1 & SL a ■*>
VOL. XXXIX. NO. 46
TOE UMMEST ©DUadSMILATITOKI ®E AOT TODSITDO (BIMBaDILOGM [MOOT.
IN DURRANT'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY DUPREY CHARGES
THAT PASTOR GIBSON KILL
ED BLANCHE LAMONT.
ARGUMENT IN THE CASE BEGUN
The Court a Scene of Excitement and
Public Interest Aroused as Never Be
fore at the Trial of a Man for his Life
—Only One-Tenth ot the People
Could get In— Durrant Cool and Im
pass ve -Speech of Attorney Duprey
-•Mrs, Durrant on the Stand.
San Francisco, Cal , S?pt. 25. —The
department of the Superior Court in
which Theodore Durrant is on trial for
the murder of Blanche Lament, was a
scene of excitement this morning. The
announcement by the district attorney
that the “people rest,” aud the subse
3uent statement of attorneys for the
efence that they would be ready to pro
ceed to-day, drew to the City
Hall a crowd that could not get
admission to a room ten times the
size of the apartment set aside
for the trial. The fact that the
defence in its opening statement would
reveal for tne first time the nature of
evidence relitfd upon for an acquittal
served to arouse public interest to a de
gree never befo.e seen in California at a
trial of a man for his life. The hot,
sultry day was inteusifi.d in the crowd
ed court room. Although the occasion
was of the gravest importance to Dur
rant, he was the most cool and impassive
individual present.
The defense first called, for further
cross examination, Detective Gibson,
Deputy Coroner Hillett and Mrs. Leake.
The last mentioned was questioned re
garding her eyesight, she maintaining
that it was good and that she never had
had any optical trouble. Gibson said that
he had found a hatchet in the belfry on
the occasion of his second examination,
and Deputy Curoner Hillett testified that
when he "first viewed tee body of
Blanche Lamont in the bolfry, the
mouth of the dead girl was sfightly
open.
Attorney Eugene Duprey, for the
defense, then began his opening state
ments. His intimation that the murder
was committed, not by Durrant, but by
Rev. John George Gibson, pastor of
Emanuel chu cb, aad a significant allu
sion to the resemblance of the preachers
handwriting with the lettering oa the
paper found on Blanche Lament’s rings,
created a marked sensation. The address
of Duprey began with the definitions of
the jurors in capital cases. He attacked
the newsT pe s f r tle| rticlee writtten
and published concerning Durrant and
wame 1 the jury against improper deduc
tions from circumstantial evidence. Du
prey then said:
“The District Attorney has presented
a strong case of circumstantial evidence,
which at first would create a strong sus
picion of the guilt of the defendant. We
claim that beyond a strong suspicion the
prosecution has failed to go. We con
tend that with all the testimony intro
duced the only issues to be passed on
have net been answered. Where did
Blanche Lamont forfeit her life ? When
-did she meet her death ? Who caused
her death ?
“These questions have not been an
swered. A fourth question is the cause
of her death. A fifth has not and can
not be answered. What was the motive
of the accused to take the life of Blanche
Lamont? Under the testimony thus far
we claim to ask the court at this time to
instruct the juiy without one word to
acquit. As a duty to the defendant, lis
parents, and the community his lips
should be unsealed. You are entitled to
and should know wnere Durrant was and
what he did on April 3, from the time he
aro*“ in the morning until he went tobe l
at night. TheDfstrict Attorney promised
to show that Durrant was not where be
should have been on the afternoon of
April 3, namely, at the lecture room of
the Cooper Medical College. Where is
that proof ? No allusion to it has been
made.
“ Toe prosecution fcas called b -
tween forty and fifty witnesses. Os that
number who have given material evi
dence of three elderly ladies, three
young ladies, a pawnbroker, a Victoria
hotel keeper, and a pol ce court shyster,
and his colleague have furnished tl e
substantial testimony upon which the
prosecution relies. We insist that
the 'proper ? proof is wanting to convict
the defendant with the murder. We
will show that other men had access to
Emanuel church. Proof may point to
othes.
