The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, y. c.. Dec. 81


Raleigh, y. c., Dec. q.
After a conference with Governor
Russell James H. Mewboorne. the new
penitentiary superintendent, left today
for a tour OF inspection of The convict
farms on Roanoke river. It is quite
probable that within the next few
months a definite conclusion VIII be
reached as to whether these farms
shall all be maintained, there being
opposition to the renting of land, to the
Roanoke river valley, and to the
use of convicts on farms. If any farms
are abandoned the state will have to
pay the lease money, as the contracts
Ef lease are cast-iron ones, and have
soma years yet to run.
The five banks in this city make a
showing today Of over 81, 75O, 900 on de-
post, more than at any other place in
the state. The Citizens National leads
in amount, having over $500, 900.
The deputy event collectors in this
tier of counties say they are told the
farmers will not plant next yea over
half as much land in cotton as they
did this year They cannot get adj
vances from merchants. a spring
they bought much stock, mainly mules,
n are unable to pay for it, SO a good
deal of the stock is being old under
mortgage.
Today the funeral Of John A. McDon-
aid was held here, his remains having
been brought from ASheville.
-
ceived official notice of the appoint
ment of E. G. Duncan as his successor.
Simmons said this morning that he did
not see how it was possible for Duncan
to take charge before February LIST, as
he is not yet confirmed, congress does
not again meet until January 9Th,
then he must give bond and a raVenue
| special agent will nave to be sent to
make the transfer of the office.
Many Masons will go to Ashevifle to-
night in order to attend the meeting Of
the grand lodge there tomorrow to lay
the cornerstone of the Vance mOnu-
ment.
Not long ago Thomas Robertson, a
young farmer of this county, was con-
victed of seducing Julia Hester, g
young and pretty country girl, and
was sentenced to seven years imprison-
AAiS14ks AAS SAS " ~ NV NAA~ '~S
the supreme court refused it. Now ne
is on the roads at work. Julia HeSter'S
attorneys are pre- pairing a petition to
the governor foT RObertsOn's pardon,
upon condition that he pays $1,10O, so as
to enable her to buy a home. She has
! signed the petition. OF the amount
a great deal will go to her attorneys.
| The question now is whether the gov
| ernor will assent to a compromise by
granting a pardon.
Work on the Baptist female univer-
sity here is suspended until the spring.
The exterior work is very nearly COM
plete.
The new superintendent of the peni-
Tertiary will look strictly into the mat
ter Of s-upernumerary employees, Of
whom it is said there are fifty whose
services can easily he dispensed.
| The cotton in the burned steamer
Ariel at Norfolk was shipped for
eign by a Raleigh firm. The loss is
of course fully covered by insurance.
The Southern Varnish company sus-
tains a loss of 81, 500 by the burning of
it's building at Greensboro. The loss is
IS, 5000, with So, 500 insurance.
Five of the six Greensboro people
bitten a few nights g by a mad dog
lave gon to Baltimore for the Pasteur
treatment. DIR. Robertson, bitten by a
cat at Guiiford college, has h%ydropho-
bia.