The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-14
STATISTICS FROM REPORT OF STATE
SUPERINTENDENT
AN INCREASE OF WHITE POLLS
Number OF Negro Polls Decreased.
Question OF Shell-Fish Commissioner
Whites Salary-Outbreak of SMALL
pox In Granville County-State Not
Allowed to Amend Answer In Rail-
way TX Assessment Case-Indfcted
for a Prisoners Escape-Not Train
Wrecker Tart.
Especial to the Messenger1

Raleigh, y. c., December 12-It is
learned tonight that the grand jury
in the federal court here has returned
a true bill against Warden Green and
F. B. Arendall, of the penitentiary, for
the escape of the federal convict
Pearce.
The legislative joint committee ex-
amining the state treasury today count
ed 100000 of coupons, completing that
part of the work. The committee look
ed into the matter Of payment, under
the supreme courts mandamus, of
Theophilus Whites salary as she'll
fish commissioner. Filed with the
voucher is the courts order, in the
shape of a notice by the clerk that a
majority Of the judges in conference
directed the mandamus to issue. The
committee will refer this whole matter
to the legislature. The treasurer did
not decline to obey the mandamus, and
an interesting question is whether IL
he had done SO the court would have
imprisoned him for contempt.
The report of the superintendent Of
1sG32S white polls, an increase of 5000,
and II, ,5O4 colored, polls, a decrease Of
240.
The report of the schools is made
public. 1t shows the years receipts to
be S1,018, 900; disbursements $3.50, 600:
average length of white schools IA 2-3
| weeks; negro schools IA weeks; num-
| ber of white children of school age 49,
| 900, colored 222000; number of white
schools 5,047, colored 2,344; value school
property s1,077,O00; attending schools
142 900 whites, $4,000 negroes.
| There is an outbreak of smallpox
near Wilton, Granville county. Fifty
persons were exposed. 1t is said the in
fection was from cotton bagging.
| Judge Simonton denies the motion by
Ithe state to amend it's answer in the
| the tax assessment cases by denial of
| the assertion by railways that they are
assessed at full value and other prop
erty at less than full value. The state s
| attorney, Colonel Hinsdale, says the
| states attorneys confidently assert
| that the original answers to the rail-
| ways complaints raised the issues as
to differentiation of the railways pre-
erty and that they have no doubt it will
| be so found at the trial. Colonel Hins-
! dale was asked if he did not believe the
| result of the tax assessment case would
be large increase in property assess
| ment. He said: Yes, very large in
crease in the valuation Of all property;
| in fact, no telling how great" He said
he prositively believed that in the next
| three years the railway assessment
| would be increased so per cent.
| The postoffice inspectors today took
j. L.York's photograph. York tried II
| raise a breeze about the photograph
| yesterday.
| Yesterday a young man from Cum
berland country, appeared here and
asked the sheriff where he could enlist
in the army. Later, he was arrested
for being drunk, but was discharged.
detective of the Atlantic Coast Line
arrived today, said he thought this mar
was the train wrecker Tart. The mar
was re-arrested and held until this af-
ternoon, when deputy sheriff arrived
from Cumberland, who said he was not
Tart.