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T SUBSCRIPTION PRICE.
Th suksoription price of the "Weekly Star is as
fellews:
Single Copy 1 year, postage paid SI 00
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" S months'" " - 30
THE THIRD PARTY FRAUD.
The more we think of the out
come of the -National Alliance Con
vention at Indianapolis, last week,
the more thoroughly convinced we
are that Republican trickery had a
good deal to do in the management
of it, and that the third party which
was there endorsed is nothing more
nor less than an annex to the Repub
lican party and that it is to be man
ipulated and run in the interest of
that party.
The men who appeared as the rep
resentatives of the third party before
Ihe Indianapolis Convention, the
men whose influence controlled it,
have no more idea that they can
carry an election in a single State of
this Union than that they can fly to
the moon. They had just" emerged
from elections in several States, in
which this so-called People's party
had tickets in the held, with such a
beggarly showing of votes, after all
their confident boasting of what
they were going to do, as to be ab
solutely ridiculous. . ;
If they could not bring the 50,000
voters they so confidently pledged
up to the polls in Ohio, to defeat
McKinley and prevent the return 'of
John Sherman to the Senate, how
are they going to bring them to the
polls next year to vote against Mc
Kinley, ifihe should be nominated
for the Presidency, or for some other
high tariff candidate ? After all
their grand parade and loud-mouthed
boasting of what they were going to
aomey let tneir conorts nop over
andote lor the impersonation of the
legalized system of robbery by which
the farmers and other- toilers of this
country have been plundered for
over a quarter of a century, until
thousands of them have "been
brought, face to face with bank
ruptcy.
Do they expect to hold them in
Kansas, the stamping ground of
Senator Pfeffer and Jeremiah Simp
son, where, although they had tickets
in nearly every! county,, they didn't
make a decent showing? or in Iowa
4where their participation in the elec
.tion is notable only for the small
number of votes they cast?
what- will there be in the next
contest to draw them together and
arouse their enthusiasm that there
was not in the late State elections?
Are there any new issues in which
thev. are intprpsreri whirh wprp nnt
debated then? Didn't they have the
Ocala demands, the Government
control bf railroads, &c, then, and
this year will they be worth it next
year? Will the men who talked so
loud about free silver coinage and
uuiit'K-j, auuui uiuucy uciug
as "free as water, "as free as the
air we breathe," and all - that
sort of thing, and then marched
up to; the polls, and voted
for the "honest dollar," anti-free
..coinage, currency contractor Mc
Kinley take a back summerset and
vote against the "horiest dollar" man
next year? Not much. The major
ity of them, and the very large ma
jority, too, will be found voting for
the Republican candidates next year
just as! they voted -for them this
year, and they will do it with the
full knowledge and consent of these
so-called leaders.
They know they can't elect the
candidates of the third party if they
desired to do so, and the only mo
tive they had in trying to breath
life into the thing at that convention
was to get Southern Alliance men
committed to it, thus split the Dem
ocratic party in the South, divide
the vote, and give some of' the
Southern States to the Republicans
in the next Presidential, election o
offset the States which they may
lose in the North or West;
- There are several Southern States
,in which this game might be nicely
played if the Democratic Alliance
men were simple enough - to be
-r caught in that trap It might be
played in North Carolina, South
4
Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Ten
nesee, where the defection or a few
thousand Votes would accomplish
what the tricksters aim at. We
have no fears that they will succeed
in this, for we have too much confi
dence in the patriotism and , good
sense of the Democratic Alliance
men of the South to believe that
they can be duped in that
way land be made cats-paws
ot a junta of ex-Radicals, and
VOL. XXIII.
Republicans still in everything
but name, men who have no more
sympathy with the South or with the
Southern people than they have with
the people of China, men who if it
depended upon their votes in or out
side of Congress, would , enact laws
which would put the white people of
the South under the dominion of the
black, ; which would- be the result
eventually of this third party pro
gramme iould be carried out in the.
South. England's policy m Ireland
was to "divide and conquer," and
that's the game the Republican party
through its third party; allies - is try
ing to play on the South. Blasted
will be the fair fame, of the man who
gives them aid and comfort.
MINOR. MENTION.
We were assured by the Republi
can high tariff champions that one
of the results of the passage of . he
McKinley bill would be a great "re
vival of business throughout the
country generally, "plenty of work
tor the workman and good wages.
There has been a revival of business
and the outlook is brighter than it
was a year ago, but this is attributa
ble to the good crops, and not to the
tariff. It is now more than a year
since the new tariff went into effect,
and yet we find in the single State of
New York, reported by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 6,385 strikes,
embracing 170 trades, in which
93,984 : persons were engaged.
Some , of these strikes were
for an advance in wages, some
against a reduction, some for short
er hours and some for other causes,
but the majority were for an in
crease ot wages. Many ot these
were in the protected industries, and
while some succeeded in securing an
increase it was by forcing their em
ployers to concede what they would
not have conceded if they could
have helped it. There, are no in
stances of a voluntary increase of
wages in the protected industries,
but there are numerous instances of
a reduction, in establishments where
the employers- got an increase of
protection under the McKinley law
of from thirty to fifty per cent.
