The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-08
LETTERS OFFICIAL
DECLARES RUSSELL
His Defense For Giving Out
the Clark Letters.
HOW DID HE GET THEM
If Official Why Not on File in the
Office?
WILL GOVERNOR AYCOCK DEMAND THEM?
A Raleigh Man Writes the Sort Of Letter That
He Thinks Governor Aycock Ought
to Write TO Governor
Russell.
HOW DID HE GET THEM
If Official Why Not on File in the
Office?
WILL GOVERNOR AYCoCK DEMAND THEM?

a special from Wilmington yesterday
says that he seeks to evade the charge
that he betrayed confidence by turning
over confidential letters written by him
to Judge Clark in this way: He claims
that the letters were official and relat-
ed to official acts, and that therefore
there is no breach Of confidence in max
ing them public
Are they official? 1 dropped into the
Executive office yesterday to see Gov
ernor Aycock about the matter but the
Governor had gone to Union county to
make an address at school commence
ment and | could not see him.
Col Pearsall said that there were
no letters on file in the office from
Judge Clark with reference to the re-
mOvals of the Wilson's or any other let
tiers from him to Governor Russell that
he had seen
/ asked prominent lawyer yesterday
if it could be true that Governor Rus
sell was in possession of official letters
written to the Executive Department
and he answered.
mot unless somebody stole them and
gave them to him.
When Governor Aycock returns a
friend of Judge Clark intends to make
two demands on the Governor:
I. To see all official letters written
by Judge Clark to Governor Russell.
,. If there are no such letters on file
TO request him demand that Gov. Rus
sell return them to the files of the
Executive office, and to explain how he
and Southern Railway officials came to
be in possession of them.
Speaking about this matter later.
gentleman said here is the sort of let
ter that Governor Aycock ought TO write
TO Governor Russell":
Executive Department
Raleigh, N. c., May I.
Hon. Daniel l.. Russell, Wilmington,
n. c..
/ am informed that certain officials or
attorneys of the Southern Railway in
this city have now or did have last month
certain letters alleged TO have been writ
ten by Judge Walter Clark to the Chief
Executive of the State on official bust
ness that these letters were photo
grahphed or Autographed by said South
ern Railway attorney; and that copies
of them have been variously distributed
by Southern Railway attorneys through
out the State.
| write to ask how you carnc in pos
session of official letters thai ought to
be on file in this office? Did you abb
stract them before your term expired and
give them to Southern Railway attor-
neys, or has some one since then stolen
them from this office?
If tn letters were addressed to you in
your official capacity as the Chief Exc
cutive of the State, then were they not
the property of the State and should they
not have been placed and retained among
the files with other official documents in
the Governors office? Wee they not as
much the property of the State as any
bond or other valuable security, or the
desk at which you wrote or the chair
upon which you sat? Had you any gh
while Governor or on retiring from Tie
office to remove the same from the office
for any purpose Whatsoever to
serve any personal ends? If you had no
right to take these letters, would
not section 1915 of the Code, which reads
as follows, prove relevant and interest
ing?
IL any officer, agent OF enplOye OIL the
State or other person, having or hold
ing in trust for the same any bonds is
sued by said State, or any security, or
OTHER PROPERTY AND EFFECTS of
the same, shall embeZzle knowingly
and wilfuIly MISAPPLY OR CONVERT
THE SAME TO HIS OWN USE, or other
wise wilfully or corruptly ABUSE THE
SAID TRUST, such offender and all per-
sons AIDING AND ABETTING, or other
wise assisting therein, shall be guilty of
felony and fined not less than ten thous-
and dollars or imprisoned in the peni-
tertiary not less than twenty years. or
both. at the discretion of the court
If these letters, however were private
and confidential, and passed from Judge
Clark to you as from man to man or
friend tc friend, then different rules,
which have always obtained among gen
tie and knightly men would apply. In
that case | have neither any right or
desire to know their contents.
Very truly,
CHARLES A. BEECOCK.
Governor.