The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-24
INTENDED FOR OTHERS
pREDICAMENT OF HANCOCK
AND GOV. RUSSELL.
CAN HANCOCK PROVE HIS CHARGE
He Challenges an Investigation Either by the
Legislature or the Courts. Opposition to
Proposed Lease--EIection Of New
proeidant at March Meefng,
President at March Meeting


Newbern, N. c., Feb. 23.-(Special
staff correspondence)-Th publication OF
Robert Hancocks letter, telegraphed
last night exclusively to the News ana
Observer, created a great sensation mere
this morning, and in fact throughout
this whole section of the State.
The accusation made against the Gov
ernor-that he tried to hire Hancock to
make a personal attack on the editor of
the News and Observers such grave
and unusual one that people are loath
10 believe il, Though Hancock, still main
tanning his brave front, declares that it
is true and that he can prove it at the
proper time.
II have it in black and white" he
told me last night. IF l had not
should never have charged it. knowing
that it would then be only question
OF veracity between ME and the Govern
or"
When Mr.. Hancock was shown the
News and Observer, containing the Gov
errors denial and denunciation of him
as a liar, he read it over carefully sew
eral times and wrote out the following:
IF the Governor denies the charge,
the Legislature has full jurisdiction 10
try aud determine it. The Governor
alone can convene the Legislature. l
dare him to convene it that the charges
may be fully investigated.
IF the charge is false, there are other
jurisdictions well known to the Governor
TO which he can appeal. | am ready
to answer before any tribunal having
jurisdiction to judicially settle the mat
ter.
1T Is my earnest desire to have the
charge / make against the Governor in
vestigated by tribunal competent to
try and TO pronounce Judgment, as the
facts may warrant"
Mr.. Hancock's attorney also told me
that there was no sort of doubt as to
the truth of the charge; that Hancock
had such evidence as must forever es-
tablish the facts set forth in his letter
touching the proposed attack upon the
editor of the News and Observer.
As to the part of the letter attacking
the board of directors, though, so much
cannot be said. I have interviewed
every member of the board and they
denounce ut as absolutely false. The
reference to them is ais follows:
You 1.-THE Gover1lorl had frequent
~ and publicly declared your belief
in my innocence of the charges as
alleged. You stated to the seven
directors ON the part of the State,
when they were assembled in your
presence ut the Mansion ON the
night of February the 18th, 1898, that
you did not believe me guilty, and
after polling the directors you as
certained that they were unanimous
~ of your opinion. Since that time
no additional charges have been
made and there have been no new
developments in the case, except
that Your Excellency has, perhaps.
ascertained that / am not as sub
seryient to your wishes as YOU
would have me to be.
The directors, without exception said
this statement was false. Some used
stronger language.
There lis not one word of truth in it. -
said Mr.. John f. Mewborne, and you
may quote me as saying so.
1T is false" said Mr.. Hewitt.
Absolutely false" added Mr. Patrick
1t is a lie out of the whole cloth -
said Mr.. Chadbourn.
There is not a particle of truth ir
it." was DIR. Persons reply.
Mr.. n. NJ. Jurney and Mr.. Dempsey
Wood, directors ON the part of the
private stockholders, said their under
standing was that there had been NO
such vote taken; that on the contrary
the directors certainly six of them. had
thought Hancock guilty.. but they had
adjourned the Raleigh meeting without
action simply to give him a chance to
resign.
IF You will notice." said DIR. Person
MIR. Hancock says he was declared in.
nocent of the charges as alleged Those
two words are the key to the state
ment. Miss Abbott charged Hancock
with using force. The Governor did not
relieve that, neither did the directors
nor anybody else, SO far as I have beer
able TO learn. But we did believe hin
guilty of the rest of the charge
And, indeed to my Knowledge" con
tinued the Doctor. Hancock has peve,
denied this. Certainly he did not befor,
tue directors, and have never seen srcl
denial in print. All his deniaIs. 81
far as L have been able to learn. have
been coupled with that charge Ct
force
AT the meeting at the Mansion we
all did express the belief that no force
had been used, and it was this EXPIRES
sion, no doubt, that Mr.. Hancock found
ed the above charge on
/ went to see Mr.. Meadows last night
but he declined to be interviewed. III,
acknowledged that he had written TIL,
Governor letter setting forth his rea
sons for resigning. but he declined r.
make the letter public or say anything O.
its contents other than that il statet
that he had accepted the directorate t.
aid the road in a commercial and bust
ness way, but finding that, for certain
reasons, that could not be done. he do
sired to be relieved of the responsibility
He said he had since received n lette
from the Governor accepting his resigna
tion.
1t is generally understood here tina
Hancock will turn over tho affairs of tn,
road to Mr.. s. L. Dill, tho general su
perintendent and acting president. with
out further protest. His protest befor
the board was simply to give him stand