When the Republicans entered
upon the programme of making a lot
States out of frontier territories they
had an eye to political emergencies
and knew what they were doing. It
gave them, twelve Senators and
seven Congressmen, and more than
this it gave them a pretty sure thing
on sixteen votes in the next electo
ral college. And when they made
Robert P. Porter Commissioner of
the Census of 1890, they knew what
they were doing, too for by his
figuring the Republican States by
the reapportionment will get with
the votes from the new States thirty-
four more votes in the electoral col
lege, which will help out on a pinch.
These thirty-four votes will pretty
nearly onset JNew York, ibis is
what they were playing, for when
they manufactured those States and
when Porter's agents doctored the
figures in his census.
mm
A report comes from New York
that Mr. Cleveland will temporarily
change his residence from New York
to Lake wood, New Jersey, not far
from New York, the reason assigned
being that the numerous calls on
Mrs. Cleveland's time and attention,
the rriany letters she receives,, re
quests for photographs, autographs,
personal calls, &c, make it impossi
ble for her to respond to them with
out a severer strain upon her 'health
than she can stand, and for this rea
son Mr. Cleveland has decided to
move temporarily from the great
city to a place where his wife will be
subjected to fewer of these importu
nities. In-this 'tax upon her time.
good nature and endurance, Mrs.
Cleveland is simply paying one of
the penalties of fame and popular!
ty, which she has somewhat encour
aged by her genial, kindly disposi
tion and her readiness to answer cor
respondents and to comply with all
tne requests she could. .But now
since she has a young lady at home
to entertain, she must give; more of
her time to her and less to the im
portunate public.
Senator Ransom will be the-senior
Senator in the. 52d Congress, having
served continuously f rom April 24,
1872. Senators Tones, of Nevada,
and Allison, of Iowa, come next
their service having fjegun March 4,
1873.
Sad Suicide. .
Mr. M. G. Goodman, a German resi
dent of Wilmington, committed suicide
yesterday -by hanging himself toThe
limb of a tree in Oak dale Cemetery. The
man was seen to enter the cemetery at
half-past 12 o'clock, and his dead body
was found suspended to the tree by
cotton plow-line ' about an hour later.
The body was cut down and Coroner
Walton was notified and at once re
paired to the cemetery, ihe remains
were placed in a coffin and removed to
the late residence of the deceased cor
ner Fifth and Princess streets. .
Mr. Goodman was a brother of Messrs
Ben and William Goodman, of this city,
and came to Wilmington a'few months
ago with his wife and four children. He
had been in poor health for some time
past, and it is thought that his mind was
impaired. '
HIE
0N0LEY MURDER TRIAL
MORE TESTIMONY. FOR THE STATE.
Examination of Witnesses Closed and
Court Announoes that Arguments Will
be Heard Ho Holiday Recess Taken.
Star Correspondence " '
Fayetteville, N. ,C-. Nov..v 25.
There's many a Thanksgiving turkey in
the good old counties of Robeson and
Richmond, but the - chances are that
there will be vacant seats at the old
homesteads here and there when the
dressing and the giblet stews are passed
around, tor it is not believed that there
will be any adjournment of court for the
observance of Thanksgiving Day.
Counsel may now be observed when
ever there is ; a moment ot leisure
studiously reviewing their notes, or sit-
ting with arms folded, plunged in reverie.
Oratory is being crvstalized, and elo
quence thrilling distilled in the alembic of
the profound legal mind. -There are,
altogether, ten lawyers, and if His Hon
or gives them the scope which may pos
sibly be. desired Cumberland Court wijl
not close until the late hours ot next
Saturday night. . ; i
U. b.. McJNair: conductor on tne i.
C R. R.; on duty April 21st; left Launn
burg 8 a. m., and went through to Wil
mington that day; saw aelendant come
from his father's residence to the depot;
shook hands; defendant said he was go
ing to Alma with witness; remember
prisoner getting aboard train; didn't see
prisoner, or have conversation with him,
between Laurinburg and Maxtcn. but
saw and talked with him between Max
ton and Alma, j Cross-examined Never
told Capt. Elmore I saw defendant get
off train at Alma, and go directly to
depot ot Maxton. L. R. & Alma R. R.;
thought it about 7.10' when the train ar
rived at Alma: cou dn't remember how
many passengers I had the morning of
April 21; A. J. Cottingham was on the
train, and got off at Maxton. Records
of C. C. R. R. Co. put- in evidence, and
showed two first-class passengers be
tween Laurinburg and Maxton, on the
train to Wilmington. April 21st. Didn't
carry defendant to Wilmington; thinks
he told fc.lmore at this term ot court that
he carried defendant to Alma.
Dr. R. F. Lewis : Character of Cap"t,
McNair is good. Cross-Examined
Held inquest on the body ot Simeon
Conoley the day after the killing;
saw and talked to Effie Conoley that
she didn't say anything to witness about
the murder ; witness asked any member
ot tbe family to make a statement, as he
wished to get all the information possi
ble; inquest held in Efhe Conoley's
presence; was told that Ed. Conoley was
tbe only one who went out to the fence
to see the man who hailed; didn t ex
amine Effie Conoley, because she didn't
seem to know anything about it. Ver
dict of coroner's jury produced in court
that Simeon Conoley came to his
death by two pistol shots in the head at
the hands of a man calling himself Lum
Johnson.
