The news & observer., 1897-02-07

The Chief Clerk in Superintend-
ent Mebane's Office.
GRAHAM OFF FOR NEWTON
HE Is CHARGED WITH BURNING
HIS RESIDENCE.
TO GER THE INSURANCE MONEY
He Declares He Is Innocent of the
Crime and that the Arrest is the
Outcome of Democratic
Persecution.

Outcome of Democratic
Persecution.
A sensation was created here yesterday
morning by the arrest of j. l.. Graham,
chief clerk in the office of the State Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction.
The charge on which he was taken into
custody by the officer is arson, and the
warrant came from Newton, his old
home.
lit seems that Graham, while living i'll
| that place year ago, occupied the
Presbyterian parsonage, and had only
a short while after the fire had his furni-
ture heavily insured, and in more than
one company. When the fire occurred
his family was away from home. These
facts, together with some other suspicious
circumstances, led to an investigation on
the part of one Of the insurance compa-
nies involved--the Carolina, of Whining
ton.
A Charlotte detective, William Nc
Holm, was employed to work up the
case, and it was upon his affidavit that
the process under which Graham was
arrested was issued. Pending this inves-
tigation, the insurance company has re-
fused to pay the claim. @
Graham was at Superintendent Meb-
ane's office in charge of an officer all yes
| terday morning, and left on the 3:43
train for Newton, in custody of Deputy
| Sheriff II. G. Rivers. He is a married
| man of about % years of age. Nothing
| was known of him here until he came
| here early in December to get home and
prepare to take charge of Mr.. Mebane's s
office when he should be sworI IN. To be
sure there were rumors not the most COM
plimentary, but nothing definite, other
than that those who knew Graham, ex-
pressed surprise at his appointment to
| such a position.
On leaving here yesterday the pris-
oner expressed the greatest confidence in
| his power to prove his innocence. He
| kept declaring over and over that the
| charges were Democratic lies, and the ar
| rest was Democratic persecution Be
| fore leaving here he telegraphed TO New
| ton that he was coming at once, and
| requested Magistrate A. ID. Shuford.
| who issued the warrant, to be ready to
| try the case as soon as the train should
get there.
| Before going away Mr.. Graham gave
| out to the newspapers the following state
| ment of the burning Of his house:
| ION the 9Th of March last year my wife
and myself went 10 Rowan county to
visit my mother. We left our house,
which is situated in the town of New
| ton, about 6 o'clock in the afternoon.
| Two hours afterwards the house took
| fire and was burned. | was notified next
| morning by telegram and returned home
at once, reaching Newton the night Of the
9th. Very little of my property was saw
| ed, and the dwelling, which was the Pres
byterian parsonage, was destroyed.
''The house was valued at about 5000.
/ carried insurance on my personal and
household effects, which was valued at
over $500, in two companies. | had a
policy in the Phoenix, of Hartford, for
5000, and another in the Carolina, of
Wilmington, for $500.
II took out the policy in the Carolina
September year ago, when / went to
house keeping, and in the Phoenix a
month later The Phoenix has paid me
$131, the amount l claimed But the
Carolina company has refused to make
settlement. The only excuse made was
that my claim was not properly made out
My claim, which was for 1888, was re-
turned to me. / had complete list OF
the property destroyed. In alleging that
my claim was not properly made out,
the company said that the affidavit was
not prepared by the magistrate nearest
me, and that it was not dated The
magistrate who made out the affidavit
was Mayor of the town, and testified to
my good character. Mr.. Kenyon. the
nearest notary, who is president of the
Catawba bank, testified to my good char
acter. The claim was returned to the
company, but have never received a re-
ply. l have been pressing the claim in
court, and it is to be heard the 18th of
this month.
"All that have to say is that this is !;
malicious political prosecution. L have
no fears as to the outcome, when the case
is heard. This action is taken to bring
prejudice to bear ON my case for dam
ages. Nothing was said of this until
changed my politics about the time Of
the fire. Certain Democrats are the insti-
gators Of it. want a speedy hearing
and desire that the case be settled at
once. If it is not, shall have it brought
before Supreme Court Justice"