The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-09
THE MARTIN DEFALcAr1oN
The Legislative Committee EXAMINING
h ~Penitentiary ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
M~Issing-The San Jose Scale-sherins
Slow In Settling.
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, n. c., April 5.

Raleigh, N. c., April 5.
The attendance at today's adjourned
session OF the legislature was larger
than expected. Speaker Moore, of the
lower house, came. He had n expect
ed to attend nor was he looked for. He
said it was necessary to pass a few
local bills, which were overlooked at
the regular session which ended March
18th.
The investigation of the penitentiary
books, etc., in the state treasury by the
special legislative committee, of which
Senator Arlington is chairman, began
this morning. The statement has been
made that the thefts of Major Martin,
the ex-clerk, aggregate $4,000. The
treasurer says this statement in nau
thoriZed. No one has any idea what
will be the amount; Martin avs about
$4,000. An expert told the grand jury
it was $4,000, the penitentiary officials
figure on something like $500.
The total fire loss here during the
year ended February 2Sth, was $21 800,
with $18, 663 insurance. OF the loss ST.
500 was on the Willardville hosiery mill,
in February. There were 81 alarms
during the year; 8 false. The total ex-
pense of the fire department was 1921.
~ ANROA~ FND N~
Chief L.. a. Mailer.
At the agricultural department it is
stated that the presence of the San
Jose Scale has been discovered at seven
different localities.
Today J. A. Brown and N O'Berry,
of the new pen~itentiary directors, went
to the ~penitentiary and took charge.
They at once began an inventory. They
will see what is the system. what is
Necessary to be done, etc. Meantime
there will be no changes in the person
mel. Directors Travis, Grassland and
Mann left this morning for the peni-
Tertiary farms on the roanoke river,
to make an investigation, take an in
ventory, etc. enator Brown thinks
the work will take a months time.
The Jail here is to be enlarged, or else
so r~earranged as to give female prison.
ers entirely different quarters.
State Treasurer Lacy says that thir-
ty sheriffs have failed TO make settle
ments and thirty others have only made
partial settlements There may be
suits.
The trial of w. H. Martin, the de-
faulting ex-clerk of the state treasures
was the event in the superior court to-
day. 1t had always been said he would
submit though lately he had employed
two lawyers. He had written all over
the country to get money. 1t is believ-
ed he would have fled of he had had
money at the time of the discovery of
his crime. All the penitentiary vouch-
ers for five years are gone.
B. z. Sedberry, of Fayetteville, died
recently and it is found he made be-
quest to the NJ. E. orphanage here.
There is & great rush of northern peo-
pie to Pinehurst. The hotels there are
full.
The pending claims for supplies fur
nished the state oyster patrol steamer
Lily, under Whites administration, ag-
crrnOaSn np9r1U 81 Ron Thn<R which the
special legislative committee allowed
will be paid.
Miss Roberta Best, the last daughter
of the late Hon. r. w, Best, died yes
teTday at Washington Her body was
brought here today and buried beside
her fathe and three sisters, all of
whom died within the past three years,
at Washington.
The executive committed of the North
Carolina Bankers Association met at
Greensboro last night and arranged
for the annual convention at Ashevilie
in May.
One of the most popular and valuable
of the acts of the last legislature is that
giving state aid TO libraries in the COM
mon schools-that- is not over six IL
braries in each county. Applications
are pouring in. The county of Durham
which leads all the state in the length
Of it's school terms, decides to go fur
Their and provide a library at each
SchOOl-Some eighty In NUMBER.
Speaker Moore says there is snow In
the mountains. 1t fell Monday. Tor
rents of rain have fallen n the mocn-
tain streams are at flood. SteamS are
quite full in the central part of the
state.
The weather report here for March
shows the mean temperature was 81
degrees; two above the average The
highest was 76, the lowest Is degrees.
The rainfall was only 2.96 inches, while
the March average is 420.