The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-03
NIGHT SESSION

when the President of the Senate ram
ped for order. Mr.. Ransom, of Mccklcn-
burg, moved that us the General As
Sembly was to sit as jurors it go into
executive session. An ominous murmur
told the fate Of the motion before it
was put and drowned in IL flood of
noes"
Senator Osborne stated that he had
found Pat EXum at The hotel when he
went 10 supper. Exum had requested
to be sworn and to give testimony. He
had his affidavit. He wished 10 lay it
before the General Assembly. 1t was
received by a unanimous vote
Senator Osborne explained that EXum
could not be present TO testify. owing
10 the bad weather when committee was
hearing the Otho Wilson case. Counsel
for Otho Wilson had admitted that Ohio
had written n letter to EXum in which
he said he was the lessee of the Round
Knob hotel This the affidavit contro-
vortcd. Senator Osborne read the affi-
davit which declared that Otho Wilson
had never written w. =. Exum any
such letter as counsel for Ohio Wilson
had admitted that he wrote.
Judge Allen asked whether counsel
had conferred with :. Ohio Wilson
when the contents of the letter were
admitted
Senator Osborne said it al took place
i'll Otho's presence.
j. c. j.. Harris said that s. Ohio Viii
son stated to him that he had no recol-
lection of ever having written the letter:
he had made similar statements to MIR
Battle. Mr.. Battle corroborated Mr.
Harris. Counsel for Ohio had not con-
sidered that the letter amounted to any
thing even if il had been written.
, Mr.. Justice. of Mcdowell, said he had
been requested by committee to state
the history of the work. and the views
of the law taken by the committee.
Senator Hicks interrupted and said it
had been his understanding that the
argument would be made by counsel.
Senator Hicks moved that vote be
taken. Mr.. Justice refused to yield the
floor for that purpose. Senator Glenn
said he was anxious to hear the com
mittee He was anxious to know what
came from their hearts.
Mr. Justice continued that the duty
had been neither light nor pleasant.
There was on the one. hand party Of
politicians alleging that the Wilson's had
been removed as u result of Il conspiracy
to form Il new party, The committee
had not passed on that. They had been
informed also that people were elamor-
ing for the condemnation of the Wilson's
and in violation of the committees con-
science.
1t was hard for the General Assembly
to hear the matter apart from the politi-
cal clanor. 1t was demanded that the
case be heard according to political
preiudices 1T required great men to rise
above it, Whether the committee had
come up to the standard or not il had
tried. The Democratic party was not
required to live by thc sacrifice OF men
on its affairs.
The merriment shown at the after
noon session had not been shared by the
committee.
Every facility had been given the
Governor to prosecute the case. lie
had been asked for names and evidence.
The Governor had furnished letters to
the committee. containing the charges
against the Wilson's. Blocker and LANCE
had been summoned and the evidence
proved the contrary of the charges.
was summoned The men at Biltmorc
swore all freights on Ohio Wilson's ship
ments had been paid.
Mr.. Justice then reviewed the charges
against the Wilson's. The committee"
he said. had taken the view of the law
that the ownership Of the Round Knob
hotel jointly with Col. Andrews did not
constitute an interest in the railroad.
The committee ruled that If there was
an agreement. and the trains were stop
ped at Round Knob then that constituted
an interest The committee had left
that out of its report, because there
was no evidence to show that an agree
ment had been made.
Mr.. Justice gave the history of Maj.
j. w. Wilson in the railroad business,
and his ownership of the Round Knob
hotel.
The Legislature of 1891 and '93 knew
of Major Wilson's ownership of the hotel
and had not considered it disqualified
ton. The committee had held that
previous legislatures had passed ON the
question of ownership. and this General
Assembly had no right to pass on it..
AS to the stopping of trains, if there
was no agreement. then Major Wilson
was no more disqualified than by owning
hardware store. There had been no
change in the schedule Of the Western
North Carolina road in four years. AS
rule, only the conductors and few
passengers went to dinner at Round
Knob; the rest walked up and down the
platform and cussed The schedule had
not suited the eating house at Hickory.
and it had closed before Otho Wilson
toook the Round Knob hotel. Major
Wilson said he had forgotten the name
of the man who said Il good eating
house was wanted ut Round KNOB. >.
Ohio Wilson said he had never heard
that the Southern Railway would make
the Round Knob hotel an eating mousse.
The testimony had been that Major
Wilson never used Il telegraph message
free, and that only few small packages
had been sent free by express. Every
time Major Wilson used pass he !ef1
money in the State treasury; &c had nor
drawn travelling expenses.
lie could have great contempt LOT
Ohio Wilson's private character. ana
yet try him impartially. The committee
had reached its conclusion in the fear
of God: if members had reached Z con-
cluson from the evidence he had no
criticism to offer.