The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-26

Raleigh Penitentiary Not Considered
Safe by Federal OficIals Report
of Corporation Commission state
Guard Commissions.
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh. n. c.. December %

Raleigh, n. c., December 20.
There was some talk today among
railway people of what the Ryan in
terest might attempt to do at the meet
ing OF the stockholders OF the Raleigh
and CASTOR railway in this city to-
morrow. One stakeholder said that
Ryan might try to get an Injunction.
1t is the general opinion that his time
there will be no Difference to Ryan.
but direct action. The question was
asked today how big a price Ryan had
had asked for his holdings.
This evening Moss and Goodwin.
two desperate white men, who escap-
ed from the penitentiary here last
summer. in company with five other
~convicts, and who We're recaptured in
Georgia, were taken from here to the
Columbus, Ohio, p~enitentiary. An of
fetal here said that the department of
justice advised this transfer and that
it appeared the department regarded
the penitentiary here as unsafe. Moss
and Goodwin were ringleaders in a
projected meeting of prisoners last
spring and made complaint TO Wash
ington that they We're cruelty treated.
They, however, begged to be sent back
here, probably with the expectation
of escape. They are now under SEN
tenceS of sixteen years each. A white
convict named Wright, who escaped
Saturday, was one of their pals" A
United States official said today that
the penitentiary authorities did not yet
know in what name Wright escaped.
The Mormon missionaries here are
now very bold. They have rented
rooms at a prominent hotel and say
they are ready for with per-
sons of any religious denomination. All
their work is done among the ignorant.
They never succeed in doing more than
getting contempt from the better class
Of people or those at all informed.
AT the term of the federal court here
which ended yesterday, eight men
were given penitentiary sentences and
thirty-one Jail sentences.
Eugene S. Martin, Esq, of Whining
ton, who is here, when asked the num-
Der of negroes who had since Novem-
Der 10, 1898, left Wilmington, replied,
1000 appears to be a pretty close es-
innate"
The report of the corporation COM
mission is nearly all printed and by
January 1st will be ready it is now
expected. Chairman Mcneil says the
introduction to it is nearly completed.
He says his will not contain any
recommendations to the legislature.
Next years report will contain these.
The report will show that about 10S
lilies OIL railway nave Deon construct
ed during the yea an increase over
the previous year.
The sheriff of Duplin brought a con
Wet to the pe%nitentiary today.
Commissions are issued to the fol-
lowing officers of naval reserves: New
Bern division. w. T. Hill, lieutenant;
J.. t. Hargett, lieutenant, Junior grade;
F. F. Matthews, ensign. Elizabeth
City division, J. H. Crawford, lieuten-
ant; c. NJ. Mellick, lieutenant, Junior
grade; r. G. Abbott, ensign. Champ
Med. Davis is commissioned adjutant
of the Second regiment of the state
guard, vice Bradley j. Wootten, re-
signed, now in the Philippines.
A charter is granted the H. E. New
berry Company at Magnolia. 1t will
make crates, baskets, etc.
Secretary of State Thompson say
the office of county surveyor ought to
be abolished, as there is, as a rule, no
more incompetent set Of officials han
county surveyors. There are in every
county competent ones, but these will
not qualify because the compensation
fis so small. He a the county COM
missioners ought to nave the right to
appoint competent surveyors.