The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-26


owner taersot The word ''iateress" IN |
the stainte Is one of the widest sigaia- |
cation. and As here used 10 broaisnsd
and enlarged IN its scope by the sx-
preston I'm any way. Legislative
Ingenuity exhausted its power o! sx-
preston In the use OF this language.
The common expsrisnes Of liis
teaches a. all tha; tho relation OF mort
gAxor and mortgage 10 ono Of subor-
dinstioa On the part Of the mortsasor,
and domination on the part OF the mort
gages, tho mortgage generally having
the power 30 distress, and even crush.
the mortgAgor. Was the interest OF j.
w. Wilson such Al interest that 1t
could operate TO influence his acta IN
dealing with the corporations that Col.
Andrews managed? Would be be .
com pessnt juror in . case for or
against the Southern Railway Com
pany?
Aud again, j. w. Wilson was part
owner Of q hotel property that Was
only valuable when used by the rail-
road company as an eating house. Ii
was in the power Of the railroad COM
pany at any time to confscate. as It
were this property. 1t was also in
their power. aud their power alone. to
give it value. Under the statute,
broad and sweeping in its intention.
can . man be qualified to act as COM
missioner who has this peculiarly in
terest at stake aud is at the mercy of
tho road be is set to look after, and
declare any man dishonest because he
hiss an interest in railroad, or dealt
with its officials. 1t only declares that
such interest or dealings disqualifies
the commissioner. The legislature had
the power to prescribe any and every
disqualification. The duty of the ex-
ecutive is TO execute the law There is
no discretion here. The words Of the
statute are: "Shall suspend
After Mr.. J. w. Wilson was called
upon to show cause why he should not
be suspended. he made conveyance
of his interest in the hotel property.
To quote his own language, this was
done agreeable to section l, of the act,
to avoid criticism by even the cap
tious. as to his conduct as railroad
commissioner. If by these transactions
he had become disqualified, the pur-
pose of the law could not be defeated
by his conveying away his interest in
tie property.
In performing the duties imposed by
this law as to suspending this class of
officers, the Governor can only act
upon such information as comes to
him, none of which is evidence in the
strict and technical sense of that word.
He has no power to obtain evidence;
he cannot summon witnesses; he can
not issue q subpoena; he cannot take
testimony; he cannot compel any
body to testify; he cannos take
dispositions. If he could procure affi-
davits, they would be only voluntary
and would not be evidence because
| they would be ex parte In the nature
of the case, therefore, he is compelled
| to act upon such information as may
be voluntarily given to him either
orally or in writing. Some of the let
ters and other papers which were sent
to the executive Office in these cases
were signed by parties who have not
| consented to their publication. Fear
| ing that these persons might regard it
| as a breach of confidence for their com.
!. herein extracts from their written
statements, without giving the name OF
the authors. But the names of the wit
nesses, who, according tc my bestinfor-
nation, will establish these allega-
tions, will be given to any investiga-
ting committee of your honorable body
at any time at your pleasure.
The following extracts from papers
and letters exhibit some OF the evi.
dence which I am informed can be pro.
cured by such process as your honora
BILE bodies may choose to provide fol
purposes of investigation:
"On or about the oath of July, 1897,
Hon. Otho Wilson, railroad commits
sioner, and myself met in the Gler
Rock Hotel, Asheville, N. G.
He thought I was the proprietor q
first and said in substance that h,
would like to sell the lease of tn,
Round Knob Hotel, as that would b,
the best way to have Asheville made
meal station, by closing the hotel a
Round Knob. He proposed to sell t.
me for $500, the lease for five years; tn
first year was to cost nothing, but tn
remaining years $3.50 each year. Il
also stated that 1 would have free US
of the telegraph Ii 9 and all supple
of any kind would be delivered free O
freight charges at the hotel. To m
inquiry al to how this would be done
he said that the supplies would
dead-headed by either the conducto
of the trains, Or the baggage-master
of the same am not certain which
He also stated that I would get fire
transportation (passes) over the South
ern Railway, stating that his family al
: ready had them. [ asked him wins
assurance he could give me that tn
Round Knob Hotel would remain q
.. eating station if operated by me, an
he said he could give me assurance q
, long as it was owned by the railroa
l D1
, J ~. Wilson, or to the best of m
recollection, both, and if I leased
and the hotel closed the trains woul
, stop at Asheville for meals
.In regard to s. o. Wilson's come,
, ton with the hotel at Round Knoll
,, that he claimed to have. rented it fo
himself is easily proyen.P He told M
so the frst time l ever met him. Ii
also told everybody in this section th
same. He also urged me to buy hill
out; he did not say buy his motht
> out, but himself, and said he woul
transfer the lease. AS told you, b
son, who is now running the plac
! told me, that the old man always too
away ali the money, leaving hi
, scarcely enough to make chang
. When he took his family back to Ra
!. eigh, he took nearly everything in
did not leave q change for the bed
took almost all the furniture
i. bought for his poor mother. The o.
lady Wilson has complained time q
d again to others, not to mo, that ST
never got cent. Now if you want an
! more proof that he leased the hote
!, write to any one at Old Fort that is 81
9 gagged In business. Yes, Maj
Wilson asked Mrs. G. and
9 accompany their party out on the Mn
b ply branch. have been told by di
It ierent members of the family that tht
did not pay to ride on the trains.
e For any further information in the W
b son case, have the telegraph operator
i Round Knob interviewed. Some time pri
(more than 80 days) to the change o. the 9;
= ing house, / was informed by Conductor
4 ". Barber that Major Wilson offered to lee
the Round Knob Hotel to Mr.. Christie. "
Reans the at Rafeam N