‘ Let ne carry yo i along th)
ground unon which we ask for a verdict
ter the defense. First, you shall hear
from the mother of Durrant how he was
interested in church work and what he
did f'ir Emanuel church. We will teii
you how he met Blanche Lamont and of
his associations with her. Mrs. Durrant
wili tell how her son was dressed
when he left home on the morning of
April. Sue will tell what her son did
that evening. The g od repute and hon
orable character of the defendant will
be proven. The attendance at the Cooper
Medical CYllege{and his geneial demeanor
shown. On April X, Durrant left his
home aud walked towards the house of
George King, so that he might have
a helper that evening to fix the gas
in the church. He accidentally met
Blanche Lamont whom he told he
was Jon the way to King’s House a'ld
asked her to accompany him. She said
than she did not have time to
aoeouq*tuy him before school, and re
quested Darrant to accompany her to
sahcJ lie went with her as far as
Sutter street and Oetavia, where the
fondant went on to Webster street to
the Medical College. We will show these
facts and what Durrant did from his
arrival there until noon hour, when he
walked to Broadway and to a bluff over
looking the bay. We will show you his
return to college at 1:30, and what was
done from then until 330 Then, that
he went to Dr. Cheney’s lecture, and
we will produce his notes different
from any other students, and show
he is marked present. Dr. Cheney will
tell you that he was present. We will
show you that after this lecture he took
the Sutton street car to Polk, to Mission
aud Ninth, out Mission, and then to the
cb rcb, and alone did he walk into the
church. We will show that he arrived
at the church at 4:55 and not before;
that he entered by the door on the
south side; that he went into the library,
took a book and a card he wanted. He
removed his coat, neatly folded it, took
out his watch so that it would not drop
out while he was fixing the gas jets. He
then went up to the ceiling by a ladder
aud fixed the gas burners.
“We will show that'when the gas fit
ters turned on the seventy two gas jets
much gas escaped. Through lack of ven
t,ilation this gas remained in the atmos
phere near the ceiling. When Durrant
vvei t to the ceiling be inhaled the gas,
which made him sick, as testified by
King. You are asked to believe that
this man accused of murder went di
rectly down to secure a witness to his
crime. We will show that Durrant was
on the platform lying down when King
returned and went down to the kitchen to
take the seltzer. We will show that
upon the request of King, Durrant
helped King to carry a cabinet organ
down stairs into the Sunday school
room. Then Durrant and King left the
church together, Durrant putting on his
coat at the door. It being King's dinner
time, Durrant walked with him part of
the distance, then Durrant returned
home, meeting a lady on the way to
whom he said the gas made him sick.
After dinner he w T ent to the church to
an evening entertainment. This will be
the simple story of the defendant. He
will be eorrolxirated by those who
know him well and who will
give reasons why these statements are
correct.
“We will then turn our attention
to some evidence found in the church.
We will show that the marks upon the
belfry door are the marks of a chisel and
that the chisel was found in the pastor’s
studio in a tool box. We will show you
as long as they have introduced a paper
here with letters on it as compared
with letters found ia Emanuel church,
that they are letters written by
Rev. John George Gibson. If we are
to act upon suspicions we will show yon
that there are others who have been cast
into suspicion worse than the defendant.
We will show yon that on April 3, Dur
rant wore a dark suit of clothes of blue
cloth, while the witness Vegal said he
had light trousers. We will show that
the eye sight of Mrs. Leake and Mrs.
Orosset are impaired and that the ro-
Eutation of witnesses Quinlan, Oppen
eim and Phillips for veracity is
bad. If we can prove what we
have outlined, we should have tte
spirit of Blanche Lamont call upon you
to realize the truth, and if her spirit
couiicotae before you it would say : ‘Let
the defedant stand out; let him be
for he harmed me not.’
“Theodore Durrant is innocent. We
stand for his life; we demand his lib
erty.”
After a recess Mrs. Matilda Durrant,
mother of the prisoner took the stand
as the first witness for the defense. She
told about her own birth and marriage
in Toronto, Canada, where Theodore
was born. The family came here in
December 1879. She detailed the child
hood of the prisoner and his education
at various schools. During vacations he
worked at various occupations. He had
money in the bank. She testi
fied on the morning of April 3, her
son was dressed in a blue cheviot
suit, the blue trousers of which she
identified and the garments were intro
duced as evidence. Mrs. Durrant stated
that her son returned home that evening
shortly after 6 o'clock, dressed in the
same blue cheviot suit. He wore no
overcoat. When Theodore left home on
the morning of April 3, he kissed his
mother good bye and saluted her in the
same manner when he returned at night.
