The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-14
TRIAL OF THE TWO WILSON'S.

it given in last weeks issue Of The
Progressive Farmer.
Judge MacR se, counsel for Gov.
Russell, opened the case. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. r o Burton for the de
Tense. Il submit" he said, THAT the
only charge on which Maj Wilson can
be tried is the one in regard to the
joint ownership of the Round Knob
Hotel. And it appears form the evil
dence that he had disposed OF that be-
fore he was suspended"
Mr.. Burton argued that the disquali-
flying section Of the R1ilroad Commits
sion Act must be strictly construed:
that it was in derogation Of private
rights.
This act provides that if a Commits
sioner shall in any way come into an
interest in a railroad he shall at once
dispose of that il terest and only in case
be fails to do this shall he be sus-
pended"
Further he commended that the dis
qualifying clause did not apply to
property held when the Commissioner
was elected, as the General Assembly
was supposed in the election to have
passed upon that
Mr.. R. 81. Battle representing S O.
Wilson followed:
Men of character do not sell it for
nothing. E yau sold his birth right for
a mess of pottaRe. Would Col. An
drews, J. ". Wilson or 8 tho Wilson
sell their character for nothing the first
year and $3.50 the second years" He
commended that the change in thu eat
ing house was made solely for the
benefit of the passengers; no evidence
whatever that there was any agree
ment.
''S. Ohio Wilson is a better man to-
day than many men in in the amen
n Of the church. The only charge
ever against him in court was the
charge of belonging to = secret society
and the Democratic S )licitor all owed
hum to p.ead nolo ~contendere. He is
here upon trial for valuable rights and
he is entitled to a Conscientious verdict.
And I can believe you will rise above
prejudice and render a verdict Of not
guilty The prosecution has not made
out q case"
He defended O no as a Commits
sioner, and said he made motions 10
tax railroads more and to decrease tele-
graph rates. If he had been under
railroad influence, he would not have
done this, said Mr.. Battle.
The next speaker was Mr.. W. @.
D juglas, who defended the G 5vernor's
course.
TIE law provides" said Mr.. Dug
las, ''that when a Commissioner be-
comes dis qualified to act he shall be
removed. A Railroad Commissioner
must have the qualities Of a judge, q
juror and an arbitrator, under the
great policy of the law. AS a judge
who would be unbiased; as a juror who
has formed no opinion; as an arbitrator
whom you would select to decioe in a
case between you and the railroad.
Suppose complaint had been made
by a passenger that it was inconven
lent to stop at R )und Kuob? Toe case
would have been tried before q curt
composed OF three, two of whom were
parties interested In having trains stop
at the hotel. Would the Wilson's nave
been qualified to act in suca case7
Would you have willingly entrusted
your rights in the hands of men, one Of
whom was q tenant in mortgage and
the other a tenant for years of Col.
AndreWs2'
At 80 p m. the Legislature took a
of n hour, when the case was
again taken up. The Senators then
began speaking and kept talking and
qlarrelling until 3 o'clock next morn
ing.
Senator Glenn said:
If this exoneration is right I'm
going to stand by it, regardless of con
sequences. I will net turn a deaf ear
to the story of s. Ohio Wilson. He has
done no wrong and l will not give my
vote against him. 1 don't believe the e
is a white mani emocrst or Republi
can-in Forsyth who will not endorse
me in that vote"
Senator Ward called attention to the
of law which declared discrimi-
in rates illegal. He then spoke
of Maj Wilson's letter to the Southern
Railway asking for a determination in
Of s O;ho Wilson. And Mai
Wilson sought over mis- own hand and
seal to bring about and did bring about
a violation of the very law he had