K. McCaskiii and w. u. a. Mcfcach-
ern recalled: Both testified that Capt.
McNair's character is good.
Horace Jones: Work on Capt. Mc
Nair's freight train; the train started
from 6 a. m. April 21st; that morning
saw conductor and McDougald talking
together; defendant got on train, hav
ing something like a rubber coat on bis
arm and with a package wrapped in
paper; knows defendant have traded
With him. Cross-iLxamined Une or two
other passengers were on the train
whom witness did not know; saw de
fendant get off. at Alma; didn't know
where he went from there; it was some
thing after 7 o clock when the train
reached Alma. ' '
J. F. Roberts testified to the charac
ter of defendant and witnesses.
J. P. John. Jr. : Live at John's Sta
tion; character of Edgar Gillespie is
pretty mean.
Delence was here permitted to sub
mit evidence given at Mill frong, as
follows :
Sallie Wilkes : Saw a man April 21st,
fourteen miles from Conoley's. on the
public road, about thirty yards off;
looked like a negro; had a duster, a
broad-brimmed hat, and a valise strapped
on his shoulder, ' hanging down on one
side; couldn't tell whether he had
beard; was tall and slender tall as
Simeon Coooley: wore dark-pants.
Henry Smith: Saw a man April 21st;
not like anybody ever saw before ; wore
a long duster, wide-brimmed hat. long
mustache, little beard under chin, on
opposite side of road; saw him in Cobb's
lane, about 2 o'clock; had on spectacles;
slim, tall man; had a valise on shoulder
with stick run through it. -
Harriet Humphrey : Saw a man pass
on the road April 21st; was a black
man ; took him to be a negro ; tall and
slender, had on duster, wore glasses, had
package, on shoulder, oil cloth coat;
about 2 o'clock when he passed the
house. IM miles from Shannon.
This is testimony Of above three wit
nesses at Dreliminary examination. Re
porter.!
Effie Conoley being unable to get to
Court on account of feebleness, counsel
and iury went to witness at the Martin
House, and the following testimony was
taken (Court being- adjourned foi the
noon recess) : Can see pretty well,
though, sight is not as good as it has
been ; the man who went off with Sim
eon was ten steps from the house ; a
bright moon was shining that night; can
see tbe eye of a needle, but hands shake
so badly - couldn't thread it; saw" tbe
man distinctly ; the day Daniels, the in
surance man, came to the t house.it was
late in the evening, before dark
ate supper there that night;
witness was in bed when Daniels
talked to her; .daughter Lizzie was the
only one could cook, and she couldn't
get away from the insurance man ; the
house had been searched couldn't say
when, but it was after the murder, and
before Lumbertoncourt; Arch Graham,
K. Leach, Norman McLeod and Millard
Moore made search for the clothes
turned over the beds, opened trunks
examined cribs and smokehouse; never
made a statement different to the one at
this court; at the coroner's inquest Dr,
Lewis never asked her to testily. Cross-
Examined -Was sitting slanting from
the door, not jar away from the hre
place on the night the man called and
Simeon was killed; chiirmey at the west
ena oi tne nouse, in ine centre; naa to
look slanting out ot the door; a negro
named Tom McKae resembles the man
who went off with Simeon, but didn't
think he troubled anyone; didn't see the
man when he came up to the paling;
nobody went out but Simeon and Ed
win, a little boy; Dan Conoley was there
that night; couldn't say what was the
color of . the man's coat; noticed the
wind blow it about him; when
he caught it up, witness seeing to
his hips; didn't notice the color of hair;
couldn t say whether he wore beard or
not; Dr. Lewis came to the house the
day after the murder, but said nothing
to her, only shaking hands; the inquest
was held in tbe house; u. u. Mcbauch
lin came before Dr. Lewis and express
ed compassion for what witness " had
undergone; remembers Edwin McNeill's
summoning her to court.
WILMINGTON, N. C., FRIDAY,DECEMBER 4,
i: Special Star Correspondence
D. B. McLauchhn: Live near. An?
tiocb, i two and a half miles from the
scene Of the murder; heard of the mar-,
der on the evening of 'April 22d; went
over- at once and had a" conversation
with Effie Conoley; went to investigate
the murder; expressed sorrow for , Mrs.;
Conoley,"' who said her cup was full;
asked her if "she saw - a disguised man,
and she'replied ib the negative; that rio
one saw him but Simeon and Edwin;
that-Lizzie 'glimpsed" him; Diagram
here exhibited, showing location of the
dwelling, the chimney, door, kitchen,
well, gate, and the point "where Conoley
was ound. -Reporter. ; Didn't think
any one going irom tne,' wen to tne
point where Conoley was killed
could have been seen by any one
sitticg on the ' south side of' the dwel
ling; am acquainted with the location of
the premises; Effie Conoley told witness
she was sitting near the fireplace; one
could hardly have seen anybody passing
sitting where she said she was; know M.
