The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-09
CLARK-wILsoN CONTROVERSY.
A Statement from Ex-Attorney Gem
eral WaIser-Rumors Regarding
This Matter-PIans for the Normal
school ParkA

sent out from Greensboro, and widely
circulated, that an intimate friend OF
ex-attorney general and present su
preme court reporter, q. B. Walser, had
said that Mr.. Walser told him he was
personally aware Of the fact that at
the time OF tie death of Chief Justice
Faircloth, Assistant Justice Walter
Clark was anxious to receive the APP
pointment from Governor Russell. and
among other iocts to verify the state
ment, Mr.. Wslser is quoted as having
said: Judge Clark spoke to me freely
on the subject and said he would be
glad to be appointed chief justice il
the same could be made satisfactorily.
etc"
This statement was considered as
very important, especially as it corrob-
GRATED, in a substantial manner, the
charge brought against Judge Clark
by Major wilson, that he had sought
the appointment from Governor Rus
sell. The following signed communica-
ton. received last night by this corre-
spondent, from Mr.. Walser is equally
important and as tending to sustain
Judge Clarke's denial:
Lexington, n. c., May 8.
All <lANdA ~ cOy l. 1909 WI SIO
dent. Greensboro. n. c.:
Dear Sir: Relative to correspon-
dence sent from Greensboro to several
papers by a former correspondent sew
eral days ago / desire o to make the
following statement in the same chan
mel that the error may be corrected:
Judge Clark Id not tell me he would
be glad to be appointed chief justice
if the same could be made satisfac-
torily.' In the course of a general con
v%ersation relative to the succession to
the chief juStlceShip, my recollection is
that I asked Judge Clark if he would
accept the appointment if rendered, he
being the senior associate justice, and
he replied he would if rendered I'M
solicited, but that he would in no way
seek the same. This is the incident as
I remember it. and anything to the
contrary heretofore published as COM
ing from me is incorrect.
Il expressly stated to Judge Clark
that 1 was pressing the appointment of
Judge FurcheS to the vacant place of
chief justice. The names of Governor
Russell himself. Judge Furches, Judge
Clark and others had been mentioned
in Connection with the vacancy"
a distinguished visiting lawyer here
last night, said the criticism of Judge
Clark for writing a letter to Governor
Russell, or for ever having anything
to Go with him, came with poor grace
from men who had moved HEAVIER and
earth to ave the governor for chief
justice. The emark was generally
c%oncurred in, one strong anti-Clark
man saying it would be a shame for
the democratic party to nominate Clark
and force Major Wilson in his old age
to bolt the democratic ticket.
|. Criticism here is freely expressed at
the effort on the part of Russell to get
Judge Clark 20 formally request the
publication of confidential c~orrespon-
dence, after ne had already violated
the code of ethics by hawking it about
among lark enemies and having
the substance published in the most
unfavorable light. 1t is alleged that
Russells sole purpose is to get tech
nically freed from the social and moral
odium. which might be attached to a
BETRAYAL of confidence between gentle
men, and hat he feels poignantly his
position in that regard.
A we'll posted public nan stated here
last night that it was generally talked
in certain circles in Raleigh, that the
same party who held a photograph
o of Clark's letter to Russell, and
being the same man with whom the
ex-governor entrusted the original, has
also in his possession letters written
by him to high railroad officials. or
photograph copes of them, and that he
Is completely at their mercy.
Another report current here is that
Major Wilson holds a trump card up
his sleeve to play when the time m
1t is a charge that Judge Clarke ad-
viSed n tried to induce the officials
of Wake county to break down the
DOR of the corporation commission and
forcibly eject the two Wilson's.
There is no apparent increase in the
anti-Clark forces here, the alignment
being practically as it was before the
war was openly begun by the publica-
ton of Wilson'S charges, except, that
citizens generally express the hope and
belief that Clark will fully explain his
position in connection with correcting
a document he had cause to believe he
would be calico upon to decide on as
Judge. One strange thing is, you never
hear any other name mentioned as
candidate against Clark.
Mrs. Laura McMurray, a sister of the
late Samuel IL. Wiley, died at James
town last night, of pneumonia. She was
a leading member of the Presbyterian
church. She had been sick only q
week. She vas ~ years Did. 1t was
her first sickness.
Judge Neal sentenced five convicted
defendants TO the public roads this
morning for from six months to nve
years. Among the crimes were bur
glary, incest and larceny.
Greensboro people, without regard to
conditions are gratif1ed at the success
of their base ball team at the opening
game at New Bern yesterday. They
anxiously await similar good news to-
day.
The executive committee of the
Normal and Industrial college held :
meeting last night and after ar
examination OF the plans and specifica-
tons for the Identifying and arrang.
Ing Peabody park there, submitted by
Manning & son, landscape architects
of Boston, they were adopted, and thi
work will begin. at once.
George FORSTER Peabody devised
10000 for this park. Manning Bros.
eminent artists, Of Boston, had in theil
employ a young lady stenographel
from the Normal. and becoming inter
ested in its work and history, they
offered to furnish these plans and
specifications free Of cost. PresidenI
Mc1ver is delighted with them and pre-.
diets it the most beautiful campus IL
fho cnrxh