The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-27
Russell Making Free Use
of This Power.
THE WORK TOO HARD.
Captain Todd Breaks Down Under the
Heavy Work Of Mastering Out the
Penitentiary-Report ON the 1nssitu.
tfons for the White Blind and Negro
Deaf Mute Institutions state Board
of Charities.

Raleigh, n. c., December %.

The supreme court adjourned today
for the term and filed the last opinions.
1t disposed of about 200 cases during
the term.
In some states it has become a us
tom for governors to issue Christmas
p~ardons. Nothing of the kind is done
here. News as to pardons is no long
er given out of the governors office.
He will have, however, to make a re-
port to the legislature. Tom Robert
son, a white man who was serving a
six years sentence from this county for
the seduction of Julia Hester, gets a
pardon. There is quite an outcry
against it. 1t is a compromise pardon;
that is, he paid $500 to get it. The
money is ostensibly for the poor girl,
butt is said the lawyers will get
nearly all of it. In no case tried here
in years was there so much perjury.
Two witnesses were convicted of it.
The governor also pardons John
Goslee, who was serving four years for
bigamy in Lenoir county. He is a
Baltimore man and his father was for
years captain of the Bay Line steamer
George Leary. He first married in
Virginia, but he left his wife and went
to Kinston. He married there. He
had employed a Virginia lawyer to get
a divorce for him and the lawyer said
he had procured it. His second wife
secured a divorce. GOslee had served
eighteen months. He has returned to
Kinston.
Captain D. Albert Todd, Sixth artil-
lery, U. S. A., completely broke dow
here under the worry of mastering out
the Second regiment. He had been IL
years a quartermaster, but had never
before mustered out a regiment. He
returned to Fort Monroe day before
yesterday. Major Charles L. Davis, will
!. complete his work, and SO will not
leave January 9Th, to rejOin his regi-
, ment at San Juan, Porto Rico. Captain
R. 3. Davis, quartermaster of the Sec
ond North Carolina regiment, is yet
here. He says his accounts are all
straight. Captain Todd's break down
has delayed him here.
The special recommendation is made
that in future the legislative examin-
ing committee shall also examine the
books, etc., of the governors executive
clerk and of the secretary of state.
The state treasurer reports today that
North Carolina's bonded debt is as fol-
lows: 4 per cents $3,378, $50, 6 per cents
50, 100, 900. There are also nOn-interest-
ing bearing old bonds $24,930. The
total is $6,331, TO. The interest charges
| are: 4 per cents $134, 1874, 6 per cents
| $163, 200.
The state charters the Chappele Lum-
Der Company of Halifax county.
A member of the council of state says
that last spring the state treasurer ask
| ed the council whether he should make
advances to the p~enitentiary, and that
/ as it was in straits and rather than let
it go to smash it vas suggested that
! there be advances. 1t is now shown
that the ~penitentiary was not taking
care of itself-that is, meeting ex-
penses. The money was len and in
terest has since been collected. The
council of state had no power to order
the loan, but merely suggested it. In
quiry was made as to the amount lent,
and it was said in reply that during the
year it had probably reached $780, 00,
but that money had been paid in and
that now about $40, 100 is due.
The report on the institutions for the
white blind and negro deaf-mutes and
blind is made. 1t urges that parents
be compelled to send their blind and
deaf-mute children to the institutions
1 II &c tho nn1u uyou m fnrnn than To d0
what is a plain duty and an act of hui
mainly. There are 1874 blind in the
white institutions; and in the negro in
%stitution POI blind and deaf-mutes. The
increase over 1896 is 73. The annua
appropriation for all is $40 900 a yea
and for buildings there was appropriat
buildings, all spacious n Of the bes
design, have been completed.
The state board of public charIIie
was in session last night until mid
night and again met this morning.
finds that while twenty years ago tn
capacity of the insane asylEms was onl
$50, it is now nearly 1000. Yet wit
this seven times greater capacity tn
cost is only three times as great as
was twenty years ago. The board say
the improved processes for the care {
the insane are worthy of special mer
ton. All applicants have been care
for during the year ended Novembe
AT the central hospital for the insar
at Raleigh there are 413 patients. tt
cost of drugs. twenty years ago wa
s1-400; now j.t is only $500. There WEI
119 admissions and 135 cures durin
the year. The death rate is 4.S per cei
AT the. western hospital at Morgan
ton there are 1913 patients; Isl We
discha rged. The death rate is v-53 p
cent.
A.t the eastern hospital tcolored)
G<Jldsboro there are 430 patients. IL
cleath rate is Sc per cent. In this no
J. pital electric lights have been placed.
The great improvements at the bliI
and deaf-mute institutions are note
There is an increase OF so per cent
the number OF pupils. Yet these ha'