The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-23
J. y. BOUSHALL, General Agent,
Tucker Building, Opposite Post Office, Raleigh, N. G.

/ character that l could not resign the same
whenever | saw fit without asking the
consent or advice of anybody. That
whenever | made up my mind to resign |
would be the Sole judge of the time and
| the occasion, but that if the board desired
TO get rid of me and had any charges
against me they could present them then
and there, that l would waive the ten
days notice" and would promise them not
| to bring any suit whether | considered
their action just or unjust, or If they
would only take action then and there.
They stated that they had nothing at all
| against me, either personally or Official
| w. and after hurried consultation passed
unanimously a motion to expunge from
the minutes everything relating to this
! matter, which was done, and but for the
fact that they resurrected it on one OF
their "whereases' the other day l would
not have alluded to it here.
At the September meeting the member
from Barton Creek and Commissioner Pc
gram made the claim that the other two
commissioners had agreed with them that
they would have their roads finished and
| would turn over the road forces to them
at this time. Just here l wish to call at
tentiOn to the fact that Supervisor Bail
ey, with an average of about twenty con-
vets and something over fifteen miles of
road. and Supervisor Holloway, with an
average OF less than ten hired hands
and about the same mileage OF road, were
expected to complete these roads in three
and one half months, when these same
commissioners knew that the old Raleigh
road force, with an average of about sew
enty-five convicts had been about four
teen years in completing about the same
mileage The world is making progress
but not quite at this rate.
From this time on the wrangle seemed
to be confined TO the commissioners them
selves as TO when the road forces were to
be transferred to the other two sections
of the county reiterating at each meet
ing the same old cry that unless some
thing is done, and done quickly in my
section. this board just as we'll make up
their mind TO stay at home after the next
election" / heard so much of this that
| concluded that some of the members did
not realize that they were the represen-
tatives of the entire county, but only
certain sections of the same, and shat
! they were less concerned about building
good roads for the county as the law pre-
scribes than they were about building
any sort Of an old road, just so il would
land them safely in their old seats While
the fight was on / had season of com
parative quiet until February 3rd. when
| | received from the clerk of the board the
| following notice:
Il am directed by the board TO send
you the following notice:
"On motion. it is ordered that the clerk
of the board notify Mr.. J. c. Ellington,
Superintendent of Roads, that they here
| by give him ten days notice and at their
called meeting on February 18th Will re-
| move him from office on account of inef-
liciency and neglect of his duties as Su-
perintendent of Roads of Wake County
This notice was properly addressed and
signed by the clerk of the board.
made written reply to this on Feb
ruary 18th, making a general denial aud
demanding specifications and proof.
| The board met at II o'clock, February
18th, and my note being presented by
the clerk the little matter Of specified
lions and proof of the charges engaged
| their most earnest and serious consider
elton for one hour At the expiration of
this time 1 was waited on by the County
Attorney, Mr.. Calling, with request to
appear before the board I found that
The specification" had been prepared
by the lawful adviser of the board dur
in gthe hours session, and were all con-
tanned on one side of leaf torn from a
small size pocket memorandum book.
This had been placed in the hands of the
Judge Advocate from Barton Creek,
who. it seemed, had been selected to
prosecute" assisted by the lawful adj
visor of the court martial Upon en-
tering the court room the little 'two-by
four piece of paper was thrust at me by
4, the Judge Advocate with the command,
Take this, sir, and deny it if you can.
After reading the little paper carefully 7
handed it back with the reply: well, sir,
do deny it and demand proof of your
charge The only answer 1 got to this
request was second thrust of the little
paper, accompanied with language much
more earnest and excited than respectful:
take this, sir, and read it through and
| deny it if you can. 1t is true, sir, and /
| defy you to deny it, My second reply
| was: Il have read it. l can deny it, and
I do deny it regardless of your defiance
| and l demand proof.
This. my fellow citizens, is a fair sam
pie of the farce which they have called a
hearing The chairman OF the board or