A. McDougald, father oLdefendant; had
seen John McDougald, but' didn't know
him; defendant has no other brother;
know Lizzie Conoley. Cross-examined
Did not make the plot and diagram;
am not positive that they are what
they purport to represent. ; thought
the kitchen properly represented in
the diagram; the path bends before the
building; couldn't, say the dwelling sat
in the middle Of tbe yard; the -plot was
not made by measurement; witness
knows if Mrs. Conoley was sitting in the
southeast corner of the room she could
not have seen any one walking from the
well out to the spot of the killing.
E. A- McNeill: Live in Robeson,
about one mile and a quarter from'
where Conoley was killed; saw Mrs.
Conoley previous to Robeson court; said
she didn't know why they examined her;
she knew nothing. Cross-Examined Am
acquainted with the Conoley premises;
the well is between the house and the
gate; the kitchen is southeast of the
house; one sitting in the southeast cor
ner ot the house couldn't see any one
walking on the path.
Geo. Cole: Am doing business in
Richmond county; April 21st earned
timber down the creek to Alma and
stopped at McKay's store at Campbell's
bridge, where he bought crackers; didn't
know Conoley; - never left the pants,
lampblack, shirts, &c, such as were
found at Campbell's bridge; thence at 10
o'clock went to the place of work up
the river; had one hand with him that
night.!
Malloy McBryde: Live about two
and a half miles from the scene of the
murder ; know the premises of Conoley
have frequently been in the house ;
the chimney is m the wst end ; the
house. sits east and west; impossible for
any one sitting In the southwest of the
house to see one walking the path, to
where( Conoley was killed. Cross-Ex
amined Any one sitting in the south
west corner, nearer the door than the
fire-place, could see one in the path;
was a path leading from the well to a
house supposed to be a crib ; the night
of the murder was a calm night.
E. . Crowson: Live at Maxton; saw
McDougald Wednesday in Maxton;
wanted to rent a house; his shoes were
dusty and muddy; it was about 10 or 11
o'clock; defendant got on the Laurin
burg train twice; got defendant oranges,
who said: "Did you ever feel like you
wanted anything and nothing would sat
isfy you?" Cross-Examined Shoes
looked muddy; lived at Maxton two
years.
D. E. McBryde: Live in Robeson,
about eight miles from the scene of the
murder; Was one of the magistrates in
vestigating the murder, and know noth
ing oi threats of lynching; defendant
saw . Mcuougald at his bouse on
Wednesday, before he left the
country; defendant said nothing about
clothes; witness remarked: "Millard
Moore, or the public has. saddled
the crime on you;' defendant -re
plied: ; "How's that?" Witness respond
ed that it was believed that theman
who got on the train at the water-tank
was the murderer; that defendant was
accused of poisoning his urjcle the Fall
before. Defendant said he could prove
his whereabouts; was at Maxton that
day; and took the train back to Laurin
burg. Asked witness if he didn't think
he had better go home; witness replied
"Yes, and work up all the evidence
against. Millard Moore and others
charged." Defendant asked if wit
ness had any further use for him
and he replied not, unless more came
against him; defendant hitched up and
left, with Jno. Conoley. This was the
evening of the night the clothes were
stolen. Cross-examined Spoke joking
ly with defendant; John swore out war
rant against Moore at witness' request
M. A. McDougald employed counsel to
prosecute Keily, charged with the mur
der... ! . : .
Ed. McRae: Live at Maxton; heard
of no threats against the defendant be
fore or after he left the county. .
Alex. McKinnoni The characters of
Hector Gilchrist and John Williams are
good.! .
The examination for both sides closed
and announcement was made that, the
Bench would hear arguments to-morrow.
. ; . ,. : - ?
Adjourned.
Fayetteville, Nov. 26. Notwith
standing the fearful inclemency of the
day, the Court house has been crowded
from 10 o'clock on into the night, many
business" men (whose stores and offices
were closed for Thanksgiving), sitting
through the whole day's proceedings.
Mr. N. A. McLean, of Lumberton,
very strong advocate before a jury led
off for the prosecution, carefully and
.ably recapitulating the evidence, and
evincing throughout his whole able
effort f the close study which he has
" given to all the points in this remarkable
case, r Mr. McLean closely resembles, in
his manner of speech, his bearing in the
Court room, and his directness of pur
pose, his late lamented father, and his
friends think him even a stronger man.
The first speech on the side of the de
fence was made by ex-Judge MacRae,
and was one of the most masterly of the
efforts which have given him so
high ,-a position ; in : his profession.
The clearness , with which he seized
upon the weak . points in the case con
structed Jry vthe prosecution, r and his
skillful sifting of the wheat from the
suberabundant chaff in the mass of tes
timony adduced, was attended through
out with breathless interest by every au
ditor in the densely packed building.
v j udge MacKae was followed bv i no.
D. Shaw, Jr., of Laurinburg, - also of
counsel lor- the defence, who com
menced his-argument at a. late hour in
to-day's session, and will conclude to
morrow morning. , ; i f ; ,
Court adiourned until to-morrow. -Friday,
Nov. 27.' Mr. lno. D. Shaw.
Jr., Continued his address to the' jury.
