The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-20
A POLITICAL SENSATION
A DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER SOLD OUT
TO THE REPUBLICANS.
sfOR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
Paid by Pritchard and O~thers-It Takes
Up the Fight Against the Constftu-
tsonal Amendment -Afidavft to This
Eject From \ Stakeholder
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, y. g.. July Is.

~"
The political sensation of the cam
paign was sprung today. n demo-
Gratis have openly charged Tor months
past that the Asheville Gazette, which
has pretended TO be a democratic
paper. was really bought oy the re-
publicans. and that its attacks upon
The franchise amendment to the con-
sd,ution were the result. Today Demo-
cratic State Chairman Simmons re
ceived the following fidav which
Laws bare the whole scheme. Ii Is ike
the arrests Of the democratic state
registrars Of election at Winston, upon
affdavits by negro federal ofnce-hoid-
ers. another Knockout for the publ
cans. The affidavit is As follows:
Il Walter Roy SomervIlle, make
this affidavit. believing il a duty L
owe the democratic party in North
Carolina
THAT from June. 1895. until June.
1899. | was a minority stakeholder in
the Gazette Publishing Company. OF
Asheville, N. c., publishing The Ashe-
Vile Daily Gazette and The AsheViiie
Weekly Gazette. The majority STOCK
| holders were James Z. Norton ana
| members OF his family. That in, or
JUL &lbkAAs ~ 1880
president, editor and director Of the .
Gazette Publishing Company, p
| ed and entered into an agreement with
Senator Jeter @. P~ritchard, Collector
H.. s. Harkins, Colonel V. ). Lusk.
district attorney, A. Z. Holton and
others, as representatives OF the re-
| publican party, to Oppose the constitu-
tional amendment and election law
drafted by the democratic legislature
of 1899. The editorial columns OF the
aforementioned publications were also
to be used on divers other occasions
and events, verbally agreed upon. De-
| ponent further sayeth that a regularly
written agreement to this effect was
presented to said James +. Norton by
representatives Of the republican
party. and signed by him as president
of the said Gazette Publishing Com
pany. The deponent further sayeth
that the terms in the agreement for
these services on the part OF James T.
Norton were five thousand s3.0oo.Oo)
dollars. to be paid by the republican
party in instruments Of one thousand
81, 0O0.00) ollar each, he first install
ment on signing Of said agreement,
the last installment by April. 1900. That
these Mount were TO be paid To said
James Z. Norton, personally and that
! ~deponent, in conversation with said
James E Norton and his sister. Miss
Mary Norton, in February. 1900. was
I'LL ~ lhd khiCS VI
ments had been paid, though no record
was made on the books of said Gazette
Publishing Company.
"Deponent further sayeth that in re-
peated conversations between said
James E. Norton n affiant. said
James +. Norton stated that his only
motive in opposing the said constitu-
tional amendment and election law
was the 5000 90 paid by the republi-
can party.
wv. ROY SOMERVILLE."
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this fourteenth day of July, 1900.
[Seall JOHN 5. WURTS.
Notary Public.
philadelphia, Pa"
State Of Pennsylvania,
County of Philadelphia-ss.)
|, NJ. Russell Thayer. "prothonotary
of the county OF Philadelphia. and
clerk Of courts of common pleas OF said
county, which are courts OF record,
having a common seal, being the Off
Ger authorized by the laws of the state
of Pennsylvania to make the follow
ing certificate. TO certify that John S.
Wurts, Esq, before whom the annexed
affidavit was made, was at the time of
so doing a notary public for the COM
monwealth Of Pennsylvania, residing
in the county of Philadelphia, duly
commissioned and qualified to admins
ter the oaths n affirmations and 10
take Acknowledgements and proofs of
deeds n conveyances Of land, ten
ements and hereditaments in said state
of Pennsylva-... and to all Of whose
acts, as s.LI full faith and credit are
and ought to be given, as well in courts
OF 1udicature as elsewhere; and that I
am well acquainted with the handwrit-
ing of the said notary public. and YER
lily believe his signature thereto is gen.
uine, and that said oath OF affirmation
purports to be taken in all respects as
required by the laws of the state Of
Pennsylvania.
In testimony whereof. / have here
unto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said court. this 14th day of July.
in the year Of our Lord one thousand
nine hundred.
M THAYER,
Pr~othonotary.
1Seal.l Court Of Common Pleas. Phil