The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-24
GOV. RUSSELL TELLS WAY aR
DISMISSED THE TWO
WILSON'S.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE Z

gage masters OF the ame ! am not
certain which. He also stated that I
would get free transportation (paEses)
over the SaQrbern r lilroad, stating
that his family already had them. I
asked him what csJuraEcs he couid
give me that the Round Knob Hotel
would remain an eating station, Il op
Grated by me, end he said he could
give me assurance as long as it was
owned by the railroad folks, either
naming Col. Andrews, o. J. W. Viii
son, or both, and if I leased it and the
hotel closed, the trains would stop at
Asheville for meals.
In regard to s o. Wilson's connec
ton with the hotel a5 Round Knob: That
ne certainly rented 1t for himself is
easily proven. He told me so toe first
time | ever met him. He also told
every body in this section the same
thing He also urged me to buy him
out. He did not say buy his mother
out, but himself, and said he would
transfer the lease. As l told you, hls
son, Who is now running the place, told
me that the cid man always took away
all the money, leaving him scarcely
enough TO make change When he
! took his family back to Raleigh, he
took nearly everything ia 1t; did not
leave a change for the beds, took al
most all the furniture he bought for
bis poor old mother. TIE old lady
Wilson hes complained time and again
to others, not to me, that she never got
a cent. Now, if you want any more
proof that he leased the hotel, write or
send to any one at OLD Fort that is en-
gaKed IN business. Yes, Maj. Wilson
asked Mrs. c. and 1 to accompany
their party out on the Murphy branch.
I have been told by different members
Of the family that they did not pay to
ride on the trains.
For any further information in the
Wilson case, have the telegraph opera
tor at Round Knob interviewed. Some
time prior (more than thirty days. to
the change OF the eating house, l was
informed by Conductor w. W. Bar
Der, that Mel. Wilson offered to lease
Round KaoD to Mr.. Christie, who
Keeps the eating house at Balsam, N.
O., guaranteeing two dinner trains d
day.
Mel Geo. D. Miles and Mrs. Gun.
ningham, who are nov at Round
Knob Hotel, will say that Otho's
mother t5Id them that she was TO get
a salary for running the house, and
that she had never received a cent;
that OHIO would pocket all as fast as it
came IN. That all the freight coming
10 tie hotel was D. Il. That all
the guests of the house would 60 on
the train without tickets or pass Cor as
many as wished to go, and go to Old
Fort and attend dances and return
without any questions-all that was
necessary was for OHIO or his boy 10
be on the train.
THAT the lady operator waste be fed
By Wilson, and the Railroad Company
was { o give her $12 per month, simply
to take orders for meals. J.. J. Lange
here, will say that Otho offered to sell
out his lease to him, yes, and the par
ties mentioned VIII say that OTho came
from RaIeIght night or so that he was
to answer, to get an efidaviE from his
mother that she was n Lessee. Geo.
Miles a 2 that OHIO off5red to take
him TO Murphy, and see that his 4 4.
fare should be nothing; that all he
had to say was pass that man" At
the time Of getting the mothers aft
davit, the operator al the hotel recelv,
ed orders to reporG the leaving of trains.
Day before yesterday, the dispatcher
here told conductor on fast freight to
stop at Round Knob hotel and let eff ).
Otho's boy. On this train no passen'
gers are allowed to ride.
"Mr. 8. Ohio Wilson asked for and
secured half rate Of freight on his
goods to Round Knob. You only have
to consult the railroad books to prove
this assertion.
About six or eight weeks ago. n
]. N. Morgan and myself were stand
ing in front of the Farmers Warehouse
in Asheville, N. @ and Mr.. OGho Viii.
son came down on the Opposite side of
the street and crossed over to US and
spoke to Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Morgan
then introduced him to me. l re-
marked / knew that he was the man
| who gave us those good dinners at the
! Round Kuob hotel. He said, Yes, I
give them one dollars worth Of grub for
seventy five cents, OuE it costs me two