The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-08
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Million Dollar Suit Over MineraI
Lands in Ashe COunty-Dr. BrattOn
Observation-Disclosures News at Raleigh
Messenger Bureau.
Raleigh, n. c., May B.

Raleigh, n. G., May D.
State Auditor Dixon expresses him.
self as pleased at the result of his visit
to several counties TO aid the commits
sioners in forcing the retail liquor deal
ers to pay the tax of .02 on the 81 of
their gross purchases. He says in n
town a saloon keeper admitted that he
did from $40, 900 to $4,000 business a
year and it was Ound that he only
gave in $500, as purchases. When con-
fronted with this he asked for time TO
consult his attorney. The state auditor
says hat the indications are that in
Greensboro the liquor dealers will pay
on about s66, 900, purchase instead of
less than $4,000 given in. This will
be about $3.50 net gain in revenue. The
Wake commissioners have
the Raleigh dealers to appear before
them.
Colonel ]. c. L. Harris, who has been
investigating the Harnett county pro-
hibition act which contains no penalty
for violation but simply says that it
shall be unlawful TO manufacture or
sell liquor in the county, gives us his
| opinion that ViolatorS Of the law can
| be punished. He says that the courts
have held in several cases that where
| an act says cit shall be that
| this alone makes the violation a mis-
| demeanor.
Today's hotel arrivals were w. NJ.
| Mackay, Pinehurst J. A. Higgins, Red
| Springs; H. B.. NJ. Eaddy, RaefOrd: B.
H. Winburn, Wilson.
Deaths in Raleigh during April were
I whites and 9 colored.
The trustees of the Baptist Female
| University have discontinued employing
| special agents to solicit funds for the
university and Rev. A. d. Hunter and
| Rev. A. L.. Belts AVE ceased to work
in this capacity. President r.. t. Vann
will devote part of his time to his dur
ing the summer. The university started
out to raise 4 1000 by May LIST and al
| most SIS, 900 Of this is still lacking. The
money from the FairclOth estate will
note go to this fund.
The city election is passing off today
without incident. There are contests in
two divisions for aldermen but the fight
is not spirited and the regular nominees,
will win. Two tickets are at the polls
for mayor, namely, for Mayor A. NJ.
Powell, the regular nOminee and for
j. S. Wynne, who was defeated in the
primary. Very few votes had been cast
up to II a. m, and Wynne had not re-
ceived so in the city.
insurance Commissioner James r.
Young is in Greensboro prosecuting the
negro Caldwell for insurance frauds.
Caldwell insured negroes, collected sos
and from 10 to so cents a month and
promised to set them up in business.
Governor Aycock has pardoned w. w.
Woody, a white man of Greensboro,
sentenced to 5 pears in the penitentiary
for undue intimacy with a girl under
ii years old. The girl now says that
she sWOre falsely or the stand under
compulsion from her father.
Raleigh Knights of Pythias carnival
and merchants fair is now in full swing
and the main streets were crowded last
night. More people were here than
was expected for the Opening. The sa-
loon men are disappointed because they
are cut out of part of their business.
Owing to the city election they had TO
close at 6 p. m. yesterday and cannot
open until Sill a. m. Wednesday.
Rev. DR.. T. D.. Bratton, of st. Mary's,
has not yet decided whether he will
accept the place as Bishop of Missis-
sippi.
1tepOTIS from durham lOudy 5ldle
| that greatest intere-t is being taken
in the fight at the polls between the
regular ticket and the anti-saIoon
league candidates, Mayor Cowan heads
the formers ticket and ]. F. Freeman
the latter's.
Lawyers are keenly interested in a
suit, BallOu VS.. BallOu, now on trial in
Jefferson, Ashe county, which involves
81, 600, 900 worth Of mineral land. a
dozen lawyers are engaged and it vas
certain to come to the supreme court.
General regret is expressed here that
Rev. H. E. Rondthaler, Of the Nora
Wan church. at Salem, will take a chair
in the college at Bethlehem, Pa
The first death in the state by light
ming this season is Robert Murray, kill
ed near Asheville.