The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-28
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., December "a.

SlODS-T OpulAot0 OCCCIIn1uGO Co Crush
Butler.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., December "a.
It was said early last evening by per-
sons who know Governor Russelrs ideas
and plans, that his appointees as railway
commissioners, L. c.. Caldwell and John
II. Pearson, intended to get into the Of
flee in some way last night. And so they
did. 1t was nearly midnight when a
lock-picker admitted them through the
rear door. They then had the front door
locks removed and made a night of it,
lying on lounges or reading.
This morning at 10 o'clock your CORE
spondent went to the office and found
them both there. Pearson said: 1--WE
waited in the portico here two hours,
from 6 to 8 o'clock last evening for the
sheriff to execute the writ issued by the
supreme court (signed by Justice Clark
and put us in possession. The sheriff was
there at 6, but did not return and we
went out to tea. linen we came back
here. We sent for q locksmith and got
in at 11:40 o'clock. / declare We are not
i'm contempt of Chief Justice Faircloth
or of the supreme court of the United
States, which granted the writ or error
last evening. We were not served with
that writ, nor did we hear of 1T from our
attorneys, but indirectly. We disclaim
any contempt in what we have done. 1t
was the sheriff's duty to have opened the
door for us at 6 o'clock"
Caldwell said: Il nearly froze to death
those two hours | was waiting on the
portico here II was walking and wait
ing for the majesty of the law said
Pearson. -Four of the justices of the su-
preme court had said we were entitled
to the office. Had they decided against
us, Caldwell and L would have taken our
departure for home at once"
1t is said that the governor personally
advised that the lock be picked, but told
the sheriff not to force the door. The
sheriff was too sharp to take any hand
in the matter. He was afraid of proceed
ings in contempt and an amercement;
The attorney here for Caldwell and
Pearson and the governor was in a state
of mind for hours. The governor was
rushing matters. He wanted to put in
his men at 6 o'clock last evening.
In view of the fact that ID. H. Abbott,
OF the railway commission, has said pub
licly he did not acknowledge Governor
RusSelIs appointees, but recognized j.
w. Wilson and S. Ohio Wilson until the
United States supreme court passed on
the matter, 1t is interesting to know
what he now proposes to do, with Pear
son and Caldwell in possession of the Of
flee. Will the two Wilson'S and Abbott
meet as usual and thus present the spec
tacle of two commissions? The two
morning papers here take opposite sides
on the question. One attacks the gov
ernOr and the majority OF the supreme
court, the other sustains them. Chief
Justice Faircloth's hits at the governor
in his dissenting opinion were certainly
centre shots and naturally had made
the governor madden and more obstinate
than ever. if such a thing be possible.
The agricultural department was yes
terday closed until next Monday.
Judge Robinson is assigned to hold
Guilford court beginning January Goth.
Governor Russell was yesterday asked
for a lict of tho rar1CIS granted 1nrirCr
his administration, for use in a special
article. His reply was that he would
give it to 'friepdly papers" By this he
must surely mean Senator Buffers pa
per. The Caucasian, the only paper in all
North Carolina friendly to him.
The town of Smithfield now has a bank
with a strong backing.
There was quite an exodus of state Of
ficials today. Only the governor, secreta-
ry of state, auditor and treasurer re-
main, and will spend the holidays in Ra-
leigh.
e. S. Walton, late of the Piedmont
bank, of Morganton. writes State Treas
urer Worth that he never said that
Worth had lent the bank 5000, because
it was untrue and because the bank
had not asked him for a loan.
Major James w. Wilson, chairman of
the railway commission, arrived here
from MorgantOn at 2 O'Clock last night,
and was then informed that violent pos
session of his office had been taken a
couple of hours before. Ohio Wilson at
last accounts was at washington, -. y.
DIR. Abbott is at his home in one of the
eastern counties.
Clerk Riddick, of the United States cir
cult court, who signed the writ of error
to the United States supreme court, was
asked this morning what steps he now
proposed to take. He said he had done
all he was going to do; that what Pear
son and Caldwell had done was not in
contempt of the United States circuit
court. He says he does not think they
had any right to enter the commission
office.
A large drove of bronze turkeys came
from Chatham county today. Several
weighed forty pounds apiece, and for
them So each was asked.
There is to be another hearing of the
North Carolina railway lease question be-
fore Special Master Kerr Craig at Sails
bury January eth. The side
will then have it's innings.
1t is now known that the populists are
arranging a concerted plan to literally
crush Senator Butler and end his power.
Moses Cone will go into fruit raising
on a large scale in Watauga county. He
is planting q 900 trees.
1t is learned that there will be a con-
siderable increase after the holidays In
the number of students at the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college.
The secretary of state recently sent w.
z. Bachelor. for years a clerk in that
office, to Baltimore to examine the books
and assets of the guarantee companies.
One of these desired an examination.
The was specially desired by
the secretary of state in order that he
class of companies. The law really gives
him the power to make biennial eXami-
nations.
The populists nave not abandoned the
idea of ousting w. c.. McMackin, road
supervisor here, in order to get in one of
their people.
circumstance