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


elevated to the high office he holds has
turned against him. In his poverty and
friendless condition he comes before YOU
pleading for simple Justice
SPEECH OF MIR. DOUGLASS.
At the conclusion Of the argument Of
counsel for Ohio Wilson. Mr.. W. G..
Douglass, for the Governor. took the
floor to make the closing argument.
Mr.. Foushee. of Durham, moved to
adjourn until s O'Clock; the motion was
put and lost.
Mr. Douglass proceeded with his
speech. During the first fifteen minutes
counsel was several times interrupted
by jurors
Mr.. Douglass said:
The speech-ifying on this occasion is
my duty and shall waste no time in
pouring molaSses.
There are but two questions to be de-
cided apart from side lights.
l.. Did $. Otho or James w. Wilson
have any interest in anyway in a rail
road?
>. Did either. during their term OF
Office become disqualified?
Major Wilson did have an interest in
Il way in the Southern Railway. He
owned property Jointly with a. Il. An
drews. who was the Southern Railway
in small.
Mr.. Rountrec: Do you assert that as
proposition of law?
Mr.. Douglass: \ corporation is rep
resented by its agents.
After some sparring between Judge
Conner and counsel. Mr.. Douglass con
tinucd:
Major Wilson had conducted an eat
inc house through IL lessee under an
agreement that it was TO be a railroad
eating house.
1t was as much contract as though
there had been a specific agreement in
legal form.
An agreement was made to run II
hotel. The railroad was interested III the
hotel. because il had stipulated that the
hotel was to be good eating house.
1t had an interest in the proper conduct
of the hotel. and Major Wilson and J.
W. Wilson had IN interest in the rail-
road schedules.
WAS Major Wilson quali6ed?" coun-
sci asked.
Il will not spend. much time on 5.
Ohio Wilson, the ex-Gideonitc, who has
months like II terrapin trying to shed his
she'll
Il charge Major Wilson with no
crime: if he had owned railroad stock
he would have been disqualified, but not
criminal
Mr.. Rountrce: What is a disqualified
ton?
Mr.. Douglass: \ Railroad Commits
sioner must have the qualities of Il
indgc. n juror aud IN arbitrator. under
the great policy of the law. As a judge
who would be unbiased; as a juror who
has formed no opinion; as an arbitrator
whom you would select to decide in a
case between you and the railroad
How about Major Wilson:
Major Wilson gets money from bank
in which Col. Andrews was an officer,
on Col. Andrews security and gives Il
mortgage The law looks suspicionsly
upon dealings between mofgagor and
moTtgagee.
Major Wilson caused the Southern
Railway To violate the very law under
which he. was made commissioner. The
reason and purpose Of the law was that
the commission should be qualified as
judges. jurors and arbitrators.
Suppose complaint had been made by
a passenger that it was announcement TO
stop ut Round Knob? The ease would
have been tried before court composed
of three. Il two of whom We're parties in
terested in having trains stop mt the
hotel
Suppose another case. Suppose COM
plant had been made that Ohio Wilson
had had goods transported free! There
is testimony to that effect"
Mr.. Justice. of Mcdowell. interrupted
to say there was no such evidence.
Mr.. Douglass: Would the Wilson's
have been qualified to act in such case!
Your rights would have been in the
hands Of men. one of whom was It
tenant in mortgage and the other 4
tcnant for years of Col. Andrews.
..Major Wilson accepted free trans
portation for himself and family and
made the railroad violate the law of the
land. The law forbade the use of passes
and the railroad commissioners, who
were to enforce the law had their pock-
cts full of them. Transportation is the
stock in trade of railroad and the COM
UiiSSlDHtTS dtttpitu iiAN' 81 J"NSN
the bench had ms well accept part OF
the recovery.
The Southern Railroad knew they had
violated the law in giving Otho Wilson
special rates. and before the commits
sioners threw themselves on their con-
stitutional rights and refused to
testify"
Mr.. Douglass read the letters that
passed between the Southern Halfway
and Major Wilson, emphasizing the
offer of the road to ship "deadhead II
necessary" Necessary for WHAT he
exclaimed. what does that mean! |
leave YOU to answer. Was that an oiter
of II summer excursion rateV
Mr.. Douglas provoked considerable
merriment by reading the bill of lading
OF S. Ohio Wilson on the goods snip
ped to Round Knob
Maj. Wilson got free transportation
for himself and family. he got favors for
his lessee and favors for his co-commis-
sioner: favors for his eating house and
fayors from the bank of the officer OF
the railroad company.
.Otho Wilson in his answer to the
Governor, swore he was in debt to his
mother and bought things for the hotel
on that account The evidence showed
.l.,4 H., had han,, aJy ~ mOppV for