The family dined that evening at 6:15
but the witness said Theodore had little
appetite and be did not look well. At 8
o’clock that evening he took his mother
to a street car, and when she returned,
at 11:30, he was in bed and asleep.
Police Sergeant Reynolds described the
chisel marks on the belfry door. He
searched for a tool with which the mark
might have been made and in the pas
tor’s study found a chhel which fitted
the marks exactly.
Omaha, Nab Sept. 25. —The Bee to
day says: “1-ast night a prominent
me bjr of the Pinkerton Detective
Agency passed through this city. He
had just come from San Francisco, is fa
miliar with the whole proceedings in the
Durrant matter. When pressed by a
friend for a tip on the surprise that
Durrant’s lawyers were holding back, be
said that as the fact would soon come
out in court, he had no objection to toll
ing what the profound secret was. The
detective said that Durrant had now
in his possession, and would soon show
to the court a letter which is bound to
establish his innocence of the crime with
wh-ch hs is charged. This letter was
written by Blanche Lamont a day or two
after she is supposed to have been mur
dered. Concerning the contents of the
letter, or its exact date, he would not
speak, but he said that there need be no
doubt that the letter was written by Miss
Lamont later than April 3.
RALEIGH. N. C., THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 26. 1895.
FAVOR LOCAL OPTION
NEW YORK DEMOCRATS DE
CLARE AGAINST MEDDLING
IN LOCAL AFFAIRS.
A STRONG TICKET NOMINATED
But They Declare lor a Proper Obser
vation of a Day ol Rest anil An Or
derly Sunday Opposed to Unjust
Sumptuary Laws—Fairchild and Ilis
(landfill ol Bolters Walk Out ol the
Convention and Leave Tammany
Hall in Full Control.
Syracuse, N. Y.,Sept. 25.—The Dem
oeratic State Convention wound up its
business this afternoon and adjourned
sine die. The session was an exciting
one and at times the delegates became
disorderly almost beyond control. The
light was over the contest of the State
Democracy for admission to the conven
tion, and they finally withdrew from the
hall, refusing to accept the offer of a
one-fifth representation to Tammany
Hall’s four fifths. The bolt left Tam
many Hall in control and the following
ticket was speedily nominated:
HORATIO C. KING, of King's county, for
Secretary of State.
JOHN B. JUDSON,of Fulton county, Con
troller.
I). C. DOW, of Schoharie, State Treasurer.
B. NORTON CHASE,of Albany, Attorney-
General.
RUSSELL STUART, of Onondaga, State
Engineer.
JOHN G. TELLER, of Auburn, Judge of
Court of Appeals.
When the bolters left the hall, headed
by Charles F. Fairchild, the latter an
nounced to the Associated Press repor
ter that the State Democracy would
hereafter put up a ticket of their own
on all local issues. He declined to say
whether they would affliliate with the
bepublicans. The bolters were altern
ately cheered and hissed as they left the
convention, and the scene was similar to
that of last year when the same men
were thrown out without even gainiDg
as much recegnition as was offered them
to day, but refused. The platform, as
adopted, declared for:
Home rule, the first essential condi
tion of good municipal government;
local jurisdiction and control over purely
local affairs; no legislative meddling.
Equal and honest enforcement of all
laws; a proper observation of a day of
rest and an orderly Sunday; modifica
tions or repeal of laws unsupported by
public opinion; no unjust sumptuary
laws; no blue laws; recognition of the
fundamental American principle of free
dom of conscience; home rule in excise,
as well as in other matters, within rea
sonable limitations established to pro
tect the interests of temperance and
morality; and amendment for the excise
and other laws by the Legislature of th<*
State which shall permit each municipal
ity expressing its sentiment by a popular
vote of a majority of its citizens to de
termine within such proper legislative
restrictions as shall la: required by the
interests of the entire State what may
be best suited for its special necessities
and conditions.
