The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-10-03


1t was naturally expected that the Times
would explain the matter In its issue of
Tuesday afternoon, but instead this SIM
pie statement appeared: "We have
been trying to get some definite and cor
rect Information concerning certain al
legations which formed the basis of a
story printed in the Raleigh morning
paper This was Disappointing to
those who had hoped for q more specific
explanation and left the public to con-
clude that the allegations were we'll
founded.
On Wednesday morning the News &
Observer contained a spicy review of
the situation which added largely to the
interest of the discussion by printing a
statement TO the effect that Business
Manager George B. Crater, Of the Even
ing Times had said his paper did not re-
ceive any of the money and he knew
nothing of It having been paid to Mr..
brewery until the publication appeared
In the morning paper. The story went
on to say that Mr.. Crater appeared to be
worried about the circulation of such a
report concerning The Times and pro-
feSsed no knowledge whatever OF the
money having been paid to either the
P6pO1 - bAO Va OSG0O4b IA bHO OOA HOA0
ton publishing it. This, In view of the
Indispensable fact that somebody had re-
ceived the money, placed the reputation
of Mr.. brewery in jeopardy and brought
out a special edition of the Times We'd
n0sday morning with a positive denial
from Mr.. Crater, who declared that he
had o made any such statements as
were attributed to him in the story
published by the News & Observer and
bitterly denouncing that paper for pub
fishing what he termed "a tissue of les
Said he had made no such statements to
any one and demanded the authority
for whatthe morning paper had credited
him with saying concerning the South
ern's vouchers. BY this time the ex-
citement had become intense and Thurs.
day mornings issue of the News & OBJ
server was eagerly scanped, it is said,
for evidence to confirm its story of the
day previous. Here Is what 1t said:
"The News and Observer, with the
statement that it was upon. undoubted
authority, printed that Business Mana
ger Crater had said that he knew moth
Ing about the vouchers from the South
ern Railroad TO John @. brewery for
advertising and Especial notices. and
that the Times die not get the money.
In an extra edition of the Times, is
sued yesterday, he pronounced it ''abso-
lutely false and its author q combination
liar, back-biter, defamer of character,
glanderer, bearer OF false witness"
Col. Charles e. johnson, president OF
the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company
and one OF the most prominent business
men in North Carolina, ignores Mr..
lCrater's SANDER and makes g. frank and
direct statement which leaves Mr.. Cra-
ter in a position from which not all the
ingenuity of the Southern Railway law.
yers can extricate him.
Col. Johnson's letter Is as follows:
Septsmper 25th, 1907.
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, Raleigh,aN. G.
Dear Sir:-Since my name, much
against my will, has been brought into
the discussion of the matter, l feel that
it is due myself to makes brief state
ment of exactly what occurred In the
conversation / had with Mr.. Crater. /
repeated the substance of this CONVEX
safion in Governor Glenn's Office later
and such q thing a. a controversy arts
ing from 1t was very foreign to my
thought or intention.
In passing through the Capitol Square
on the morning of yesterday, the z4th,
/ met Mr.. Crater. The matter OF the
publication in the mornings News and
Observer was brought up and Mr.. Cra-
ter seemed very much disturbed over
the prospect of injury to the paper and
loss to himself. He said that he had
known nothing of these vouchers until
that morning and that The Evening
Times did not get the $4,000. He saio
that he was so worried over the matter
that he did not know what to do. He
said that he would like to talk with me
about it, to which Ireplied Cali right
He remarked hat his livelihood depend
ed on the paper, or words to that effect,
and in reply Iurged him not to be dis
couraged, that the paper was q good
business proposition and to go ahead
n work the thing all out straight. ]
left him, feeling sorry for him over the
situation, and with the impression firm
~ hxedin mysmind that he knew moth
Ing whatever Of the $1,000 transaction.