The association which he has enjoyed
throughout his, yet? brief professional
life has. of course, been beneficent and
most salutary enioying the counsel and
the rich fruitage of the wisdom and ex
perience of his - gifted father and his
carriage at the bar and his force before
a jury attest how thoroughly he has mas
tered the - duties ' of - his profession.
There is much of the orator in this tal
ented young lawyer, and portions of his
speech were given with a depth of im-
passionedjeeling which thrilled the lis
tener..
Mr. W. H. Neal, of Laurinburg, came
next tor the prosecution, briefly allud
ing to his connection with the' case as
counsel for the New York Mutual Ufe
Insurance Company, m which he vindi
cated his position (which had been al
luded to by 'counsel on the other side)
with a touch of humor and trenchant
sarcasm, showing him master of all the
weapons of defence against the attack.
His argument was based on three pro
positions: lhat bimeon Conoley was
killed by a man wearing a disguise; that
D. A. McDougald was that disguised -
man; that a strong motive existed for
the commission of the crime. The last
proposition, however, he touched upon
but briefly, leaving that important fea
ture of the case for elaboration by Hon.
Alfred Rowland and Solicitor McNeill.
Mr. Neal's speech has been much com
plimented by all who heard it.
ihe last argument ol this mornings
session was from Capt. W. Sv Norment,
of Lumberton, for the defence. He very
forcibly and earnestly discussed the
question of motive the absolute cer
tainty that so fearful and cold-blooded
an assassination must have bad a most
powerful motive, and 'arguing the lack
of such motive in the .prisoner, from all
the evidence and the whole lite of the
defendant. He adverted to the remark
able fact that the family of Conoley
those ot all others Interested in the de
tection of the murderer and his punish
ment were not found grouped behind
the prosecution, but were ranged on the
side of the defence. That part of his
address, in allusion to the aged and in
firm Effie Conoley, was truly eloquent
and pathetic.
The Court then adiourned for dinner.
Special Star Telegram
AFTERNOON, SESSION. .
Cpl. French, of Lumberton. made a
strong speech for the defence. He took
up the testimony in detail, which seem
ed at his tongue's end, and step by step
he recapitulated it, with comments on
the evidence of each witness for the
State. .' Before Mr. French's argument
was concluded night came and Sheriff
Smith had the gas lighted. Still the
crowd sat and stood on men and women
swayed by the emotions of the im
passioned speaker, moved with the
depth of his feeling and partaking of
his earnestness. The excoriation of the
prosecution at times was scathing. The
speech consumed; the session till 7
o'clock to-night. One side of the court
room was filled with ladies.
Col. Rowland opens in the morning.
The matter will probably go to the jury
some time to-morrow forenoon.
Both yesterday and to-day many of
the best ladies in Fayetteville society
were in attendance on the trial, remain
ing nearly through the whole session.
Fayetteville. Nov. 28. Col. W. F.
French continued bis argument on the
reassembling of Court, concluding at
10.80 o'clock.
Hon. Alfred Rowland, ex-Congressman
from the Sixth district, of counsel
for the prosecution, followed Col.
Frencbl In this city he is one of the
most esteemed of public men in North
Carolina ; and, while it is' Fayetteville's
busiest diy in the week, a very large
crowd occupied every available space in
the Court room during his exhaustive
review of the testimony, and an address
which could have emanated only from a
well-equipped and thoroughly finished
lawyer.. Col. Rowland's carriage and
presence at thef bar are imposing em
bodying the dignity that impels respect,
with the suavity and affability oi man
ner which persuades a jury, just as they
make him so winning among men gen
erally. -
"Adjourned to dinner, and Col. Row
land not yet finished.
AFTERNOON SESSION,
j Special Star Telegram.
Able speeches were made in thcafter
noon. Jno. G. Shaw, a young lawyer of
the Fayetteville bar, concluded his ar
gument in a very earnest appeal in be
half of the prisoner, It has given him
quite a reputation.
The Court adjourned at 5 p. m. till
Monday. Maj. Jno. D. Shaw and Soli
citor McNeill are still to speak. The
case will probably not go to the jury be
fore Monday night or Tuesday morning,
Collision off Frying Fan Snoala.
Mr. Dosher, in charge of the Signal
Service office at Southport, telegraphed
yesterday afternoon : "The schooner
Norman, Capt. Henderson, from Savan
nah bound to Baltimore, loaded with
lumber, was run into by the steamship
St. Augustine Tuesday night to the east
ward of . Frying Pan shoals. The
schooner was towed to the bar by the
steamer and was then taken by the tug
Alexander Jones and passed up for Wil
mington. The schooner had her bow
sprit and jib-boom torn away, and the
whole forward part stove in. No lives
were lest and no one was injured in the
collision! After bringing the schooner to
the bar, the steamship kept oh her
course. . ' - '
Tne Failure or tne Clinton Iioan Asso
ciation.
The report was widely current yester
day and the day before that the Clinton
Building and Loan Association that
did a banking business ft Clinton, Samp
' son county, N. C, had failed, and last
night the Mercantile-Association of the
Carolinas received a telegram confirm
ing tbe report. The capital stock is
$50,000.
It is thought depositors will be paid
in full, though it is feared some of the
merchants and others will be somewhat
embarrassed by the failure.
