The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-05
lCharlotte obseryer.l

Dr. George W. Graham. Professor
Alexander Graham and Mr.. II. q. Alex
allder returned yesterday morning,
from Baltimore, where they went TO
see the famous copy OF the Cape Fear
Mercury. owned by Dr. :. Milllngton
Miller. They. as a committee, make
the following report:
TO the Editor of The Observer:
The committee met pr. =. Milling
tom Miller in baltimore ON December
3u. l!sE1, and examined tile new sIsaper
in his possession. but We're not satis-
tied with the proofs OF It's genuine
ness for the following reason>
u. The Mercury exhibited 10y DIR.
Miller contained only two columns,
While that whose 81 WIS printed In
Callers Weekly WAS a three column
journal.
The Mecklenbur1 Declaration
in ne Miller Mercury is printed IN the
past tense. The genuine should be in
the present tense.
-. The Miller Mercury con AIMS
only II page Of printed matter. the
genuine has four.
II. The genuine Mercury Vef,ss TO
tho Colonial Governor as an enemy to
this province IN particular and Amer
lea IL g~y1eIa!.' The Miller Mercury
does not.
-. IL the Nerc1ry of Golfers
Weekly the top line of he second
column begins with ford. The latter
half of the word Medford. In the copy
Of the Mercury exhibited by Ir. Mil
ia.. H.. ,,-..H - - T.. -
"nd column mt several lines below the
top.
-. Dr. Miller showed a badly writ
ten letter, signed A. Stevenson and
said the Cape Fear Mercury at the
time it came into his possession was
Enclosed in thai letter. which he had
bought with a number IF others, and
as far as he could decipher the writ
Ing. referred IL the within newspaper
The committee was unable TO read
much Of the letter, but discovered that
it was dated February Il. 1897, six
months prior to the time the Mercury
came into Mr.. S~teyenson's possession
on August II, 1897. and therefore could
not allude 10 the Mercury.
After discovering these and other
discrepancies between the Collier Mer-
curry, the Miller Mercury, and the
genuine Mercury Of 1875, the commit
tee asked if Dir. Miller had any Objec-
ton to Mr.. W~orthington G. Ford, the
manuscript and old document expert
of the congressional library, examining
his find. The reply was no. but.
when told Mr.. Ford would arrive I'm
less than an our declined to see him
on the ground that DIR. Miller had to
leave town in less than that time. The
committee then offered to pay DIR. Mil
Ter $1,000, his price for the Mercury,
II he would remain until Mr.. Ford
could come and pronounce the news
paper genuine, but he refused. saying
he had his w way Of conducting bus
mess and did not propose to change It
by waiting for Mr.. Ford.
After some further conversation
DIR. Miller gave the committee the fol-
lowing letter and bid it good bye:
Baltimore, Dec. 80, 1905.
" Gentlemen of the Committee from
Charlotte. \. C..
Deal Sirs:
- agree to endeavor TO secure the
opinion Of W~orthinston G. Ford lby a
direct written request upon him with
in five days of this date) as to- the
authenticity of the copy of Cape Fear
Mercury now in my possession.
Yours truly.
"'S. WELLINGTON MILLER
"In conclusion the committee is OF
the opinion that it did % see i'm the
possession Of nr. Miller either a gen.
uine Cape Fear Mercury or a copy OF
the one the doctor printed in Golfers
Weekly in July. 1905.
(Signed)
GEORGE W. GRAHAM,
! ~ ANDER GHAHAM