Beneficial and needed legislation in
the interest of Uw; opposition to com
binations, trusts and monopolies in re
straint of competition in trade,
Federal taxation for revenue only; no
government partnership with protected
monopolies; no meddling with the pres
ent reformed tariff to the injury and un
settling of business and industries.
Sound money; gold and silver the only
legal tender; no currency not convertible
into coin; gradual retirement and extiuc
tion of the greenback currency; no free
aud unlimited coinage of silver.
Strict construction of the Federal Con
stitution; rigid maintenance of the re
served rights of the States; no force bills.
No entangling alliance with foreign
nations; the vigorous enforcement of
the Monroe doctrine; no jingoism.
We re affirm the Democratic national
platform of 1892, and congratulate the
people that Democratic legislation and
Democratic administration has success
fully brought the country out of the dis
astrous financial and industrial condi
tion into which it was plunged by the
ill conceived acts of the Republican
party. We endorse the administration
of President Cleveland.”
The platform closes with a denuncia
tion of the last Republican Legislature.
NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS.
Chancellor McGill Will Probably be
Nominated lor Governor To-Day.
Trenton, N. J., Sept. 25 —All the in
dications point to the nomination of
Chancellor McGill for Governor by the
Democratic Convention which meets
hre to morrow. There have been
no very warm contests and most
cf the delegations will come to
the convention unpledged. In the
rural districts there has been a very
strong sentiment for Augustus W. Cut
ler. who has been working for the nomi
nation, particularly among the farmers,
but in the cities and county towns it is
all for McGill, with a little feeling for
Justice Lippiucott. The leaders all lock
at it in this way and the) anticipate a
very tame convention.
Terrific Storm in lowa.
Burlington, lowa, Sept. 25.—A ter
rific wind, hail and rain storm passed
over this city this afternoon. Bunum
<fc Bailey’s circus was giving a perform
ance and dismissed the audience. The
main tent, animal tent and boarding
tent werß blown to strips aud completely
wrecked. No one was injured. The
animals were badly frightened and near
ly stampeded before the storm was over.
GENTRY IS NOW KING
the NORTH CAROLINA HORSE
BEATS THE KANSAN IN
STRAIGHT HEATS.
THE FASTEST THIRD EVER PACED
The Track Was in Perfect Condition,
and, Notwithstanding theStrongWlnd
Blowing(JptheStretch, Gentry Made
The Fastest Record of the Season—
Though the Weather W as Warm and
Threatening, Some Seven Thousand
People Saw the Contest.
Dubuque, 10., Sept. 25— Seven thous
and people saw today’s races at Nut
wood Park. The weather was threaten
ing and warm. The track was in fine
condition. A strong wind was blowing
up the strercb. I a the special pacing,
third heat, Gentry made the fastest
record of the season and the fastest
third heat ever paced or trotted.
Summary:
Special pace, purse $4,000.
John R. Gentry, b h, by Ashland
Wilkes (McHenry) 11 1.
Joe Patchen, (Curry) 2 2 2.
Fidel, (Rvanbe g) 3 3 3.
Time, 2:05 12; 2:05; 2:03 34.
Third heat by quarters: 31 12; 1:02
12; 1:33 34; 2:03 34.
THE BRITISH YACHT WON.
Ethelwynn Beaten Twenty-tliree Sec
onds by Spruce IV.
Oyster Bay, N. Y., S?pt. 25 —The
second race, which took place to day
between the half-raters, S >ruce IV., the
English boat, and Ethelwynn, repre
senting the Indian Harbor Yacht Club,
cf Connecticut, for the international
challenge cap offered by the Seawanhaka
C rinthian Yacht Club, of New York,
was won by the Eaglish boat by twenty
three seconds. The race was over a tri
angular course laid on Long Island
Sound, each leg of two miles, and the
course was sailed twice over, making a
total of twelve miles.
The Lilliputian yachts were sent away
at 12:30 after they had two signals, one
to get ready at 12:15, and another at
12:25, notifying them to prepare for the
signal gun start that was to lie fired at
12:30.
There were flagged to make their first
heading for a point east by south half
north,'which was a reach, with the wind
southeast. Before the racers got half
over the first leg the wind hauled to the
cast ward and they had to beat the rest
of the way to the first turn. Spruce
showed good judgment at this early
stage of the game by remaining in closer
to the shore and avoiding the rough
water. Ethelwynn was compelled to
make a tack more than Spruce before
she got around the first mark, but she
got there three minutes and seventeen
seconds ahead of the challenger.