TAR,
1891.
, NOT DISCOURAGING.
The City and County and tne Suspended
First National Bank The City Sinkinjg
,Fund Ba, but the County Educational
Fund Locked Up t - .
To allay all fears, so far as the city is
concerned in the suspension of the First
National Bank, the Star is glad to be
able to state that the sinking fund has
never been placed in the custody oithat
bank. -,
It was published in this paper yester
day that the city had deposited about
$4,000 in the bank to meet a note against"
the city for $5,000 falling due Decern
ber 1st. This is all the money the city
had in the bank. " : "
The county, however, had $15,424.62
of the educational fund deposited there
and this may cause some delay-in the
payment of the salaries ot the public
school teachers. It has been suggested
that a loan, or advance, might be se
cured by hypothecating the certificate
of deposit. At all events, the teachers,
generally; "can ill afford to await the
declaration of ,ja dividend to depositors;
if some such arrangement can be made.
the teachers will rise up and call the
authorities blessed. The good to be ac
complished would, at least, justify the
attempt. - I:
It is needless to say the suspension of
the First National Bank affects in no
way whatever the erection of the pro
posed new county "court house, as it
will be built by bonds issued for the
purpose. The small difference required
to complete the structure, that will be
drawn from the general fund, will not
retard it, as it is expected the county
will realize from the general fund, in
dividends, or have other moneys by the
time the bond funds are exhausted.
On the whole, the outlook is nSt4
discouraging.
A New Industry Started TJp.
Steam was let on Friday afternoon,
the whir of rapidly revolving machinery
resounded through the building, and a
new industry was born and full fledged,
in Wilmington, in the rice mill of W. P.
Oldham & Co.
The preliminary work was begun Sep
tember 22nd; the mill stones and mor
tars were obtained in New Orleans; five
sets of elevators from Chicago, ten
grades of wire and belting from" New J
York, the castings, gearing for polisher
and blast for chaff from Baltimore, and
pulleys from Richmond. The rice be
fore it is ready for market passes up
and down from first to third floor
five times through the eleva
tors ; first into a screen with
three grades of wire to separate the
false seed, "tadpoles" and sand; the next
grade divides the large and small grains
and places them in different bins over
the mill stones.which hull them.then into
the screen, which lets out the "douse"
and small grain; the fan then takes It
and blows out the chaff, then it is
pounded in the three mortars for half
an hour and the elevators throw it into
screen 'No. 3, which throws off the
"douse" and divides the rice; thence
through a fan into the polisher, from
which it goes into an elevator and
through the separator, making four
grades of marketable stuff obtained
from rice.
The machinery works beautifully and
Capt. Oldham showed a Star represen
tative over the mill with the pride
worthy of such an enterprise.
Baptist Union Meetinff.
The union meeting of the Eastern
Association of the Missionary Baptist
church met with the church at Barlow's
Chapel, Ousjpw county, Friday, and had
a most successful session, attended by
large crowds, who received great spir
itual comfort, j
: The hospitality of the section was ex
tended to all with a-bearty welcome un
mixed by the good cheer of the noble
matrons, so noted for their excellent
cuisine and well laden boards. Rev. R.
E. Peele, of the Brooklyn Baptist
Church of this city was a recipient of
their kindness and assures the reporter
that it is one of the best neighborhoods
f n the State.
A Generous Offer,
A leading citizen of Baltimore, identi
fied largely with Wilmington, and many
times a millionaire, telegraphed the
Bank of New Hanover, yesterday, offer
ing assistance to any extent that might
be deemed necessary. But, while the
officers of the bank feel very grateful
for this and other tenders of aid, they
are gratified at the fact that its own re
sources are ample to meet any emer
gency that might arise.
For the Star.
IMPORTANT OYSTER DECISION
! We notice in the Richmond Dispatch
of the 25th instant, under the above
caption, the "acquittal of parties ac
cused of taking oysters from the staked
off planting grounds of White & Flem
ing (in the'Virginia waters) on the plea
that the stakes were on the oyster rocks
which belonged to the public. " White &
Fleming had been paying rent to the
state tor these lands six years and had
expended large sums of money in plant
ing oysters thereon, yet the- decision
practically throws them out of posses
sion."
i Mr. Editor, when we remember it is
only those well acquainted with the im
mense profits of the oyster culture who
could be induced to risk large sums, of
money in planting oysters on grounds
that are only rented from the State at
the risk of losing all, upon the plea that
oysters grew there before, it would seem
to suggest to the business men and cap
italists of your city, that there
must be a big thing in it when the bust
ness can be made perfectly safe, as in
Onslow county. Here the lands are
owned in fee; all questions of natural
beds being settled by the shell-fish com
missioners of the county and their cer
tificate under oath Sent to the Secretary
of State, with the plot and entry, before
grants are issued for the grounds.
. There are no finer oyster lands in the
world than are found in New River, and
no section where public sentiment is as
well educated in the cultivation of tbe
oyster on private lands. We want help
to develop this mine of wealth.1 All are
welcome and wanted, as every arriving
stranger coming among us will testify.
. Onslow.
