The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-01
THE RAILROAD TAX CASE
Witnesses From BIaden County Testi-
fed Before the Standing Masters Ex-
animation observation-disclosures VIII
be the Next Place at Which Wit
nesses VIII be Examined.

The court Of Judge Shepherd, stand
ing master of the United States court,
which is examining witnesses here in
the railroad tax case. met yesterday at
$50 a. m. pursuant to recess on Fri
day evening. The railroads were rep
resented by the Hon. George Rountree,
Of this city, the Hon. Charles Price, of
Salisbury, and Captain w. II. Day, OF
Raleigh, the latter having arrived here
yesterday. The corporation commits
sion's counsel were Colonel John w.
Hinsdale, of Raleigh. and former Judge
II. G. Conner, of Wilson.
The following witnesses from Bla-
den county were examined on the part
Of the corporation commission: F. NJ.
Willis, R.. w. Tatum. n. Tatum, ]. n.
Melvin, T. s. Owen, c. M. Cain, s. N.
Ferguson, T. j. Freeman. assessors; J.
S. Williamson, register of deeds; and
w. Sanders. chairman Of the board Of
county commissioners OF Bladen county.
The assessors were from different
portions of the county. They testified
to the absence Of any rule or custom or
practice of differentiation of either
real or personal property in Bladen
county. Some a been assessors sew
heard Of such a practice or n pur-
pose on the part Of the assessors to as
sess either e or personal property
at less than its true value in money.
They all testified that their prop
erty was fairly assessed. except one,
who said he had no doubt that the
other assessors intended to assess his
property at actual cash value, although
he thought they had undervalued it.
This same witness testified tina this own
personal property a. assessed at full
value, but he thought that in his town
assessed at more than three-fourths OF
it's value.
j. s. Williamson, register of deeds
/ testified to the fair valuation and over
valuation of a large number of tracts
of land and to a great many sales in
his county where property had brought
considerably less than it's assessed value
almost all of which sales were volun.
tary cash sales. On cross-examinatior
he testified that he had made a care.
full search through his records, both a,
the request of the railroad and the cor.
poration commission attorneys, an6
had found but one instance in which
property had sold for more than it's as.
sessed value, that even in this case i
was explained to the railroad attorneys
that he would not take a certificate OF
deed to offer in evidence. He stated
that property had been sold to a non
resident for much more than it's worth
On cross examination some of the
witnesses testified that they had solo
property at more than it's assessed
value, and some testified that the,
would not sell their property at it's as.
sessed value.
Both sides express themselves as sat.
isfied with the testimony. Witnesses
from Brunswick and Columbus coun.
ties will be examined tomorrow; wit
nesSes from New Hanover on Tuesday
when the valuation of the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad Company will be
n into.
Next Friday the assessors for Duplir
county will be examined at Warsaw
n on Saturday at the same place
testimony will be taken from witnesset
from Sampson county. Witnesses from
Sampson county are requested to re.
port at Warsaw on Saturday instead O.
Thursday, as summoned.
The court took a recess till tomorrow
morning. Colonel Price. attorney fol-
the Southern, went home yesterday
and will be absent for a few days. r
G. Grady, Esq, will therefore repre-.
sent the Southern in the examination
until he returns.