The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-03-12
GROWS IN INTEREST
Inquiry into Charges Made By
Newspaper Men
Especial TO The Messenger }

the investigation OF eX-EdltOr Simpson,
OF the Raleigh Times, and City Editor
H. E. c. Bryant, OF the Charlotte OBJ
server, in the matter OF the publication
that Josephus Daniels influenced the
legislative committees on the railway
rate bill TO spite President Henry Page
of the Aberdeen and Asheboro road
took decidedly sensational turn today.
1t was held al the attorney generals 5
office, and the IittIe room was jammed,
many prominent society women at
tending. Representative Peele and
Rev Plato Durham were sworn as
Witnesses. Attorney James H.. POu
announced that Rev. Durham had ask
ed him to protect him in his right as
he was TO be questioned regarding a
sermon he had preached il a church
and a sermon is privileged.
Pou declared the committees course
was unprecedented and said that free
dom Of speech in the pulpit had 70 be
guaranteed before North Carolina
could become a sovereign state.
Locke Craig, attorney for the in
vestigating committee. said Durham
could have counsel and would not be
examined in an unusual way. Peele
was the first witness. He was asked
what he had told Representative Stew
ems of the conference committee, as re-
ferred to by the latter in his testimony
yesterday. Peele said he talked to
Stevens about the personal animoslty
which had for some six years existed
between Daniels and Page and meant
that could be proved; that he did not
mean that Daniels had dictated to tie
conference committee. He said he did
not know Editor Simpson, Whereupon
Attorney POu said, Then | will intro.
duce you to a very honorable gentle
man. Mr.. Simpson, Mr.. Peele." At
this there was laughter and applause.
Durham was the next witness, aud
Attorney Craig read from the Charlotte
News Of March 4 a report of Durham's
sermon. The latter said the report vas
practically correct. He said he had
gained information from several
source Of Daniels conduct and that
Daniels endeavOred to exert his power,
both in his newspaper and also in L
private way. He had received knoW'-
edge in secret way that Daniels had
exerted his influence directly; that his
information came in a secret manner
and he did not desire to be made to
disclose the source Of his information.
Simpson desired to keep the faith and
he would pursue the same course as a
minister of the Gospel. He meant to
say just what he said in that sermon.
He had practical certainty of it before
any one ever said anything to him
about it and it was known all ovel the
state. A man stated to him that
Daniels asked his power directly to
bring this thing to pass. The state at
large was talking of this matter and
he was deeply grieved over it, and he,
as a preacher of God, thought it his
duty to call attention to it. He said
Daniels desired to do this thing and
he thought the committee was infiuanc .
ed, and helped to crafty Daniels spite
against Page. He had this information
from both private and public source,
and that public men here were Of
| fected by these utterances. Stevens,
| of the committee, speaking up, said
it was untrue that any one Influenced
! him. Attorney F. H. Busbee declined
protection for the witness. The later
! said as a minister he could not resent
! the warm words used. He said an aD-
| sGlute false editorial regarding him
/ and that he had met Daniels on the
street today and told him exactly what
/ he was going to say and what he
| thought of the affair. Durham refu 5ed
! TO give the source Of his Information.
Attorney Pou resented personally Rep
resentative Stevens statement. an1
City Editor Bryant Of the Charlotte
Observer, who was in another part o!
the room, quickly stepped to aid him
if he needed any. Durham said the
committee could send him to Jail fOI
! refusal to name his informant, but
Craig said there was no such purpose
and Durham was told he was never il
custody. Ex-senator Simpson was put
on the stand again and said he was
willing to answer any questions which
would not be used against him in {;
libel salt (:aig said he did no
know whether the committee would
examine any more witnesses for the
present. Pou said he desired to have ;
number of the legislators summoned
before they left Raleigh as he feared
if there was delay until they wen
home money might have to be ad
vanced. Craig said he could guarantee
there would be no cost in having then
summoned Attorneys for Simpson ant
Durham reserved the right to cross
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