The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-22

In the Eastern District Courts-Fortune
Made Clerk of all Those Courts-The
Railway Commission TangIe-A SPAN
lard Loahng Around Raleigh
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh. y. G.. April Is.

Raleigh. y. c.. April Is.
There Is rather an odd condition OF af-
fairs in this federal district. When the
accounts OF Julius 3. Fortune as clerk
OF the United States district cour; here.
went in. they were he'd up by the audi,
tor and referred to the comptroller for
decision. The latter ruled that there
should be only one district clerk N the
eastern district OF North Carolina, while
there have been four district clerks. one
hear Fortune; one at Elizabeth City.
W. c. Brooks. one al New Bern. George
Green, and one a Wilmington. W. II.
Shaw. Clerk Fortune went 10 Washing
ton ten days ago. TO investigate his
status as United States district clerk.
Senator PritchaTd. James E. Boyd and
Others aided him. II was finally decided
by the comptroller. sustained by the de-
partment OF justice. that Fortune was
We're d-saEowed. The decision of the
comptroller and attorney general was
reported TO Judge Purnell and the latter
today issued an order revoking the com
missions of the clerks at Elizabeth City,
New Bern and Wilmington. and APP
pointed Fortune clerk of the United
states district court for Uhe eastern dis
trict, with the latter'S consent. The
comptroller and the department of JUS
tice say that while Fortunes accounts
cannot be allowed by the department of
Justice he will finally get his pay under
4 special act. the decision being that
where a person gives service 10 the gov
m in good faith he shall be pad.
Senator Pritchard will get the relief bill
through. Fortunes bond is increased
from $500 to SIS, 90. deputies bonds from
5000 to 5000.
1t is believed at State Guard h~eadquar-
ters that the force may be called out by
Thursday. II was at first thought that
the entire force from this state might not
be brigaded together. but il now appears
that il will be.
Yesterdays perfect weather brought
out the Easter costumes. which were I'M
usually gay and attractive.
The annual report of the p~enitentiary
has not appeared. 1t is held up because
the ex-superintendent. John r. Smith,
has not yet prepared his part of it.
The Commercial and Financial World
of last week voiced a popular sentiment
in this state when it said If only Cen
eral Lee were in the White house"
A Spaniard. who poses as a preacher,
has been here a fortnight. He is not a
Roman Catholic.
DR.. J. ]. Mott, one of Governor Rus
sells confidential advisers, paid a flying
morning. 1t is conjectured that he talk
ed about railway commission matters.
This morning DR.. Abbott. railway COM
missioner. was seen at the commission
II NE was dShtd la liz IODOSt
to do if Governor Russell put in another
commissioner and replied that if the gov
ernor made an appointment there would
be two commissions, as The would recog-
niZe Caldwell, and that Commissioned
Pearsall would recognize the person
whom the governor appointed. Not a
lawyer has been found here who will adj
init that the governor has the right to
GUST Caldwell. AT the governors office
today it was denied that any appoint
ment of Caldwelrs successor had been
made.
The supreme court will tomorrow begin
the cali of the Eleventh district appeal
docket. 1t is usually very heavy, but
this time is very light.
At the agricultural department it Is
learned that the sale of fertilizers are as
heavy as those a year Ago.. This means
enormous sales: something like three and
a half million tons, perhaps.
Today a United States convict from
Danville arrived at the p~enitentiary here.
robbing a postoffice. Ten white convicts
were sent to the farm near Wadesboro.
Today a photograph was taken of
George Merrett alias Harry Gettings, the
PeterSburg-Raleigh burglar, who is in
the penitentiary for ten years. The war
den warted the photo and forced Merritt
to allow it to be taken. He says Merritt
is a very bad man. His mother, Mrs.
Blair. of New Jersey, wrote him the
other day. Merritt says he believes his
uncle paid money to get him put in the
penitentiary.
Two of the state fertilizer inspectors
came in today and say the country peo-
pie everywhere are in favor of war. 1t is
the overwhelming sentiment, they say.
among males and females.
Secretary Ramsey. Of the agricuitura
department. and editor of the Progress
sive Farmer, J. W. Denmark and T. NJ.
Argo. attorney. left for Goldsboro today.
The case against Ramsey for Ebeling ex-
Judge w. 2. Allen came up this after