: V
NO. 3
BANK FAILURE.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK SUS
PENDS AND CLOSES ITS DOORS.
Tne New Surprising:, but Exoitexnent
Allayed by tne Understanding; ttyat
Depositors were Safe Other City
-Banks Unaffeoted Official Statement
Opinions of Prominent Men Business
but Iilttle Disturbed.
The doors of the First National Bank
closed and the following placard promi
nently displayed attracted a crowd and
caused considerable excitement yester
day morning:
"In consequence of the stringency in
financial affairs - and their inability - to
meet further demands, the directors of
this bank have decided in the interest
of all concerned to suspend business
until further notice." .
Crowds congregated on the portico
eagerly perusing, the absorbing legend
and swayed down tbe steps and hung in
knots on the sidewalk. ' All were in
tently discussing the situation and won
dering what was to becolrre of depositors
and their earnings. -
The .gloom of fear, however, ,was
soon dissipated and a gleam ot hope
illumined despairing faces, when the in
telligence was promulgated by the
better informed that depositors were
safe, as in the event of the fail
ure of the bank assets the stockholders
could be assessed to an extent which
would cover all deposits. It was the
one great only and absorbing theme on
the streets, in hotel lobbies and in count
ing rooms. How'far reaching the in
jury to business interests, extends and
upon whom the loss would fall was con-
jecturally canvassed.
The officers of the Bank could not
be seen in the forenoon, but a little
later the directors gave to the press the
following .
OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
The following statement is authorized
by the Directors of the Bank :
The causes which led to the suspen
sion ot the first National Bank have
existed a long while. The capital was
impaired by heavy losses several years
ago, as is generally understood from the
fact that no dividends have been de
clared since 1887.-;
The Directors hoped that by careful '
and conservative management the earn
ings of the Bank would be sufficient in
a few years to cover these old losses;
but slow collections, in consequence of
the general stringency prevailing in our
section this fall, have compelled them
to abandon this hope and close the
Bank to protect the depositors, as well
as the stockholders, against further risk.
Notwithstanding the shrinkage in value
of many securities on account of the
general depression in business, it is
booed that the resources of the Bank
under prudent handling will yield more
than enough to pay the depositors In
lull.
Respectfully,
B. F. Hall,
President.
In lieu of giving an opinion of its
own, the Star " sought the estimate
placed upon the failure of the bank by
prominent men of affairs, with especial
regard to the effect on the business in
terests of the city. And it will be seen
that no fear is entertained of serious re
sults, either to other city banks or to
general business.
WARREN G. ELLIOTT.
Mr. Warren G. Elliott, . President of
the Wilmington & Weldon ami other
roads of the A. C. L. system, expressed
himself as follows:
Of course the failure of a banking in
stitution of the importance of the First
National Bank in our community will
be attended with embarrassments to
many of our citizens who have, been de
pendent upon it for banking facilities.
That its collapse' should have come so
suddenly is most unfortunate, for tbe
reason that it gave no opportunity to its
patrons to protect themselves against
sudden demands. It is, however, for
tunate that the deposits in the bank
were comparatively small. Experience
has shown in other cities that such fail
ures, while they cause temporary em
barrassment to some, generally result in
general good to the business commun
ity. -
A city of the size and importance of
Wilmington cannot expect to go ahead
without proper banking facilities, and
every thinking man will at once know
that the place which has been occupied
by a weak bank will soon be filled by a
strong one. This is invariably the case,
and there is no reason why it should not
be so here. If the people of Wilming
ton are prepared to stand the temporary
shock and to look calmly at the situa
tion there is no reason why we may not
soon be in a better conditipn than ever
before.
ISAAC BATES.
Mr. Isaac Bates, when asked what he
thought of the bank failure as it con
cerned public and private interests, re
plied that in his opinion the fail
ure of the First National Bank
has been to a great extent an
ticipated, as it was generally known that
it was involved in heavy losses some
years ago, and its volume of business
considerable reduced. On that account
the failure is less injurious to the busi
ness community. Depositors, of course,
will get their money after a time. Aside
from temporary inconvenience to de
positors, he thought the- interference
with the . general business would be
slight, and that no other bank in this
city, or State, will be in any way embar
rassed by the failure.
GEO. R. FRENCH SONS,
Messrs. W. A. French, President of
Wilmington Cotton Mills, and Geo. R.
French, both comprising the hrm of
Geo. R. French & Sons, said in their
estimation the damage to general busi
ness will be the locking up of banking
capital and the decrease cf banking
facilities; beyond this they do not think
business will be materially affected.
With good management depositors will
eventually be paid in full, without the
stockholders being' assessed.
The- failure dated back several years,
when the losses by personal securities
were very heavy, and the bank had
never recovered. They were informed
that no one . of the directors was in
debted to the bank, and they did not
thinV
muchl
; the stockholders would realize -after
the business was settled. It "
tors should be forced to an im-
te settlement with the hant
might be crippled and some
failures result and in ! this lies
the chief danger, though they
do not apprehend such results. The ef
fect of the failure is worse now than it
will be later when it is seen there is no
great general injury. Other banks will
be helped rather than hurt. ' J"
RICHARD J. JONES. .
