The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-17
Raleigh, n. c.. December Is.
Messenger Bureau.


Raleigh, y. c., December Is.
The number of pupils here at the
school for the blind and at that for
negro deaf mutes and blind is es2.
which is 100 more than at this time last
year.
All the members of the board OF ag-
riculture were surprised when the COM
missioner Of agriculture, j. NJ Mewooorne
rendered his resignation last evening.
1t was promptly accepted and as
quickly John r. Smith was made COM
missioner. Not having resigned as
superintendent of the penitentiary he
of course holds two offices. AS soon as
the penitentiary board meets he will re-
sign and Mewtboorne Will be elected
superintendent. Governor Russell is
manipulating the whole matter. The
salary of commissioner is s1,S00; that of
superintendent 81, 800. But the commits
sioner's office literally runs Itself
The reports of the adjutant general
show an increase of about 200 in the
strength of the four infantry regi-
ments. The First regiment gains forty
four during the year, the Fourth gains
sixty.
State Treasurer Worth says very few
state bonds have come in this year for
exchange. Today five came from Bos-
ton.
L. C. Caldwell. Governor Russell's
appointee as chairman OF the railway
commission, is here. He was at the
supreme court yesterday and asked if
an opinion had been filed in his case.
He appeared to expect one.
The United States inspector of build
ings under the control of the treasury
department was here today and in
spected the pOstoffice, revenue and
court house building. Not long ago
the condition of the building was con-
demned by special agent. 1t is dirty,
there are no electric lights and there is
great need of paint.
United States Marshal Carroll left for
Columbus, Ohio, with eight convicts for
the United States penitentiary there,
and Chief Deputy Hanna left for
Washington with two young negro
postoffice thieves to be placed in a re-
formatory.
Rev. j. S. Plummer, rector of the
Episcopal church at oxford, goes to
Maine and Rev. r. 3. Owens of Sails
bury succeeds hlrn.
Mrs. E. n. Watson, mother of Cyrus
B. Watson, of Winston, is dead. Last
Thursday was her 93rd birthday.
Ex-Sheriff William III. High died here
this morning, aged IS years. He was
sheriff for many years in this county,
and it is said was the last man after
the war to carry out the penalty of
whipping upon a sentenced prisoner.
He was in fact stopped by soldiers
while earring out the order Of the
court. For a number of years he lived
in California.
The payment by the penitentary for
the Castle Haynes farm has not yet
been made, as the deeds have not been
passed. The penitentiary debt has not
yet been paid. Eight hundred bales of
the crop of cotton have been sold and
900 bales are held to pay for the
farm, etc.
The Baptists now have i01 mission
aries in North Carolina.
This morning at the home of her
| father, John S. Pescud, Miss Mary
Pescud was married to Mr.. Perry
| Lynch, of New Orleans.
Rev. DR.. James A. Weston resigns as
| assistant rector of Christ church here,
| to become rector OF the Episcopal
| church at WilkeSboro.
L
| Jose scale and other fruit pests. says
| they have cleared the nurseries ofthese
| pests. ]. NJ Fix is the new secretary
1 of the commission.
| There is strong argument for COM
| pulsory education in the fact that in
| one school district in Iredell county
| with 1852 children Of school age, only II
| attend school.
! At Southern Pines next week the
| "Wanderers' Reunion" will be held
| There is TO be a banquet to the press
General A. D. Cowles will not accept
the receivership OF the Piedmont bank
| at MOrganton. 1t is sail that deposi
tors will not get over five cents on th'
| dollar.
Bill Day. a negro, who at Winston
| murdered his sweetheart, Louisa Ellis
and yet got off with a seven-year sen
| tence, is in the penitentiary.
| Deputy Sheriff Bob Brooks left FOL
Baltimore today with a requisftion fol
Chavis, the negro who in this county
last year murdered Mahala White, Z
| young negro woman.