Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-20
Dispute Between State Treasurer
and Penitentiary Board.
SITUATION AT KlTTRELL
Tho Executive Hoard contends that
Debts of rcni,cntinrs Contracted
Prior TO Drcrn,bcr 81, 1898 Must
&c paIG our or snic of Bonds,
md the Attorncy-GcncraI Snyn
My Must Hang.

iN'tt'lsAi, ~. -, Jbiit 80 81 'N''N''~
of the opinion of the Attorney General,
touching the payment of pepitentiary
claims. published i'll Sundays paper.
there is now n cash between the State
Treasurer and the Executive Board of
the States Prison.
The State Treasurer. following the
Attorney Generals opinion, announces
that he will pay out of the funds aris
ing from the recent bond sale no debt
contracted after December 3lst, 1895.
The Executive Board contends that
this is not Il correct construction of the
law. nor the intention of the Legisla
turc in enacting 1t.
Chapter COZ. laws of 1899. provides for
the issue and sale of $4,000 bonds to
pay the indebtedness of the States
Prison. The preamble defines the in
debtcdncss as that existing on March
T. 1899. by the language OF the preamble.
"Whcreas, there are NOW outstanding
and unpaid divers liabilities of the
State of North Carolina arising out of
the conduct and management OF The
States Prison" The word now" the
board contends plainly means the in
hcbtcdncss of the States Prison at the
date the act was ratified, March eth.
1899.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION.
Following is the opinion of Attorney
General Walser on the subject:
"Hon. w. II. Worth. State Treasurer,
Raleigh. \. c.:
Dear Sir-ln reply to your letter of
TIE i2th instant requesting my con-
struciion e.: chaptor COZ and G7o of the
public laws uf 1889 | will say Ii is my
ON Ia "a
that the maintenance and support OF
the States Prison for the fiscal year
1889 must be met entirely out OF the
S5v.G0p appropriated for that specific
purpose.
'''rhc indebtedness referred to in sec
tion five 90 G.. chapter COZ manifestiy
and Enthusiastically refers to accounts
lnadc prior 10 December 3lst. ls9S. all
other accounts being provided FOR by
chaptcr d.9, acts Of 1899.
THE proposition is too clear to admit
OF extended discussion.
Wy respectfully.
tSisneO III. T.. WALSER.
ATTORNEY General"
THE BOARDS OPINION.
Mr.. Z. l.. Travis chairman OF the
Executive Board. says:
Nov We hold that under this law we
have 40 risht, ana the Treasurer has
40 right to decline payment out Of
iIltSf' i-flltl lulltS al II tcDl ule on or
betarc March 9Th the time OF the yati-
iioatidn o. the act.
we VIII not changc Il single voucher
We have audited the claims and an
proved them. as the law says we shall
do. We find in ii no provision Tor re-
auditing by the Stale Treasurer. and f
he refuses to pay the warrants as made.
out Nv us then the holder of the war
rant has his remedy in the courts by
a munLamus against the State Treas
urcr.
IF Mr.. Worth PERSISTS in his deter
minai!on not TO pay these warrants it
VII probably cost the State $500 or 500
There are about 800 of the warrants ana
they are being sent to the banks here
for collection rtrcy- MT not pTtu my
Will 80 10 protest ana that. means s. or
81 each.
81 do not believe the Governor when
he returns will advise such course
The matter, ] understand is to be sub
united to The Council of State"
THE SITUATION AT IIITTRELL..
y spccia, from 1[ittren. this state
says:
THE spite of the negro against the
Blacknalls for their stand in the race
issue is constantly manifestin~ itself
Threats To XIII them and burn their
property have been freely made. While
boycotts against them have failed
s7'iiN Va tiiHii tilt-fioStS nave been IL
timidated and driven OFF. The packing
tents on their strawberry farm have
been slashed ana destroyed. Their wen
known state of preparedness has alone
saved them from more serious harm.
Last week Il plot was formed 10 as
sault and probably kin one of tho
younger SONS OF Mr.. O. w Blacluoll
lad in his teens. The young man
Willie passing through the negro settle
ment near kittrcil was assaulted by the
most turbulent and insolent nero in
the community who had long been
seeking Il quarrel with him.
Young I5lacknall. who was na;ura,Iv
less strong than the negro had been
also weakened by recent illness. ThouoI
taken unawares and while on tbn
ground, after Il prolonged battle. he
overcame his assailant, pounding his
head III Il manner that only Il son of
Ham could survive. and rendering the
use of the negro weapon, Il razor, i'm
possible
"A; the first cry Of the negro for help
mob of negroes. evidently in waiting
have promised aid, rushed to the scene.
In the melee which followed young
Blacknall was considerably bruised.
but he reached his buggy and securing
n revolver stood off the mob III time
10 save his life.
The Blacknalls, with their large
fruit and ?lant interests. are as con-
servative as any men I'm the State. By
both DISPOSITION and interest they are
impolled 70 peace and quiet. Their
present. embodiment was brought on
solely by the :irmncss with which they
have withstood negro encroachments
upon the white people of Kittrell. Per-
sonally they md no concern in the mat
ter. Their position as large employers
SC Toll. oil