Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-24
The Governor Wrestling With the
Case Of a Murderer.
DURHAM STRIKE QUESTION.
Why Fowler Was Defeated Mt Goldsporo
for tho Congressional Nomination Tho
Central Fair Associations Purse for
Racing Railroad Men Visit Durham to
Locate the Proposed Union Depot
Another Meeting to be Held in tho Early
Future.


Tom Smith. the negro murderer. who
has twice been sentenced to hang, is
reposing leisurly in the executive Office.
The Supreme Court. when it adj
journed several months ago, denied
Smith new trial, and the case was
transferred to the executive office for
action by the Governor. His Excel
lency has never taken up the case
though 1t is customary to set a date
for execution in capital cases like this
without delay. Governor Russell has
executive clemency. The Governor, it
Is said. breads to take action in the
case.
Smith. it will be remembered, killed
Cawthorn. young white boy, in John
ston county, about two years ago, and
then murderously assaulted two of
CnWtnorn'S companions. He was con-
victed at the first trial, but was given
new trial by the Supreme Court. At
the second trial Smith was again SEN
fenced to pay the death penalty and
the Supreme Court affirmed the YER
diet OF the lower court.
WHY FOWLER WAS DEFEATED
n special from Goldsboro says: IRE
ferring TO the beating of Congressman
Fowler in Clinton yesterday, 1 learn
to-day 1t was the result of Il personal
difficulty between Mr.. Fowler and Mr.
George Peterson, growing out of some
statement made in speech recently
IN which Fowler attacked Peterson
Parties arriving from Clinton to-day
say that the feeling against George
Butler is strong because OF n recent
letter In the Caucasian. and that But
Ter does not walk the Streets
THE CENTRAL FAIR
tnI fec,
Those officials of the Central Caro-
INA Fair Association, having In charge
the arrangements of cash premiums.
have completed their work. The purse
Tor horse racing alone amounts to
$1,000. This, the officials claim, is the
largest money ever offered for races at
q single fair in the State, and will un-
doubleday put the fastest and best
biooded horses on the track. 1t is less
than two months now till the fair and
there is yet much work to be done
The track is about completed and the
contractors arc hurrying along with
the buildings and fences. Fair off,
Gals are jubilant over the prospects of
having the best fair ever held in the
state. They do not yet think It will
be necessary 10 offer any apology on
the grounds that everything had to be
donc IN u hurry, as they were delayed
In getting started.
~
There were n number OF railroad men
at Durham yesterday looking around
with a View of locating the proposed
union depot. Only two roads-the
Southern and Seaboard Air Line-were
represented, and nothing definite could
be done about the matter. 1t was in
tended that all three of the roads
should have representatives here
and that the depot would be decided
upon. The notice Of the meeting was
not sent but until last Friday, and the
time was so short that the Norfolk and
Western officials could not send n rep
resentative yesterday. Those here were
as follows: Capt. V. +. McBee, gene
raj Superintendent of the Seaboard Air
Line: Capt. N. j. OBrien, division
superintendent of the Southern; Capt
j. l. Cheatham, assistant general
freight agent and Capt. r. w. Whis-
Eant. division superintendent, both OF
the last named being of the Seaboard
road. These men spent the day look
Ing around over the various sites pro-
nosed. A later meeting will be held
probably within the next ten or fifteen
days, at which time all of the roads
will be represented and the location
will be decided upon.
DURHAM STRIKE QUESTION.
Mr.. b. w. Allen, president of the
labor union in West Durham. which
has caused considerable commotion in
Durham for n week or SO, will leave
In few days for Wake Forest Col
lege. where he Will resume his studies.
lie has already. gone through two years
at this college and goes back to take
UP his junior year work. He was at
work in the West Durham mills dur
Ing vacation, making money to pay
his way through school when the labor
trouble came on. His brother, Mr.. C.
A. Allen. who is secretary of the or
ganization. is also student at Wake
Forest College, but he will remain at
Durham until the strike question is
settled or all of the strikers have en-
ployment in other mills. Then he will
go buck to school also.