On the next leg it was a broad reach,
on which point of sailing the Britisher
was said to be at her best. But she d d
not crawl up on her rival. On tae con
trary, she lost 54 seconds. Then the
boats headed for home to complete the
first round Tlrs leg was a close reach
and on it Spruce gained on the Ethelwynn
six seconds and when they started on the
first leg of the second round there was
on hyiiye minutes, fifty eight seconds
beflßptbeßr. Now the wind shifted to
again and Spruce came
up and blanketing Ethelwynn passed the
American and left a clear length of wa
ter ter taff rail and Ethelwynn’s
bxw.
Within an eighth of a mile of the first
mark orr the second round Spruce passed
EthelwynD, but the Yank immediately
drew ahead again, only to surrender to
Spruce within three minutes. Again
when the two skippers had a bit of luff
ing match between themselves, Ehel
wynn went ahead nearing the fifth
murk and drew away from the Briton,
turning the mark thirty one seconds be
fore her antagonist.
Oa the last leg Mr. Field ran up half
a dozen of the jibs before h? got through
with iis experiments and lost time
enough to have won the race.
The last leg was a beat to windward.
Mr. Fields out a policy of loDg
tacks, while Mr. Brand went about so
often that the on lookers declared he
was tacking twice to Fields once. The
breeze was blowing six knots an hour
when the boats began this heat but be
fore they reached the finish it had drop
ped to four. Ethelwynn stood on a
long board to the eastward, while Spruce
by making her small sized tacks scooted
over the line close hauled twenty three
seconds ahead of the American boat
which had eased off sheets far away
from the finish and came ahead very
fast but too late. The official time ta
ble is as follows:
Start: Spruce, 12:30:00; Ethelwynn,
12:30:08.
Firtt maik: Ethelwynu, 1:15:15;
Spruce IV 1:18:38.
Second Jmark Ethelwynn, 1:36:37;
Spruce, 1:40:41.
Thi.d mark: Ethelwynn, 2:02:55;
Spruce, 2:66.53
Fourth mark: Ethelwynn, 2:39.38*
Spruce, 2:39:48.
Fifth Mark: Ethewynn, 3:25:59;
Spruce, 3:27:39.
Finish: Spruce, 4:25:44; Ethelwynn,
4:26:07.
Still Exporting Gold.
Wasuin«ton, D. 0 , Sept. 25. The
Treasury to-day lost $1,000,000 in gold
for export to Europe and $150,000 to
Canada, leaving the true amount of the
gold reserve at the close of business to
day $94,118,434.
ILL LUCK STILL PURSUES HIM.
Another Vexing Question an to Pay
ment of Ransom’s Salary.
Washington, D. C., Sept. 25-Ex-
Senator Ransom’s draft on the Treasury
for $255 on account of salary as United
States Minister to Mexico still remains
unpaid and it is probable no action in
the matter will be taken until Secretary
Carlisle’s return. The Secretary some
days ago directed that the draft be hon
ored, on the supposition, it is thought,
that the re appointment of Mr. Ransom
had removed all obstacles to the pay
ment of his salary.
Acting Comptroller Bowers, however,
has raised a question which may result
in the delay of the payment until Con
gress shall take action in the matter.
Section 1761 of the revised statutes de
dares that “No money shall be paid from
the Treasury as salary to any person ap
pointed during the recess of the Senate
to fill a vacancy in any existing office, if
the vacancy existed while the Senate was
in session and was by law required to be
filled, and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, until such appointees his
been confirmed by the Senate.”
The question which has now arisen is
whether Mr. Ransom, under his last ap
poin'ment, can collect his salary as a
recess appointee, upon the theory that
his previous appointment having beeu
made during a session of Congress, and
therefore, in his case, unconstitutional,
operated to fill the vacancy. If it did, it
is said, he undoubtedly is entitled to his
salary; but if not, his salary must be
withheld. There is a series of decisions
by the courts holding that a defacto offi
cer of the government is entitled to com
pensation, but whether such defacto fills
a vacancy as contemplated by section
1761 remains to be determined.
