The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-01-21
North State Cuttings.

The Western Union Telegraph Com
pany has obtained an order from Judge
SimOnton, of the United States Cir
cult Court, temporarily restraining
State Treasurer Lacy and the Corpo-
ration Commission from collecting the
license, or privilege tax, of 25 cents
on each mile Of the company's wires
in operation in North Carolina. The
Treasurer had notified the company a
few days ago that unless this tax was
paid by tomorrow he would place the
matter in Attorney General Gilmers
hands. The tax would amount to s4,377
on the company's 1858 miles of wire
The restraining order will be heard be-
fore Judge Purnell. January 20, at
Charleston. Treasurer Lacy says he
does not know why the Corporation
Commissioners are included in the suit,
ss they have nothing whatever to do
with the privileges of license taxes.
The Western Union Company claims
that the tax in question is in violation
Of the Interstate commerce law; that
tle company pays a very full tax on
q valOrem values, and that it cannot
lie taxed for the privilege Of doing in
ter-State business.
A serious Btabbing affair occurred at
the Aurora Cotton Mills in eastern
Burlington, Monday afternoon. Two op-
Cratives Of the mil, named Floyd
Johnson and Jesse Cook. each about
IS years of age, had some dispute on
Sunday, and bad blood existed between
them. At the dinner hour Monday
Cook sent for Johnson and asked him
10 apologize for the language used.
This Johnson refused to do, and, strik-
ing Cook in the face, as Cook alleges,
turned to run. Cook then made four
terrible gashes with a pocket knife in
Johnson's back, head and neck. One
cash in the back was eight inches long,
and each OF the others was Of a serious
nature. johnson lies in critical con-
clifton, and grave doubts OF his recov-
cry are entertained.
Tuesday Mrs. Parschall Long, Of
EdgecOmbe county, went to Raleigh
with her husband and Sheriff Bullock
to identify Joe Battle, a 22-year-old
negro, who is charged with having
feloniously assaulted her in August
last. Mrs Long said: Battle would
not turn his face; he showed all signs
Of guilt. I will swear he is the right
man. He is much lighter in color.
That Is because he has been In pris-
on" Battle was taken to Raleigh to
prevent lynching. He will be kept in
Jail there until his trial at Tarboro the
first week in March.
A band of three Italians with two
bears was run into by south-bound
passenger train No. IA, near Saluda at
10 o'clock Tuesday morning. One bear
was killed and one of the men fatally
injured. The wounded man was car
Tied to Saluda, where he will be taken
care Of until he dies or recoverR.
Mr.. Aldr1ch Tuesday introduced a
bill in the Senate for the erection Of a
statue Of Gen. Nathaniel Greene on
the battlefield Of Guilford Court
House. In the erection Of the statue
and in making preparation for the
site $4,000 is appropriated, the site to
be selected by the Secretary OF War
The condition to rendering the sum
available is that the site so selected
shall be conveyer free of cost to the
United States. 1t is believed that this
bill will pass.
The Supreme Court has granted q
new trial to Cassel and Gardner, the
employees Of the Ritter Lumber Com
pany, who were convicted at Morgan
ton last summer Of murder in the
second degree for killing Dockery and
Fortner. The decision eliminates
much OF the evidence on which the
State relies, and will give the prosecu-
ton uphill work at the next trial
which will be held at the April term
Mr.. H. P. Crawford, Of Woodleaf
Rowan county, was painfully injured
at BARRIERS Junction Saturday. III
was struck by a freight car and knock
ed down. Mr. Crawford was taken tt
the hospital in Winston, and it was
feared at first that his injuries were
serious.
The pen1tenuary arranged today t.
furnish 100 convicts to grade the Raj
eigh & Pamlico Sound Railway, be-
ginning at Raleigh, January goth
also to furnish 100 to Guilford count,
for the public roads for one year
Seyenty-five convicts, now at Hills
boro getting ballast for the Southern
hallway, will be taken there.
In Charlotte Thursday night
criminal assault was attempted by al
unknown white man upon the person
at a young white girl from the schoo
5. Belmont, who was attempting =
reach the home pf her sister.