The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-05-13

| T.4Gun 0ns ~Iouit nav 'fFFf
.o,d- 10 Governor Russell at that time.
LETTER NO. ..
This i a little longer. but. as Mr..
COX rartifes. il also is typewritten. nr-
s;oned. undated. and with nothing 10
connect me with it. and | do not recall
over having seen it and it is unneces-
sarv 10 take space 10 print it.
LETTER NO. 4.
Nv Dear Governor: There are spies
watching your house and mine-this :
r. r. rule.
If the matter is important enough 10
iustifv it will come around about 80
o.clock But if YOU can conveniently
write the subject matter send me a notH
81 bearer. | will not hesitate 10 come.
II subject is important enough. in your
opinion. Yours truly
This note is undated and nothing in
d~icates to what it refers. That my
house was watched by spies IS unfoftun-
atcly true, as the public may remember,
and visitors who came on social occa-
sions. more than once were surprised 10
find the fact telegraphed TO railroad
newspapers. Indeed on one occasion AT
least the messenger carrying my mail 10
the DOStOH1Ctf naU Int letttIS tdhth odI
Il his ard Nv railroad law agent
ana the names of the parties to whom
they were addressed given to a newspa-
per correspondent and telegraphed TO the
\. Charlotte Observer and published as
news by that reputable paper. Under
such espionage is any judge liable IN
Raleigh, whose independence makes him
obnoxious to the great corporations,
which seek TO control the government OF
this State.
LETTER no. 5.
Personal.)
My Dear Governor: You will probably
not be at your office until court meets,
so l drop you this note.
Would not Aycock be the best man
and if for any reason he is not ayaila-
ble-I respectfully suggest Judge Conner.
The grand jury before they adjourn
surely ought to investigate Messler'S
case, or the one-half rate from here
to Round Knob, or SimOnton's coming to
court in a palace car free. Each is a
s., 600 offense and notorious. If it was a
little chicken larceny it would be hunted
up and somebody sent to the penitentiary.
Yours. w. c..
This recommended Mr.. Aycock (now
GOVERNOR or Judge Conner as a good
lawyer to see to the execution of the
law against free passes and d~iscrimina-
ton in freight rates. both of which are
forbidden. under heavy penalties, by the
statute. | had doubtless been asked to
suggest a good Democratic lawyer, and
l certainly named two, whose democracy
and legal ability reflected credit on nv
Judgment.
LETTER NO. 6.
My Dear Governor: See last quarter
of naUa 40 in J1S NJ n anl rnforarono
there cited i. e. Lawson on Contracts"
and Mechem on officers. $50 and cases
there cited. You can get these books of
the Court Library.
Yours truly,
WALTER CLARK.
The above Is simply an answer to an
enquiry as to some law point by refer
ring the Governor of the State to book
and page. where he could find it. Those
who Will turn to the citation will find
it to be good morals and good law.
LETTER NO. Z.
Permit a suggestion-Act 1891. Oh. 500.
Sec. 4 clearly and Enthusiastically makes
any discrimination IAN offense" punish
able by fine not less than 81 600 nor
more than 5000 Send W. C. Douglas
today to Solicitor Pou, inform him of
what he heard Of Page, and have bill v.
r. r. sent for for hauling freight one
half price. summon Page and freight
| agent here with his books, and the party
whose goods were hauled free Cor one
half price,. He cannot refuse to testify, F.
as he is not indictable. only the common
carrier.
In this way, you can get the evidence
you want. Again last year Simonton
came here to hold court-not only on a
free pass, but in a private palace car
free. He is not indictable, but the rail
road can be made to swell our school
fund 1000 for having had the honor"
&c, TO give him free cars, free passes,
free food, &c, and the National and
State publicity given the transaction will
open the eyes of the plain common peo- |
pie very effectively, both in North Caro-
lima and throughout the Union.
4 very little trouble will get bill as to
both above transactions and it is
worth it.
Destroy after reading"
CFhe above unsigned and undated.
May 9, 1902. B.. r. ACY."
This was the advice Of a law officer, a
judge, to the Chief Executive as to the
execution OF the laws, which We're being
openly and VIGOROUSLY violated by pow
erful and wealthy criminals. The people
of North Carolina speaking through their
legislature had decreed the giving Of
free passes to officials so immoral, and
so directly tending to bribery, that it
was made a crime punishable with a fine
of not more than S 1000. It was and still
is on the statute book. 1t was the duty |
of any citizen, especially a judge to call
attention to SO Haunting and open a
violation of the laws Of the State. The
advice was not acted upon, and no such
case came before the court. But if q
grand jury and a petty jury had found
the facts | should not have been disquali- |
fed to set on the case any more thar a
judge who directs a grand jury to inves-
tigate any other open and notorious vio-
latiOn of the law. !
Even right now this free pass business !
is starting up, though often concealed in
the shape of donated tickets and donated