BASEBALL YESTERDAY.
At Baltimore: b. h. k,
Baltimore, 3 0 3 1 0 000— 77 0
Philadelphia, 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0— 1 5 2
Batteries: Hotter and Robinson; Taylor
and Clements. Attendance, 5,000. Game
called on account of darkness.
At Brooklyn: r. h. s
Brooklyn, 2 0001 1— 4 3 2
Boston, 0 0 0 2 00— 2 4 3
Batteries: Daub and Grim; Dolan and
Ryan. Attendance, 1,800.
At Washington: b, h. b.
Washington, 00110 2 000 3 7 11 1
New York, 0013000002—6 7 5
Batteries: Mercer and McGuire; Dolmey
and Doyle. Attendance, 1,800.
At St. Louis (first game): R. h. b.
St. Louis, 000004213—8 16 4
Cincinnati, 6 2 1 2 2 20 0 *—ls 12 5
Batteries: Coleman andOtten; Foreman
and Vaughn.
At St. Louis (second game): r. h. e.
St. Louis. 0 0 106 0 3 10— 5 13 1
Cincinnati, 021000 0 1 0— 4 8 5
Batteries:, Breitenstein and Otten; Par
rott and Gray. Attendance, 500.
At Louisville: h. h. k.
Louisville. 000300010—4 8 8
Pittsburg, 2 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 *—ll 15 3
Batteries: McFarland and Warner; Haw
ley and Mack. Attendance, 400.
How the Clubs Stand.
clubs. Won. Lost. PrCt.
Baltimore, 83 42 .664
Cleveland. 83 45 .648
Philadelphia, 77 50 .607
Chicago. 70 56 .556
Boston, 69 58 .543
Brooklyn, 70 59 .543
Pittsburg, 69 61 .531
New York, 65 62 .512
Cincinnati, 64 61 .516
Washington, 41 83 .331
St Louis, 38 90 .300
Louisville. 34 95 .264
Where they Play To-day.
Chicago at Cincinnati.
Cleveland at Louisville
Pittsburg at St. Louis.
Base Ball Teams Coming South.
Baltimore, Md., Sept. 25.—Arrange
ments are being made for the Baltimore
and Philadelphia base ball teams to
make an extended Southern trip after
the Temple cup series is played. The
start will be made at Philadelphia, Oct.
12, where two games will be played.
The teams will then come to Baltimore
for two more games and then go South.
Manager Irwin, of the Philadelphia,
said this morning that the trip would be
for the benefit of the players, and it
would not be made under the auspices
of. the management of the teams, al
though the scheme has the sanction of
the managers. Mr. Irwin will probably
go with the Phillies, but it is not likely
that Manager Hanlon will make the trip.
After playing in Baltimore the team
willg) to Richmond, Savannah or Au
gusta, Atlanta, Mobile, New Orleans and
Dallas, Texas. Games will be played in
Dallas about the time of the Corbett-
Fitzsimmons tight, aud the men will wit
ness the fight. The trip will end at
Dallas when the teams will disband.
Nashville Beat* Richmond.
Richmond, Va., Sept. 25.—The Nash
villes turned the tables on the home
team to-day and defeated them, that
was easily done for the Richmonds did
not appear to care to win. Had they
taken this game there would be few
people to see them play to-morrow. In
the third and last contest. The visitors
did much better work than yesterday.
Richmond scored two runs hi the sixth
inning but they do not count, as rain
prevented the inning being finished.
Nashville, 13 0 0 3—7; 6; 0.
Richmond, 0 0 0 0 0—0; 3; 6.
Batteries: llahau and Sweeny; Flynn
and Foster.
Amnujwl Elec lions iu Rhode Island.
Providence, R. 1., S.ipt. 25—The
special election held today to decide the
question of biennial State elections and
tne division of Providence into represen
tative districts at a late hour seemed
likely to result in the defeat, of the
amendment to the Constitution embody
ing (he proposed change.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
EX-GOV. JARVIS TALKS
HE TELLS WHY lIE DIDN’T 60
INTO THE SILVER CONVEN
TION.
STRONGER THAN EVER FOR SILVER
He Say* That He Was Invited To At
tend a Non-Partisan Convention,
Hnt When He Found The Populist*
Were Determined to Demand Pledges
He Remained at the Hotel—The
Democratic Party Not Hurthy the
Proceedings of the Convention.
