The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-14
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., January II.

Raleigh, n. c., January r.
People are laughing a great deal at
these free pass prosecutions" 1t is
said that Governor Russell yesterday
stated that he had bought $50 worth
Of tickets-probaHy a mileage book.
The governor heartily denounced news
papers which ridiculed him about his
free pass business.
A telegram from New Bern says the
mother Of Miss Annie Abbott says she
is not able to push the charges against
President Robert Hancock and has to
Withdraw them. 1t is said a gentleman
named Lumley was prominent in secur-
ing the withdrawal. Her father is a
Mason and there is an intimation that
Masons will aid in the prosecution.
1t seems reasonably sure that in a
little while work will begin on a rail-
way from this city to Ellington, Har-
nett county. lumber company will
build the road, to develop the large
tracts of long-leaf pine timber.
The grand lodge of Masons has
settled the suit as to the property left
by Mr. Bradley of California so it gets
$500 a year income.
The secretary of state grants license
to the Carolina Benevolent Association
of South Carolina to do business in
North Carolina.
The grand jury Of this county having
presented Vice President Andrews,
Henry w. Miller and r. l.. Potts of the
Southern railway for refusal to an
SWer questions or to produce books, it
appears that tomorrow the railway
commission will not take action in the
contempt case against them, but Will
await the result in the superior court.
Chairman Caldwell, of the commission,
who arrived this morning, said he did
not expect the presentment to be ex-
actly in this shape, but that he had
learned that Solicitor POu would put
the matter in such way as to test the
power of the commission act SO far as
the forcing of witnesses to give evil
dence is concerned. This, Chairman
Caldwell says will settle the whole
question of the boards power and
authority. Tt is contend6d that under
section 27 of the railway commission
act it is made a misdemeanOr to refuse
to answer the commissions questions,
the penalty being a fine Of not less
than $50 nor more than $1,000. Cald-
we'll says he must necessarily await the
ACTION lIle superior CouIl DIS lle 10
not only sworn lawyer, but also
sworn as commissioner
Chairman Caldwell aid to me today
that suppoenaS have been ISSUED for
Vice President ST. John and other Of
ficials of the Seaboard Air Line for
giving free passes, and also suppoenas
for officials of the Atlantic Coast Line
for the same thing. He added I'VE Will
put all the roads on the same footing -
Tn here fhprp a
presentment of the Seaboard Air Line
for giving a free pass to Railway
Commissioner John H. Pearson. 1t APP
pears that this is the pass which Vice
Preiden't st. John sent him and which
he returned with thanks.
p. w. Avirett, who was Governor
Russell's counsel in the suit to vacate
the lease of the North Carolina rail-
road, returns all the fees he has re-
ceived, $3.50, and washes his hands of
the whole business.
George Vanderbilt landscape gar
dener who will supervise the plan ting
of shrubs and plants, the gift from
Biltmore, at the executive mansion
grounds, is making suggestions as to
the capitol square. He yesterday told
the keeper Of the capitol that the num-
Der of trees in the square was twice too
large.
The reports to the railway commits
sion show that in this state the At
lantic Coast Line has 1851 employees,
the Southern 2,674, the Seaboard Air
Line 2,40S. micellaneous roads 2,201
There are bets here that Joshua b.
Hill will be the next postmaster; others
that C. T. Bailey will be the lucky man.
No dark horse is now suspected.
There was $4,000 accident insurance
on T. G. Barnes, the Henderson man
who died two weeks ago after an in
Jury received while trying to get on a
strain. The company declined to pay
unless there was a post mortem so the
body was exhumed yesterday, in the
presence of Raleigh physician and six
others who found death was due to the
breaking of blood vessel in the leg
caused by the injury.
1T is now the fashion to file the
gravest possible charges against the
candidates for national office and 1t Is
learned there have been filed bad ones
against p. H. Lybrook, who expects
the Winston postoffice. Those against
McBrayer, who wants the Shelby post
office are also serious as well as Slngu-
lar And now ex-CongresSman Settle
has gone to Washington to file charges
against his uncle, Tyre Glenn who
wants to be postmaster at Greensboro
The cornerstone of the Coleman cot
ton mill at Concord, which is nearly
all owned by negroes and Will have
only negro operatives will be laid Feb
ruary Sth. President Mckinley, Sena
tor Pritchard, General John B. Gordon
Governor Russell, Congressman White
Bishop Hood and Booker T. Washing
ton are asked to be present.
Receiver Gill, of the Cape Fear ant
Yadkin Valley railroad, arrived a
Greensboro today, it is believed OIL
business connected with the lease to tn,
Seaboard Air Line.