Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1910-04-28
ANOTHER LIE NAILED.

Chickasaw county. used pass over
the M. & O.. while going to and from
the recent session of the Legislature
Capt. Burkitt denounced this as an in
famous lie, and offered $4,000 to an,
one who would prove it.
The following letter, which proves
the charge against Capt. Burkitt to be
absolutely false, was written by Johr
| D. McInnis, Of Meridian, special agen
of the M. & o., who knows what h,
is saying.
Following is the letter in full:
In 1890 the Legislature of Missis
, sippi forfeited the old Vicksburg anc
Nashville Railroad Company and
chartered the Nashville and Mississip
pi Delta Railroad Company, designat
ing j. NJ. Price, Frank Burkitt, j. W
Buchanan, j. W. Winter. j. M. Crit.
I'm and w. A. Bodenhamer OF Chick
asaw county, DR.. A. S. Buchanan
and T. w. Young, Of Calhoun county
and John Powell and j. W. Grifhs
Of Grenada county as corporators oil
the new road. Section 2 of the act
valued the franchise, privileges and
work on the V. & N, in
which the three counties had
expended 100000. at $4,000.
hence each of the corporators we're
nominal owners of $4,000 of stock in
the N. & N. D. R. R. After the time
allowed in the bill for the old compa-
ny to reorganize and resume work mad
expired the new company met in the
spring Of 1890 and organized by the
selection Of Board of Directors. who
in turn elected Judge J. w. Buchanan
president and Capt. Frank Burkitt
secretary of the Nashville and Missis.
sippi Delta Railroad. These gentle
men worked for more than Twelve
years endeavoring to find capitalists
willing to build the road, and after
successive failures, finally in the fall
of 1902 sold the road to COL E. L.
Russell, vice-president of the M. &
O., representing the Southern Railway
Company. For $4,000 of the $780,
900 original stock, which had been
transferred to Birmingham syndicate
about the year 1894, Col. Russell paid
$4,000. In the reorganization after
the sale, Judge Buchanan resigned
the presidency and Col. Russell was
elected president and Capt Frank
Burkitt reelected secretary. and at
the same meeting the stockholders by
resolution authorized the President
and Secretary to make deed to the
Southern Railroad Company. which
was done December f. 1902.
Between the time this meeting was
held and the date of the deed Capt.
Burkitt was engaged in securing the
transfer of the remaining $4,000 Of
stock $4,000 Of which was his prop.
arty) to the Southern Railway Com
pany. When all this business was
and the transfer to the
Southern was made without any con-.
,ideration to Capt. Burkit, Mr.. Rus
sell said to him: In view of the fact
hat you have rendered us efficient
services in getting this property and
since know you have worked twelve ,,
,ears to have this road built, at con.
siderable expense to yourself. in time.
abor and money, | intend to give you
! check for $1,000, and in considera.
ion of the fact that you have trans
erred your stock in this road to the
Southern without charge as long as
Inn on the road you shall have an an
,ual pass"
Capt. Burkitt has received this pass
IN the 25th of December. every year
iince. But the one rendered him De-
.ember 25th, 1907. was returned on
hat day. not as he said because he
lid not regard it his personal property
imply paid for. but because having
'een elected to the Legislature which
in January, 1908, he wished
0 avoid any semblance Of criticism
While serving the State. When the
ession was over the pass was re-
ewed (March 18th, believe). The
ass was given by Mr.. Russell long
efore Capt. Burkit had any active
onpect;on with the road. though he