The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-25

by the Southern-To Test the Hotel Ia
Law-Durhamites Stirred Up Over the
Raffiipg Indicfments.It Looks Like Haa-
cock Must Go-Programme Of Railway
Com mission This Week
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, n. c., Jan. %.
The anti-saloon league will lave
ass-meeting tomorrow afternoon at
Metropolitan hail. 1t is safu that
great effort will be made to put the
temperance question as an issue in the
municipal election in May.
There is certainly big stir at Dur
ham, growing out of the numerous in
dictments for gambling, which is
another name for raffiing, says Judge
Robinson. A Durham citizen says that
in no place has there been more raf-
fling. He says it went on in premises
owned by the foreman of the grand
jury and that the mayor was also a
raffier. A pile of indictments a foot
high is the result of Judge Robinson's
charge.
AS to Judge RCbinson's failure TO
charge the grand jury against free
passes anywhere save in counties along
the line of the Southern Railway, he
says the omission was solely due TO
forgetfullness
The last revenue act eXempts from
license tax those hotels whose business
is under 81 600 a year. IA test case is
now made up, to go TO the supreme
court. The lessee of the hotel at Dur
ham contends that this is discrimina-
tion and is Unconstitutional and hence
refuses to pay. The superior court
judge decides in his favor and the
state appeals.
Though only a few days ago the su-
per'intendent of the penitentiary
stated that it was impossible this win
ter to furnish any convicts to counties,
for public road work, yet the governor
and the attorney for the penitentiary
decide that forty-five convicts can be
furnished Cabarrus county for that
purpose. That county was the first to
apply. Under the new law counties
which thus take state convictS must
pay all expenses of transportation and
| food and clothe the prisoners. But
as the law allows only a brief use Of
| convicts there will be no cost for
| clothing.
| Repu ublicans who have come here
during the past four days, almost
| without exception, favor as Judge
| Dicks successor in the judgeship
James f. Boyd.
| During the term of office of Revenue
| Collector Simmons over 500 Illicit dis
| tilleries have been destroyed. This is
| a very fine record.
| 1t seems from the reports to the bu-
| reau of labor statistics that the annual
| M a OF rp' vEta iS
| now only about $150,000.
| The five days session of the rail
| way commission next week is expect
| ed to be sensational. Tuesday the
| commission will try to punish Vice
| President Andrews and other afficials
| of the Southern. Then it has cited
| the officials of the Atlantic Coast Line
the Southern and Seaboard Air Line
| to appear and show cause why rates
! should not be materially reduced. The
Southern Express people will also be
| called for testimony as to why they
gave Governor Russell free rates. The
| governor may be a witness. He made
such a fiat failure in his testimony
| against Otho Wilson that he may not
care to appear again. James w. Will
| son, chairman, or as the governor
| would say, "ex-chairman," of the rail-
| way commission, will also be a wit.
| ness, and no doubt the Hvliest of all.
| 1t is said that near the places where
| whiskey is sold at dispengaries, moon
sinners are procuring the empty bot
| ties from purchasers and filing them
with their own product.
| 1T is learned that ample time will be
| given Robert Hancock by the governor
| to try to prove the inaccuracy of the
| grave charges against him. 1t is now
known that he did see the governor
| while here, despite his denial and also
| that the governor directed him to come
here from New Bern. The odds are
| greatly against Hancock, as it is said
| by persons near the governor that
| Hancock will find it extremely diff
cult, not to say impossible, to extricate
| himself and remove his en.anglements
A cold storage company, with Sc 900
| capital, was chartered today 10y the
secretary of state and will have its
| plant in this city.
Five 'convicts made itheir escape last
Saturday night from the Halifax farm
on the Roanoke river. A discharged
| guard allowed them to escape.
The United States court win hold a
short term here beginning February
| Sth.
Governor Russell declines to pardon
| Tom Robertson for seducticn but will
| make hiss term one year IL he paws
| his victim 81 .0o0