The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-17
LET COL. BOYD
Be PROSECUTOR
He Has Been Complaining
About Court Here.
A LETTER FROM GRlGGS
WANTS THE WILMINGTON FOLKS
PROSECUTED.
,oLO CoMF0RT FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
iizzard French Here as Guest of Gov. Russell
He Disclaims Any Knowledge of
Bunting, Says no Violence
Was Offered Him.
Was Offered Him.

Col James L. Boyd, Assistant Attor-
ney General of the United States, will
in few days get something that will
hold him down for awhile.
Mr.. Boyd, it will be remembered, is
the individual who betrayed the Ku-
Klux, of which organization he was a
member Now Mr.. Boyd is trying to
perform another feat of much the same
character.
As stated in this paper sometime ago,
the Department of Justice at Washing
ton, of which Mr.. Boyd is a part, has
been taking a great deal of interest in
North Carolina affairs: especially that
part of it's affairs which related to Will
mington and the riots there after cleo
ton.
And Just before the United States
court met here Attorney General Griggs,
at Mr. Boyd's suggestion, wrote to Dis
trict Attorney Bernard, directing him TO
prosecute those who were concerned IN
the departure from Wilmington of Uni
ted States Commissioner Bunting, who
lived with a negro wife.
Mr.. Bernard signified his willingness
to do whatever might be warranted by
the facts in the case and the law gov
erning it. Judge Purnell charged the
grand jury, which by the way is a re-
markably good one, as to the law govern
ing such cases.
The court has been going on two weeks
and still no true bill has been brought
in against any of the Wilmington peo-
pie.
So yesterday another letter came from
the Department of Justice. complaining
that the men who exiled Bunting had not
been indicted. The tone of the letter
was querulous, dictatorial and such as
must be offensive to the officer of tAe
court to whom it is directed.
1t is understood, like the former com
municatons on this subject. to have been
inspired by Mr.. Boyd And as he seems
so anxious TO have these peonle prose
cuted. regardless of the facts or the
state of public feeling in regard to the
matter, it will. / am told. be suggested
by way of reply to Mr.. Griggs, that he
send Mr.. Boyd down to conduct the
prosecution.
Now let Colonel Jeems either put III
or shut up.
but the Department of Justice letter
was not the only reminder of the VIII
mington trouble the people of Raleigh
| had Yesterday. The letter came in tn,
morning mail and the afternoon train
brought Gizzard u. French. He was me-
at the depot by Governor Russell's car
riage and driven at once TO the Mansion
| 1t will be remembered that French lief
| Wilmington a day before Bunting, ant
| that there We're some sensational scenes
| at the depot, while he waited for tht
| train. This fact caused the report K
spread ut once that there would to-day b,
sensational developments on his accoun
| in the Federal court.
| Mr.. French, however, denied this to m'
| at the Mansion, half an hour after hi
| arrival there.
| I'm here on private business" he said
| looking me over steadily through hi
glasses, ''and I've got nothing to say t.
| the newspapers"
| You know, | suppose, that an effor
| is being made to have the men wh'
| caused Bunting's departure from VIII
| mington to be indicted!'
mo / know nothing about it, I've beef
| on my farm at Rocky Point; I've no
| been to Wilmington. And as to MI
Il bunIlnEs j KNOW u nu
| even where he is. | doubt if he's 90
| enough money to come here if lt wer
/ necessary.
1T is reported that he is here witt
YOU and like yourself the guest of Gov
Russell"
mo it is Mr. Buffers and not Nj
Bunting with me. Mr.. III. e. Buffers, o
Hub. and friend of his from the Mort
are with me-
do you not think it better to let tn
whole thing drop than to stir it up agar
by an Indictment in the courts?'
I've got nothing to say about that
I've no opinion to express. | know i
my own case the affair was greatly exae
gerated by the newspapers. | was no
compelled to leave Wilmington. / wen
away of my own yolition. At the depo
not finger was laid on me in violence
1t is true guns We're pointed at me, bu
no violence was done and none attempt
ed"
How long will you be here"
| 81 shall go back home tomorrow o
next day"
Has a subpoena been served on 20
as a witnessw
mo. / know absolutely nothing of tn
case Of Bunting or any other, exceI
what / see i'll the papers"
Having been run out of Wilmington, NJ
French is not as howlingly welcome i
Raleigh as some other people would bt
but no insult or violence will be offere
him during his stay here.
TO PROSPECTIVE ATTORNEYS
A Letter of instruction Issued BY Cler
of the Supreme Court.