The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-12
MCBEE KEEPS UP HIS ISLANDERS.

McBee. who was waited into Raleigh
on free pass. and who left on free
pass, after expressing great horror be-
cause free passes have been given to 9th
ers, has turned up in Greenville. S. c..
That is the place. it will be remembered
from which the belated $4,000 is said 10
have been sent to pay part for the
stock Finch bargained to buy. When Nc
Bees conspiracy was given the solar
pleXus there were not few who. know
ing him to be out of railroad job and a
soldier of fortune. thought he had merely
put up big bluff. and was not the tool
of railroad wreckers and radical politi-
clans In Greenville he continues TO work
his mouth. and the Grecnville correspond
ent of the Charleston News and Courier
sends out an interview with McBec from
which the following is taken:
"An effort was made to get Governor
Aycock. as the representative OF the
States interests. to consent to a lease. To
this he at first acQuiesced. but ultimately
backed out. Then it was that Finch. who
was one of the largest private stockhold-
ers. decided to make the application for
the appointment of a receiver. after hav-
ing the promise of several others interest
ed to join with him. Judge Purnell. of
the Federal Court. heard the petition and
appointed me the receiver of the prop
erty.
''Then it was that the warrant was is
sued for my arrest by the State authori-
tiles. 1 refused to relinquish the manage
ment of the road unless ordered to do so
by the Federal Court, but Finch's attor-
ney, in his absence. consented 70 with
draw the receivership proceedings and
was left stranded. of course.
"By the short life of the receivership it
appears that Capt. McBee unearthed a
terribly festered sore of official corrup-
ton. and, he says, if the investigation
which is now being made of the affairs
of the Atlantic and North Carolina Rail-
road is not whitewashed some of Govern
or Aycock closest political friends will
be caught with a sheep on their backs,
and the Governor found picking wool out
OF his teeth. and he Capt McBeel hoes
not fear in the slightest any criminal at
tacks they can make against him or his
alleged conspirators.''
We print the above to show whv no
body should pay the least attention to
anything McBee says 1t is unnecessary
to point out the inaccuracies in the
above. 1t Is sufficient to say that they
are all OF like tenor with the one in which
he says: Finch, who was one Of the larr.
est private stockholders" Everybody in
North Carolina knows that Finch never
owned a single share of stock in the road
and the little that he pretended to own
had not been paid for, and that ne bar
gained for it only for the purpose of bring
ing the suit
Equally misleading is his statement as
to the Governors attack on the lease
question While McBees offer to lease
was pending, the Governor was advised
that other parties would make an offer
He then announced that he would receive
BIDS up to certain day within the week
before passing upon the bids then in
hand. Before that day arrived, McBee
and Finch had carried out their con-
spiracy and put the road in the hands of
McBee as receiver The Governors dis
position has always been toward a lease
to proper parties, at a fair rental, properly
safe guarded but he has not ever been
ready to be railroaded into lease with
out mature consideration. Events have
proved that, under no circumstances
should a lease be made to McBee's crowd
AS to the scurrilous attack upon the
Governor we print it to show the animus
Of this whole internal conspiracy. There
may be many opinions about how the
road should be managed and differences
as to expenditures, but in all North Caro-
lima there is not man who doubts the