The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-27
WILSON HEARING
LONG DRAWN OUT
Five Witnesses Examined
Last Night,
EXPRESS PACKAGES FREE
BUT NO TELEGRAPH MESSAGES
WERE FRANKED.
HALF RATES ON oTHo'S HOUSEHOLD GODS
Governor Russell Received Packages by TX
press Free Before the War on Free
Transportation Was In
aUguraIed.

Transportation Was In
aUgurated.
Another large crowd last night testi-
fed TO the keen interest felt in the Will
son investigation before the legislative
committee. Beside the crush of men on
the floor of the chamber, many ladies
appeared in the galleries, and sat the
hearing out, apparently interested au-
ditorS.
The sitting of the committee was taken
up with the examination OF witnesses for
whom subpoenas had been issued on
yesterday. The witnesses who appear
ed last night were: ]. A. Edgerton.
local manager of the Western Union
Telegraph Company: \. Il. Bryan, local
agent of the Southern Express Com
pany; III. Poe. assistant agent of the
Southern Express Company; X. l.. Potts,
local freight agent of the Southern Rail
way: ]. Y. Hamrick. State Labor Com
missioner; j. L. Click. Il resident of
Hickory.
Before examination of witnesses was
begun, Mr.. II. @. Burton, counsel for
Maj. Wilson. stated that he did not
waive the point that no evidence should
be heard except such as pertained to
the charges of Governor Russell.
A. L. Bryan was first called to the
stand. He stated that he was the
agent of the Southern Express Com
pany and knew j. W. Wilson.
Capt Day: did the Southern Elk
press Company carryanv goods free fol
j. w. Wilson in 1877"
Mr.. Bryan: II could not state posi-
lively without seeing the books.
''Will you make an examination Of
the books?"
81 cannot in my present state of
health"
what is your memory on that point :
81 am not certain, but l think it prob
able we carried some packages free.
''To what extent was this done?
''To very limited extent; possibly
a half dozen packages"
''Were they sent on frank?'
''They were sent free"
by what authority"
II do not know; ] cannot say: it has
been the custom of the company to ex-
tend courtesies to State officers during
my official connection of 81 years with
the company
Were you directed to carry pack
ages free for Major Wilson,"
II rather think not
For any member of the company"
II cannot say"
did you carry packages free for all
State officers?"
mo; for the Governor and heads Of
departments
Mr.. Bryan said that he did not rn-
member having carried packages free
FOR any other members OF the Railroad
Commission. IT would require much
time to ascertain just how many pack
ages had been carried free for j. w.
Wilson. Nothing had been carried
free for Wilson's family that he knew
of.
On cross examination Mr.. Bryan said
J. w. Wilson had never asked that
packages be carried free for him and
that he had never had Il frank
ibid Governor Russell ship packages
free in 1892"
1T is my impression that he received
some"
WAS this before the fuss was raised
about free transportation"
YES; we have been strict since"
On redirect examination Mr.. Bryan
was asked how long it had been the
custom to send goods free for members
of the Railroad Commission. He said
it hal never been a custom.
Mr.. Carr, of the committee: Did
Governor Vance ever get packages
free?'
Il think it probable
Hasten Poe said he had been an
agent of the Southern Express Company
in Raleigh since 1891.
Counsel: DO you recall having sent
any packages for j. W. Wilson,"
Il think we sent a few"
do you recall ever having charged
him for a PACKAGE
Il do not
"Why did the courtesy not extend TO
the other commissioners"
II cannot tell
For how many private citizens did
you frank packages!"
For very few; for none who did not
have grounds for it,
'What was considered grounds for
it,"
"a man who was a good customer"
'"ro whom beside customers and State
officers did you extend the courtesy Of
frank?"
''sro none"
did you ever frank anything for Coy
ernor Russell?'
I'VE did few packages about eigh-
teen months ago"
X. l.. Potts, the local freight agent of
the Southern. was examined only with
regard to Ohio Wilson. lie r"membel ed
having shipped furniture to Round
Knob hotel for Ohio Wilson.
How did those rates compare with
regular rates.
II believe it was a half rate"
"What We're the full rates:'
81 do not remember"
Under what authority did you give
half rate?'
"That of the fraight department.
He had never seen a printed rule Civ
ing hotels half rates on furniture.
( r H Click testified only rs n. rho