Page.)


he felt indignant or resentful in regard
to the Governors actions.
He said: "When | saw Col Andrews
cont into the office | felt that there
was some understanding between him
and the Governor about our endorse
ment of the lease. l must say that
and felt il was a reflection upon
me as member Of the board for Mr..
Busbee or any other person to tell me
what to do. | cannot attempt to say
which was the predominant idea in the
! Governors mind, the lease of the At
lantic and North Carolina Railroad or
the lease of the North Carolina Rail-
road"
Cross-examined by compliments coun-
sci. Mr. Norris said that he could not
say how long the interview between
Governor Carr and Col Andrews lasted.
| Counsel for the Southern Railway,
| Central Trust Company, and the old
| board OF directors moved to strike out
all of the witnesses testimony as incom-
petent and irrelevant.
Mr. b. G. Beckwith was introduced by
| the defendants and substantially cor
roborated all that Mr.. Norris had said.
When Mr.. Beckwith's examination
was concluded the court took recess
until o'clock this afternoon.
When the court re-assembled, Mr. II.
| II. Norris was recalled and asked by
Capt. Day whether he had any CONVEX
sation with Governor Carr relative to
the lease matter subsequent to the 23d
of November.
The witness testified that on February
10Th, 1896. he received a telegram from
Governor Carr in regard to it. He
continued: "a few days after, l was in
Raleigh, and went to see the Governor
He wanted me to make a statement in
reply to an editorial in the News and
Observer. He wanted me to say that
there was no decision relative to the
lease made by the board of internal
improvements, and that there was no
undue persuasion used. | advised him
against rushing into print and / decid-
ed not to publish Il statement. | told
the Governor that I thought the charge
that he used undue influence did him
injustice. / have had no other communi-
cation with Governor Carr relative to
this matter.
THE Governor stated to me in that
interview that the News and Observer
had done him great injustice. | told
him that l couldn't sign such a state
ment as the board had considered the
matter of the lease, but that l would
sign a statement that he had not used
undue influence"
Counsel for the old board of directors
of the North Carolina Railroad, the
Southern Railroad and the Central Z Just
Company moved to strike out all the
testimony of the witness as inc hpe-
tent and irrelevant
Mr.. d. A. Tompkins was int luced
by the defendants and stated 1T he
was present at conversation Char
lotte last year at which Presidei. Hoff-
man and Vice-President st. John, Capt.
s. Il. Alexander, Mr.. w. c. Maxwell
and himself were present.
Compliments counsel objected to the
use by the witness of any memorandum
prepared by another person to refresh
his memory. Judge Avery, counsel for
the Governor, said this was the first
time that he had ever heard such a state
ment. The memorandum was admitted
subject to exception.
Mr.. Hoffman said that the purpose of
the meeting" the witness continued.
was to protest against the lease of
before the expiration of the old lease.
Mr.. Hoffman said he could not make
an offer to lease the road so long before
the expiration of the old lease. The in
terview ended without anything definite
being accomplished
Mr.. Tompkins then read what pur
ported to be typewriter copy of the
above conversation. II am a director of
fhn for linn Al. O
system"
Mr.. +. S. Spruill, defendants witness,
formerly director of the North Caro-
lima Railroad: II attended the meet
ing of the directors at Burlington and
said that l thought the leasing of the
North Carolina Railroad at that time
was premature. 1 was opposed to the
leasing of the road at that time. DIR.
Turner addressed to me as an argu-
ment that the road would be put on
the tax list when released by the
Southern. In the meeting l moved to
limit the term of the lease to thirty
years, which was voted down. Then
some one made a motion to limit it to
fifty years, and / was appointed one
of a committee to confer with President
Spencer, of the Southern, who was
there. l told him that fifty years was
the ultimatum Of the directors, and he
and the other gentlemen declined our
proposition. / don't remember what the
Moody bill was, but l remember that
there was some proposed legislation in
the Legislature of 1895 which was hos
tile to the road. Whatever was done
in regard to the details of arranging the
lease was done at subsequent meet
and, and / was not present. All that was
insisted upon at the Burlington meet
ing was that the Southern return the
property in as good condition as it was
when they leased it.
Cross-examined by Counsel Manning,
witness said that the old lease was
read over at Burlington and compare
lively discussed by Gen. Hoke and 9th
ers. 'Mr. Overman and myself We're
the only directors opposed to the 90
year lease. | resigned subsequently. |
gave my assent to the 5O-year lease
only as the lesser of the two evils
Judge Avery stated that he objected