Mr. R. J. Jones, Chairman of the City
Board ot Audit and Finance and Secre
tary and Treasuier of the Wilmington
Gas and Electric Company, thought de
positors would be put to inconvenience
Jay their inability to draw out their de
posits, and . he . saw no reason for sup
posing that general business N interests
would be injuriously interfered with.
He did not think that the stockholders
would be called on to pay depositors
from their private funds, as the bank's
assets would be sufficient. If present '
inconvenience should be felt, it would
soon pass over. A. little time would
quiet everything, when sober second
.thought was taken and reason resumed
sway.
THOMAS IVANS.
Mr. Thomas Evans, a professional ac
countant, was of the impression that the
bank . had been so much damaged by
former losses and had curtailed its gen
eral business to such an extent .'that it
was of as much use to the public with
doors closed as open. The depositors
wo&Wbe paid in full after awhile per
haps the-first"2litainnjwithin sixty
days." tt the Government does rioil,ose
ud the business too suddenly and tn"Ud.
sacrifice securities, stockholders will
realize present prices of stock.
GEORGE W. WILLIAMS AND DONALD
M'RAE.
These well known and influential
business men give their vie s asiollows: "
The failure of the First National Bank -
of this city will cause milch inconve
nience to many of its depositors, but
from all we can gather we hope that
there will be enough to pay them all off
without having to assess, the stocks
holders, and there is a reasonable proba
bility that a portion of the assets will be
realized on and paid to the stockholders
during the next two or three months.
This failure has caused but little surprise
ia business circles here, as it has been
rA 1 toiro1 Vr v-momvp V - mo i m1h r
question of time when such a culmina
tion must occur. We are convinced
that the bank has been under safe man
agement and that the officers have done
all in their power to prevent or delay
such a disaster. As to the other banks
in our city, we are satisfied that they
are under safe guidance and. are pre
pared to meet any demands made upon
them and to grant accommodations to
the customers of the First National who
are worthy of their aid.
There has been very little excitement
here and we see no reason why there
should be any, and hope that all will
act wisely and do nothing to precipitate
any further embarrassment, as the oppo
site course would tend greatly to the
injury of every industry in our city.
LIABILITY OF STOCKHOLDERS.
The liability of a stockholder of a
National Bank, condensed into the
fewest possible words, seems to be this:
Suppose the par value of each share to
be One hundred dollars, whoever Bub
scribes for a share pays that sum to
wards the capital stock. In the event
of loss, such stockholder, if necessary to
meet the obligations of the bank to de
positors and others, may be assessed
upon each share to the extent of one
hundred dollars more.- .
The capital stock of the bank is $250,-.
000. The total deposits, according to
the last published statement in Septem
ber amounted to about $405,000. but
this amount.bas been very considerably'
reduced, it is believed, within the last
few weeks. The present officers of the
bank are: B. F. Hall, President; G. H.
Smith, Vice-President; H. M. Bowden,
Cashier, and B. F. Hall, G.H. Smith,
James B. Sprunt, James H. Chadbourn,
and D. G. Worth, Directors.
BANK OF NEW HANOVER.
In consequence of the closing of the
National Bank, there was a rush oj busi
ness men to the Bank of New Hanover,
yesterday, where everything was as
serene as a summer's day. These hew
customers, opened accounts, deposited
thousands of dollars, and received all the
accommodation desired. This is very
gratifying, as it shows that the suspen
sion ot the First National has created no
panic whatever, and that the Bank of
New Hanover stands as high in public
confidence as at any period of its ex
istence. THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
Depositors of the Suspended First Na
tional Bank Beassured Business Flow
ing Smoothly Other Banks Strong and
Serene.
There have been no new develop
ments, in-the situation regarding the af
fairs of the suspended First National
Bank. Bank Examiner Isaac S. Alden
arrived Thursday night and has already
gone to work looking into the matter,
but of course has nothing to communi
cate to the public at this time.
Depositors have been strengthened in
their confidence -that they will receive
not only the full amount of their de
posits, but, as the law provides if the
assets are sufficient, interest on deposits
will be paid from the time of suspension
at six per cent., they expect this addi
tion to the principal. . j
There has been no jar, jolt of hitch in
the transaction of general business, and
the failure of the bank will work em
barrassment only by locking up the de
posits for awhile. At the Bank of New
Hanover everything is moving along
as if nothing had happened in
deed, the deposits show a large net
increase daily ana laitn in its im
pregnable strength and financial in
tegrity has never been shaken in the
least. Many capitalists and some of the
strongest banks in tbe country have
offered any aid desired, but none has
been required. All the clerks are busy
as bees attending to the additional
business caused by the number of new
customers who transacted their business
with, the unfortunate bank.
The banking facilities of the commu
nity have not been curtailed, and suffi
cient accommodation is extended by the
other banks.- The suspension. a$ has
been stated in the Star, was not un
foreseen by well-informed business men
and thus robbed the failure of serious
results. "' -
' The Wilmington Savings and Trust
Company has not been affected at all
injuriously, as more money has been .
received than withdrawn. This bank
has also been the recipient of very en
couraging offers of assistance, but it has
not been needed. . .
couraging in the financial situation.
us aeo
medfe
they