The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-12
CLAIMS HIS DISCHARGE
Another Habeas Corpus Case by n Con-
vfct PenitentiaFy Matters More
Cases Of Splenic Fever
Messenger Bureau,


Raleigh, N. c., September Z.
An interesting and important case
was heard here at chambers today be-
fore Judge Montgomery. John A. Nc
Mahon, white, was convicted Of mur-
der in Macon count n sentenced to
be hanged. Governor Fowle commuted
the sentence TO life Imprisonment, Gov
| renor Russell commuted il to twelve
years. The claim was made by Nc
Mahon that his twelve years expired
yesterday, if his good conduct time was
deducted, on the basis of five days IN
a month. He also claimed Communication
money for good conduct at the rate of
Sc a yea The penitentiary authorities
a~ntagon1zed this and commended that the
act of 1899 allowing five days and IS
| a year was not and could not be re-
prospective, as Judge Montgomery
had decided III another case a few
| weeks ago. Shepherd & Busbee appear
ed as counsel for the directors; T. NJ.
Argo and w. J. Peele for Superintend-
ent Day, and j. c. L.. Harris for Nc
MahOq.
Today a special car filled with stu
dents for Elon college from tidewater
Virginia passed here.
| The corporation commission adjourn
ed without taking n action as TO the
rate on cotton in bales. Mr.. Bedding
field, of the commission, was sick and
unable to be present; hence the post
pOnement.
Today "a friend" made a gift of
81 1000 in cash to the Baptist female uni
versity here. The identity Of the giver
is not revealed by the trustees.
1t is aid that nowhere is the cotton
better than in the section between
G~Oldsboro ard Durham.
Four more cases of splenic fever a
l l~1- rAx,-J $1,000 f@~-o
Passing cattle from tick-infected coun-
ties communicated the disease, as they
went along the road by the farm.
Francis H. Cameron, Jr., son Of ex
Adjutant General Cameron, formerly
Of Raleigh, now Of Richmond, gets 4
lieutenancy in the volunteers.
Your correspondent this morning a
an interview with enato Travis, Of the
penitentiary executive board. He says
as soon as the money is paid for the
bonds the Caledonia farm will be
| bought; that it costs only $3.50 an acre,
while the legislative committee report
ed it as worth $40 an acre; that the
state has spent over S10O, 900 on it n
can sell it at an advance of 100 per
cent.
Sometime ago the p~eniteltiary direc-
tors adopted a resolution to buy the
| Anson farm, and it may be purchased
later. The directors appointed the ex-
ecutiVe board and Superintendent Day
a committee to investigate the charges
Of cruelty by Supervisor Summerell to
the convicts who were frostbitten. AS
| yet hat committee las not reported. It
| has taken all the evidence. 1t had the
! matter up yesterday, but as Mr.. New
I land, Of the board, was not here, it
was deferred.
The p~enitentiary board nave very
little authority in minor matters. Cap
| oin lov i- rhncS. lint tho nnoy1 hoe
prevented a great deal from being done
which would have been done; has stop
ped things which would have crippled
the ~penitentiary for twenty years,
Travis says. Day has made no reports
as required by the rules.
| Captain Day is much wrought up at
the ~neWspape attacks on Lewis Sum-
merell, the supervisor of the Northamp-
ton penitentiary farm, n said to me
today: Il tell you, there us no cruelty
at the farms now. m is being
investigated by two committees. Com
mon fairness and decency require that
he be not prejudged. II there were any
cruel I would rave removed him, no
matter whether there were any COM
mittees or not"
The state superintendent OF public in
struction received two letters today
which are amusing. One from Bum
cobe county is from the county super
~intendent, who wants to know whether
he can't stop what is known as "fod-
der-pulling vacation" The state SUI
perintendent says it is best to follow
local customs, but better still not to
open the schools there until fodder
pulling is over. The other letter, from
Burke county, asks if married persons
under 81 can attend the public schools.
The state superintendent answers that
there is nothing in the law to "
them and very wittily adds that the
county superintendent had better have
marriages deferred until the contract
ing parties are over q.