The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-09-14

right When the board was called to
order the next day, / stated to the
Governor that l was satisfied that we
had no duty to perform in the matter.
Mr.. Beckwith said the same thing. The
Governor said that he had no more to
say, If We so thought. I asked the
Governor TO have the order of the day
before, in which we had endorsed the
North Carolina Railroad lease, re.
scinded, as we thought we had no legal
duty to perform in the matter. He
ordered his secretary to strike out that
part Of his notes which related to our
endorsement Of the lease.
II told the Governor that I was viii
ling for my vote endorsing the direc-
tors to stand. Noticed yesterday that
the record does not show the election
OF a MIR. Council, who was elected by
the board ON the day Of this interview
TO look after the States interest i'm the
turnpike roads.
81 don't remember that the Governor
ever said anything to me relative TO
the lease of the North Carolina Rail
road previous TO the 2Sd Of November,
1896, the day Of our interview with
him"
Here the witness was asked by Col.
Day, counsel for the Governor, whether
he felt indignant or resentful in regard
to the Governors actions.
He said: "When / saw Col. Andrews
come into the Office I felt that there
was some understanding between him
and the Governor about our endorse
ment of the lease. I must say that l
felt that there was some understanding
between him and the Governor about
our endorsement of the lease. / must
say that 1 felt somewhat indignant. l
thought and felt it was a reflection
upon me as q 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
Atlantic & North Carolina Railroad or
the lease Of the North Carolina Rail
road"
Cross examined by complainant's
counsel, 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 in
competent and irrelevant.
Mr.. B. Q. BeCkwith was introduced
by the defendants and substantially
c~orroborated all that Mr.. Norris had
said.
When Mr.. Beckwith's examination
was concluded the court took a recess
until 2 o'clock this afternoon.
When the court re assembled, Mr..
81. E. Norris was re called and asked
by Capt. Day whether he had any con.
~versation with Governor Carr relative
to the lease natter subsequent to the
23d of November.
The witness testified that on Febru.
ary 18th, 1896, he received a telegram
from Governor Carr in regard to il. He
continued: "a few days after, l was
in Raleigh, and went to see the Cover
nor. He wanted me to make a state
ment in reply to an editorial in the
News and Observer. He wanted me
say that there was no decision relative
to the lease made by the Board of In
ternal Improvements, and that ther'
vas no undue persuasion used. I ad
vised him against rushing into prin
and l decided not to publish a state
ment. l told the Governor that
thought the charge that he used undu'
influence did him injustice. I havD
had no other communication with Gov
ernor Carr relative to this matter.
1.-The Governor stated to me in tina
interview that the News and Observe
had done him a great injustice. toll
him that l couldn't sign such a state
ment, as the board had considered tn
matter Of the lease, but that I woul,
sign a statement that he had not use,
undue influence"
Counsel for the old Board of Director
of the North Carolina Railroad, tn
S Southern Railroad and the Centre
Trust Company moved to strike out a.
the testimony of the witness as incon
petent and irrelevant.
Mr.. D. A. Tompkins was introduce
by the defendants and stated that b
was present at a conversation in Char
lotte last year at which President Hof
man and Vice President st. John, Cap