The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-03
GOVERNOR AID JUDGE,
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE TURNED
INTO A COURT OF JUSTICE

ters-RandalIs Portrait of the Three
Colonels-Circumstance Attending the
Shooting OF Sheriff Pritchard and the
Killing of his Assistant,
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raleigh, n. c., September l.
Popular interest was great today in
the replies by Chairman James w.
Wilson and Otho Wilson, of the rail-
way commission, to the charges made
by Governor Russell and Senator But
Ter. Major Wilson makes an explicit
denial Of the charges. He also files a
certificate from Captain V. E. McBee
regarding the appointment Of j. w.
Wilson, Jr., as station agent at Nor
Canton to the effect that the appoint
ment was made by him in 1893; that
it was made without conference or con-
sultation with Major Wilson; that for
several years before Wilson had been
a clerk at the office and had proved
himself competent to fill the agency.
All the merchants Of Morganton testi-
fly to young Wilson's high character.
The hearing before the governor be-
gan at noon, all the railway commits
siOners present, at the executive office,
also John d. Shaw, J. G.. l.. Harris, Ed.
Chambers Smith and Auditor Aver.
Shaw read Major Wilson's reply and
then made a very forceful speech, in
which he made two points. These
We're: First, that Major Wilson had no
such interest at any time in the Round
Knob property as would come within
the meaning of the statute. Shaw
quoted the bill of rights as to the
right to own property. His second
point was that if Wilson had had such
interest in the property section l of the
railway commission act was uncOnSti-
tutional, because the supplemental act
made the railway commission a court
of record with powers only inferior to
the supreme court and not amenable
to the governor, but only to be deposed
as other judges must be, that is, by
Impeachment.
Harris read OthO Wilson's answer to
the governors charges and then spoke
briefly as his attorney OthO Wilson
says he has no interest in any cOrpOr-
alton of which the railway has con-
troll and is in no way interested in
the Round Knob ealing house. He re-
fers to his record as a commissioner
as proof that he has not been Influenced
by any corporation. Harris said Will
son had not made any legal exceptions,
but reserved that right until the gov
ernOr acted.
The governor announced he would
take answers and arguments under
consideration and announce his de-
cision later.
[Chairman Wilson's letter will be
found in full on the third page.]
M. /. Stewart, of Stewart Bros, late
public printers, today presented bills
against the state for $6,711. He says
the state owes as much more, and that
Stewart Bros. consider themselves the
public printers, because no others have
been elected and qualified. He adds
that the council of state was in inde-
cent haste to oust his firm. He makes
a statement to the effect that Auditor
Aver said to him at Winston that it
had been agreed to give out the public
printing in Raleigh and that the per-
sons getting it would take The Cauca-
sian (Senator Buffers paper press and
use it and enable that paper to be is
sued at much less cost than ever be-
fore. Stewart says he made no prOpo-
sition and that Aver told him the thing
which hurt his feelings most was that
some one had said there was 81, 500 for
him personally if the printing was put
back at Raleigh.
Rains fell all around this section last
night, and yet more is needed.
The painting by w. G. Randall Of the
three colonels of the Twenty-sixth
North Carolina regiment-Vance, Bur-
gwyn and Lane-is nearly complete.
Colonel w. H. S. Burgwyn is here aid
ing the artist. He did not like the tint
of the picture and changes are being
made. The portraits are excellent.
l.. OBJ. Branch camp of confederate
veterans will go to Winchester on the
18th instant, to be present at the lay
ing Of the corner stone Of the monu-
ment to the North Carolina dead in
Stonewall cemetery.
The chairman of Randolph county's
commissioners is here arranging to
procure state cOnvicts to work on the
public roads there, under the provisions
of the new and excellent law.
The state superintendent of public
instruction accepts invitations to make
speeches at Durham on the 4th at the
laying of the corner stone of the pub
lie library; at an educational rally at
High Point on the 17th and at another
rally at Columbus on the 25th. At
Durham he responds to the sentiment
"The State and the Public Library"
The 17-year-old negro boy whose legs
were cut off here yesterday by train
on which he was playing, died in the
hospital last night.
Work on the First Presbyterian
CHURCH HAS DeeIi ieoulHSo. II 10 ueSloeo
that the main portion shall not be
built until next year.
Durham county has begun to mac
adamze it's public roads, using convict
labor.
The depot of the Southern railway at
Ruffin was struck by lightning yester-
day and burned, with all it's contents.
News as to the shooting of Senator
Pritchard's brother, Sheriff Pritchard,
of Mitchell county, bV the 19-year-Old
desperate, Garland, is interesting. Gar
land dared the sheriff to come after
him. The boys parents told Pritchard
where he was and begged him to cap
tura, but not to kill him. Pritchard and
a deputy found Garland in an orchard
retreating. Both the sheriff and Gar
land fired at once and a 44-calibre pis-
tol bullet passed through each. Then
there was another exchange of shots.