The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24
A SMILE OF SATISFACTION
RESTS UPON THE PLACID FACE
OF OUR GOVERNOR
A Tip rs to Opinion of Supreme Court in
Railway Commissioners Case - AureliA
HamiltOn's Charge Against JnO. X smith.
Treasurer Worth Aware Beforehand of
Shaky Condition Of Piedmont Eank-saIe
of Western Railroad to the Southern Not
Yet Completed
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, n. c., December -.

Raleigh, n. c., December -.
When L. c. Caldwell and John H.
Pearson, Governor Russelrs appointees
as railway commissioners, arrived here
yesterday there was such a smile on their
faces that people were sure they had
tip that the supreme court would sus-
tain the court below and decide in their
favor. Today they wore the same smile.
And the governor smiled too, which
caused a belief that ne, too, had point
er as to how the judicial cat would
jump.
The board of agriculture, a member
says, will meet as soon as the United
States supreme court passes on the va
lidity Of the tonnage tax on fertilizers,
no matter whether the decision be favor
abe or unfavoraOle.
The pententiary directors will meet
January 17th, in regular session.
Republicans here are much interested
in the news from Washington that ALL
bright is to be postmaster and that this
Governor Russell.
Aureia Smith, the woman who charged
Kirby Smith with the penitentiary scan
dal, denOunces John r. Smith as a liar
| because he told your correspondent that
the woman had written letter saying
that in her testimony against Kirby
Smith she had sworn falsely. She
charges Superintendent Smith with Seek
ing to get her to aid Kirby Smith, He
says this is absolutely untrue.
An insurance agent writes the Secre-
tary Of state that he knows of unlicens-
ed companies operating in this state, but
refuses to give their names, saying he
fears it would injure his business. The
tar of ctat rift n
cauStic letter
1t is asserted that State Treasurer
Worth knew before hand that the sus-
pended Piedmont bank at Morganton was
shaky.
Treasurer Worth says that in 1895 he
maze the ruling that the leaf tobacco
warehouses were commission merchant is
and liable to taxation on commissions,
and adds that the attorney general sc in
formed him.
Governor Russell assigns Judge Brown
to hold the special term of PasQuOtank
court, beginning January 3rd
Rev. w. c. Barrett, of Sampson coun-
ty, becomes pastor of the Third Baptist
church here.
Another North Carolina negro is in
be minister to Liberia. A Goldsboro man
once held that position.
1t is secret that Robert NJ Douglas
fully counts on succeeding his father-in-
law, Robert p. Dick, judge of the
United States court for the Western dis
trict.
Alex. Stewart, colored, yesterday af-
from here, was killed by blows with an
axe by Perry Smith, also colored. He
was after Smith with a knife. There
was a quarrel about a woman.
The beautiful rolling exposition car
North Carolina on Wheels" left here
today on it's fve-year trip.
Mrs. John P. Stedman, daughter of the
late Rev. DR.. j. H. Corden, died yester
day at Oxford.
suit was brought by the widow of
Engineer James against the Western
North Carolina railroad for $15, 900 dam
ages. The Southern railway bought and
owns that road. The superior court de-
cided that the suit must be brought
against the Southern; that the Western
had no existence. The supreme court re-
verses this and says the Western is yet
in existence and will be untl. the South
ern takes out license to do business in
this state. The lawyer who brought the
suit against the Western said he did so
to keep the case out of the federal courts.
The supreme court virtually declares
that the Southern must take out license
to make its purchase Of the Western
valid.
The decision of the supreme eourt in
Stanly county bonds ($100, ,800) in aid of
the Yadkin railway, causes a loss it is
said of $4,000 to a Richmond bank and
Of $1,000 to the state university.
store here is to be made a general one.
One educational institution in this state
ShaW university (cOlOred) here-wil not
observe the holidays by any vacation.
This course is taken at the request of
the students.
IA telegram from TyrreIl county says
white shad of large size are being caught
there.
The news that the republicans and pop
ulists met at Washington to arrange for
fusion In 1893 Is interesting to the fusion
lists here. 1t shows that Otho Wilson is
now cooperating with the minority pop
ulistS. One of them confirms this.
Yesterday the governor granted three
pardons and communication.
1t is limited that when the Seaboard
Air Line gets the Cape Fear and Yad-
kin Valley there will be a bigger rate
was than ever.
Ryan, the Greensboro wife murderer
who is to be hanged tomorrow, says the
only thought that worries him is that
! he goes to heaven, while he has sent his
wife to hell.
| The state board Of public charities ad-
! journed this morning. DR.. Duffy, it's
chairman, went home and the other
members went to inspect the asylum
| here. There are at the asylums the fol-
| lowing insane: AT Raleigh 372 Morgan
ton IA. Goldsboro 430. At Goldsboro
| more room is needed. Here there will
| soon Zoe room for 129 more. At Morgan
ton there is now nurses training school
and an inebriate ward. At the blind insti-
tuition more room is needed. State Treas
urer Worth has refused to pay the ST.
| 600 specially appropriated to this institu-
ton. There are 100 deaf mutes in the
| state, of whom 249 are at the Morganton
school. AT the Oxford orphan asylum
there are now 212 and five new build
ings, costing 21,0O0 are occupied. At the
colored orphanage there are 1O6.