“Where is Governor Jarvis ?”
This was the question that every dele
gate asked his neighbor yesterday when
the Silver Conference met.
Some said the Governor was sick—
had sent to the drug store for medicine,
and couldn't stand the heat in the hall.
But Democrats said: “No; the Governor
stays away because he isn’t ready to do
Butler’s bidding.” After the Convention
a reporter of the News and Observer
called to see the ex-Gorernor and ex-
Senator. He seemed very well—as to
health.
“Governor, I did not see you in the
convention today?'’ said the reporter.
“No, I was not there.”
“Why did you not attend?”
“I was invited to attend a non-parti
san silver conference, and I came in good
faith to join in such a conference to help
forward the cause of silver. It looked
to me, after studying the situation, like
a partisan, Populist convention, bent on
getting some party advantage if possible.
I was at a conference yesterday evening
composed of Populists, Republicans ana
Democrats, called, as I understood it, to
formulate the resolutions to be passed
by the convention. A series of resolu
tions had been prepared by a Democrat,
who was one of the callers of the
convention, which were admitted
to be very appropriate and very strong
in their condemnation of the demoneti
zation of siiver and equally strong in
their utterances for its restoration. To
these it was insisted that another resolu
tion should be added, recommending the
people to vote only for candidates for
Congress and electors for President and
Vice-President, who are pledged to sil
ver. No compromise that could & suggest
ed, as I am informed, would satisfy the
Populist leaders. When I became satis
fied of that fact I determined to remain
out of the convention for the reason that
I was not willing to pledge myself at this
time to a body which had no authority
to require or take pledges as to what:
I will do or what I will not do
next year. While I may have my
notions as to what the situation
will be next year I do not know what it
will be, and I intend to keep myself free
to act, when the time comes, as I may
think best for the good of the cause of
silver and the good of the country.”
“But, Governor, it is claimed that the
resolution only recommends to the peo
ple.”
“Yes, but I have a notion thatjwhen
one recommends to the people to do a
certain thing he is under some obliga
tions to do it himself.”
“But did you not state in the confer
ence Tuesday evening that you consid
ered the cause of silver as above party?”
“I did, and do not wish to modify or
take back one word I said, and still I
propose to keep myself in a position to
act, when the time comes, as my judg
ment may tell me is my duty.”
“Now I do not wish to be understood
as criticising any Democrat who did at
tend, for many attended who are as pa
triotic and much wiser than I am. Nor
do I criticise the Populists for insisting
on going as far as they did in the reso
lutions. it was their right to do so, and
I make no complaint. lam simply giv
ing my reasons for not attending the
meeting.”
“How do you think the meeting will
affect the Democratic party in the
State!”
“I do not see that the Democratic
party is involved iu the meeting one way
or the other. Simply because myself
and other Democrats came to Raleigh to
attend the meeting ought not and does
not affect the party one way or
the other. We came in our
individual capacity, and not as
partisans. Our com ng and our conduct
here may hurt or help us as individuals,
but it cannot hurt or help the party.
“The Democratic party in North Caro
lina is pronounced along the silver line,
and when the time comes for it to speak
and act, it will,in my opinion, give forth
no uncertain sound, and it will not hesi
tate to make the remonetization of sil
ver, as it existed prior to 1873, the one
great issue upon which it will join battle
with the money power ”
CAPT. ASIIE NOT PRESEAT.
He Explains Why He Wai Absent,
Alter Having Signed the •all and
Having Been Appointed a Member
cf the Committee on Resolutions.
Capt. S. A. Ashe said yesierday oon
oerning the result of the convention and
his absence from it, in the face of the
fact that he had signed the call and had
been appointed a member of the com
mittee on resolutions : “It will have a
very beneficial result, such as will be
very desirable in North Caroliua; bene
ficial to silver, and so far from hurtful
to the Democratic party, it will be to its
advantage.
“On Friday evenißg,” continued Oapt.
Ashe, “Mr. Smith invited all the gentle
men who signed the call to meet in hi*
office, and a good many of them attend
jOONtrSNl ED ON FOU II4BI PACE.]