The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-12
A MAN WITH A HISTORY
WHAT CHIEF JUSTICE FAIR
CLOTH SAID OF HIM
FORMERLY.
EXPERT IN TIMBER AND ORAIOR>
Took Turns in Battling Trusts and Was Charg
ed With Beating his Principal Out
| of Funds.

Al last the appointive lightning has
landed squarely OH the person oil MI
NJ. l.. Wood. of BERTHE county. ME-
Wood at one time was a representative
of his county in the legislature. Ihat
was in the DAYS of the Suh-treaSnry
plan and none could surpass Mr.. Wood
in assailng the patron saints OF the Ike
publican party, trusts combines ana
monopoies
Sucaking on the Sub~treaSury plan liz
the legislature on January ~, 1871, inc
deputy collector thus diiated:
Mr.. Speaker: The people who nave
had control of this government for TWEEN
ty-tve years seem obliyious TO our con
dition or seeing it are criminally lhdit
ferent To the dangers which threaten us
Under their rule we have seen the gov
eminent pass from Il mere political Struc-
ture. organized for the benefit of the
neonle 10 a vast commercial machine
dominated by money in the hands of
few. and. Sir. though the taxes to sup
port the government are enormous, they
are but trfie to the amount extortcd
from the people by trusts. combines. cor
porations and monopolies.
control of the government for twenty-five
years have realized 'our condition and
appointed us a deputy collector.
Continuing the orator said "All we
ont. wear and find shelter under Is
through the process of corporations and
monopolies enhanced in value for the
benefit of the few who grow rapidly into
milionaires while the masses suffer. All
because the people have left the control
Of the government. without Instructions
TO party managers"
THE subtresaruy plan" cried Mr.
Wood in n burst of prophecy. will DE-.
stroy all monopolies and trusts depend
ent upon the present monetary system.
If il was not adopted by Congress il
would return to trouble members ana
Like Banquo's ghost. will not down nj
their bidding"
Mr.. Wood is n man of some parts
and versatility. He can do other things
beside bait trusts. quote Shakespeare
and collect revenues. He is an expert
i'm timber and in handling the proceeds
thereof. according to the Supreme court
In the reports of the court for the Feb
rrary term Of 1897. under Gossler vs..
Wood. there is IN "Action for money re-
ceived as agent but not accounted for.
The jury had found in the Superior
court:
II. Did the defendant Wood fail TO
account for and turn over 10 the plain
tiff (Gossler) the proceeds of the sale cf
timber after deducting $3.50 per 1000
feet as alleged? Yes"
- Did the defendant wrongfully take
detain and convert said timber or pro-
ceeds of the same? Yes"
Wood was acting as the agent Of
Gossler in the sale of cypress timber
aud had confused his arithmetic as 10
the share of the proceeds that fell to
Gossler. The action was brought to r.
fresh his memory on that point and to
recover $329.66
Chief Justice Faircloth. who handed
down the opinion Of the conrt. said:
1.-The defendant deposited the money
with Harrell to whom he was indebted.
and refusing to account for it. set up =
counter claim. Unfortunately. he had
no cause for Il counter claim
Thus does it appear that Banquo' s
ghost is not exclusively occupied with
troubling Congressman. The anpontive
power has been more kind to Mr.. Wood
than the Supreme court. 1t allowed his
claim. II remains to he seen whether
MT. w bti HAS iHitloNti III ltliS III Siioi !
division since the days of cypress tim
her. IT is certain that trusts. mono
poles and combines no longer trouble
his dreams.
SHIRT-TAIL HEIGHTENED.
Commenting on the appointment Of
Mr.. Woods, the Windsor Ledger says:
1.-The armored cruiser Nj. L. Wood
after a long and persistent seige has sue
ceeded in entering the harbor of Fort
Duncan and taking Revenue Post No.
3 i'm the list of deputy collectorships.
Some years ago Mr. Wood made 4
speech in which he deplored the condi-
ton of the people and in combating
the idea Of over-production, declared
that there was but some two yards of
cotton cloth to the man, woman and
child. He stated that he wanted to
help the people and would do so when
he got a chance. Few .men ever reach
the goal of their ambition. Mr.. Wood
has done so. He has received an of.
fee where his pay and perquiSites and
expenses will be about 81 800. This
put in cotton cloth will lengthen ont
the shirt-tail of every reformer in his
district who assisted in the election OF
pritchard to the Senate. No man cou,
have been appointed who would have
run the office more in the interest ot
Republicans and less in the interest 0t
the government than Mr.. Wood