The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-08
A FRAUDULENT ATTEMPT TO
LOOT THE STATE TREASURY.

LOOT THE STATE TREASURY.
Much has been said recently in the
News aud Observer and other papers,
which was intended to reflect upon
State Treasurer W. H Worth, because
of his persistent refusal to pay certain
claims, or warrants, known now as the
oyster claims, which have been PEE
sented to him by T. M8immons. So
much has been said. and so little light
thrown on the subject, that for the
benefit of our readers, we will give q
brief history of the affair.
On March 45h, 1888, a bill entitled
IAN Act to amend the law in regard to
license and grants for oyster beds" be
came a Law (Ohap. 287, Laws 1889
This bill had been introduced in the
House by r preventative D. FL. Garter,
of Hyde, February %. and had run
through, without friction, in 10 days,
Sec 1 of the law defines the diff renee
between a natural and an artificial
oyster or clam bed.
Sections 2 and 8 provide that under
certain conditions the Clerk OF 8upe-
rior Court Of the county in which a bed
is located, may grant license to make
and cultivate an artificial bed not TO be
located on a natural bed, but il it should
appear that soma had entered and
secured license to cover a natural bed,
then Sec. 4 provides the mode of pro
cedure to eject any fraudulent occu
pant or licensee, and recover the natural
bed to the State. It is under this 4ih
section that two bills Of cost amount
ing in the aggregate to S. GIL rs are
claimed. hence We give the entire sec
ton, which is:
Sec 4 That it shall be the duty of
the Solicitor Of the Judicial district in
which any county ia situated wherein
there is any license entry or grant for
any oyster or clam bed, upon an aft
davit being filed with him sworn to
and subscribed by five inhabitants of
such county stating that such license,
entry or grant includes a natural oyster
or clam bed, forthwith TO institute an
action in the Superior Court of such
county in the name Of theS State of North
Carolina upon the relation of such So
licitor to vacate and amend such license,
entry OF grant, and to prosecute the
same to judgment"
On Dec. i, 1896. Z. N. Simmons called
at the State Treasury, walked behind
the rail 60 the desk OF Chief Clerk J..
W. Denmark, and presented the war
rant, which, is copied above, and called
for a check, stating at the time t1at he
was in a great hurry, as it was nearly
train time and he had promised to carry
the check to New Berne that day. Den
mark read the warrant, exhibited some
surprise and a disposition not to com
ply at once with the request, noticing
all the while Mr.. Simmons growing
more and more persistently earnest
and nervous Not even after he had
visited the Attorney General, r. I. Os
borne, who assured him that the whole
thing was AL right. regular in every
FACGPGS9s OAS "O040 40SU W 10 OAHU,
would Denmark agree to pay it until
the return of the State Treasurer, who
was then u Of the city on business.
Mr.. Simmons did not leave the city
that day. but watched the train for
Treasurer Worth. who came in the
next morning. Treasurer Worth, like
Clerk Denmark, did not like the looks
of things, and postponed payment un
til he could consult his attorney, and
upon one plea and another the payment
is still postponed. and from present in
dications, it may be indefinitely post
poned. This warrant for cost in 694
cases from Pamlico county, for "a.
s51 40, dated Dec /, 1895, was followed
Dec. ~. 1896, by ano5ner warrant for
similar cost in 104 cases from Oarteret