The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-11
MAIN QUESTION:
WAS HERE
AN AGREEMENT
Betwesn Major Wilson and
the Railroad.
TO MAKE HIS HOTEL
AT ROUND KNOB AN EATING
HOUSE
CHM OSBORNE so RULED LAST NIGHT
Judge Bynum and Judge Avery Closed the
Argument and the Committee Re-
served its judgement.


served its Judgement
The special investigating committee
last night narrowed down the issue be-
tween j. w. Wilson and Governor Rus
sell. by a ruling of Chairman Osborne,
to the question: Was there AN under
standing or agreement between ]. w.
Wilson, part owner of Round Knob
hotel and chairman of the board of
Railroad Commissioners, and the South
ern Railway or it's officials to make
Round Knob hotel a railroad eating
house? Chairman Osborne announced
to counsel that it was the opinion of
the committee that the whole contro-
yersy hinged upon that question and
upon its answer would depend the decis-
ion to be rendered. Senator Osborne
gave it as his opinion that such an
agreement would have constituted a suf-
ficient cause for the suspension of j.
w. Wilson under the statute.
Judge Bynum closed the argument for
J. w. Wilson in a speech of an hour
and Judge Avery concluded for Cover
nor Russell in a speech of equal length
At conclusion of argument the commit
tee rose, Chairman Osborne announcing
that the committee would agree to-day
as to whether it would make public its
decision before such has been rendered
to the General Assembly in writing.
Only two of the FIVE members of the
committee were present last night when
argument began, but Representative
Justice came in later and made out
a quorum.
Judge Bynum, speaking first, for Maj.
Wilson, took up the charges seriatim.
JUDGE BYNUAI'S SPEECH.
Judge Bynum said in opening: 1.-The
time has come when feel that | shall
stand in need of all your Indulgence. 1t
is the force of my conviction that this
mans cause is just which makes me
doubt that / shall do it justice. am
afraid that ! shall not be able to COM
pose my spirit to perform my profess
sional duty. | appear for a man who
in his years of prosperity always kept
his heart and his purse open to his
friends. / shall not indulge in any abuse
but when it is necessary / shall call a
spade spade.
1.-The first thing which we are to
answer is that as to free passes. That
was in the argument, bur not in the
charges. They laid aside the charges
altogether"
Counsel declared with much empha
sis: THE SUSPENSION OF JAMES
w. WILSON WAS BY A PARTISAN
EXECUTIVE AND FOR POLITE
CAL PURPOSES" Judge Bynum then
+bn lnt+r IL 20
Major Wilson and emphasized the words
"A. b. Andrews, general political mana
GER declaring that the political object
the Governor had in view was self ag-
grandizement, by attacking railroads
and reducing rates. When he found
that L. G.. Caldwell could not be made
tool he tried TO get rid of him. Coun-
sci then returned to the free pass charge.
Chairman Osborne inquired whether
the pass of Major Wilson on the Wes-
tern North Carolina Railroad was hon
ored ON the Southern. Judge Bynum
said it was. Counsel had ridden on
passes when judge and of the 63 eases
against the railroad which came before
him the road won but two. He did not
believe that the railroads thought that
men put ON the bench by the Demo
cratic party could be bought with free
pass.
The second charge was as to Round
Knob hotel. j. w. Wilson had been
elected commissioner by AN ASSEM-
OWNER OF ROUND KNOB
HOTEL. He swore that he got the
same rate for his hotel whether it was
an eating house or not Sprague had
sworn the same.
Chairman Osborne interrupted to say
that he did not think owning an eating
house on the side of the road a sufficient
disqualification unless there had been
an agreement between the owner and
the railroad that it was to be made
an eating house. Counsel replied that
no such agreement had been shown.
Judge Bynum then took up the charge
as to the mortgage. His Excellency
the Governor of North Carolina, was
one of the strangest constructed men
he had ever seen. If Major Wilson
had been in the pay of the railroad
would he not have been able to raise
$4,000 without giving a mortgage? It.
was so pitiful and mean that to discuss
it was an insult to the intelligence of
the committee.
Counsel next took up the charge as
to telegraph and express franks. Chair
1lladl OSDDrTe interrupted anu Sdlu tndL
while he did not wish to anticipate tn i
opinion of the committee there was no
evidence as to telegraph frank.
Proceeding with the question of ex-
press franks, counsel said that the evil
dence showed that packages had been
franked only when they contained pub
lie documents sent by Major Wilson TO
other parties
The next charge was as to half rntas
Counsel created some merriment by de-
claring that while the half rate question
was being discussed last might Meth
odist preacher had handed him note
saying that the Southern Railway had
always given half rate ON freights to
ministers. Counsel then read from q
message of Governor Holt the statement
that the Railroad Commission had in
creased the tax valuation OF railroad
property $7,000,O00, in proof that J. w