The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-13
A Genuine Ynnkee--A Scathin0
Reply.

During the war, Mr.. Reese, Of
Tennessee, his family having to flee
from his dwellinghouse, lost some
certificates Of railroad stocks. 1t ap-
pears, now, that some time since one
81. B. Payne, of W1kesbarre, Penn.
wrote to Mr.. Reese that he was in
possession Of the missing certificates,
which ho alleges he bought from u
Federal soldier for the sum of ten
dollars, intending, as he says, to pre-
sent to the Historical society Of his
town." but generously proffered to
forego the pleasure of snch gracious
action and return the certificates for
thirty dollars.
1t is evident from the following
reply to the proposition that Mr..
Reese il doubtful Of the truth Of
Payne's statement about the pur-
chase. and that he has surer way of
reinstating the certificates than
risking their return by Payne The
letter is well worth reading:
BR1sToL, Tenn, May 80, 1866.
Mr.. Fl. B. PAYNE-DEAR SIR: Your
second kind favor, dated April 20,
has been received, and your very
liberal proposition to sell us fifteen
shares in the East Tennessee and
Virginia Railroad for the moderate
sum Of thirty dollars has been duly
considered You say, Mr.. Payne,
that yon paid ten dollars for these
bonds, ''for the purpose of Sc
curing them for your historical So
clety. Now, sir, as We fully
appreciate the generous motives
which prompted You to make this
offer. don't YOU think it would
be both ungenerous and unl.. IT for
us to deprive your society Of so va
luable an acquisition without return
ing fair equivalent. 1t would seem
to be taking an unfair advantage of IA
most ~orihy membe, of an honorable
body. Such unparalleled generosity
should be met in a similar spirit of
hberality, and l Will say to YOU, keep
the bonds for the benefit and amuse-
ment of your society, and l will get
new ones issued instead; which can
be done by exhibiting your letters.
or merely stating that the original
were bought, pic1,eiup, or stolen by Mr..
Payne, Of Wilkesbarre, Penn. i will
furthermore state for your benefit. Mr..
P. that stock in this road is not
transferable, except upon the books,
OF the Company, and as each Of us
are known to the officers Of the Com
pany. it would seem vo,i are in fair
way to lose Your ten dollars, which.
no doubt, Will be extremely painful
to yo'W sensitive nature
Your statement as to how YOU came
IN possession OF those bonds nav. or
may not, be true There are many
reasons for donbting it, AS you have
brought up this subject allow me to
state for the benefit Of III! concerned
some facts connected with the rob
berry which placed you in possession
of those bonds Sometime in the
winter of '63, during Longstreet s
occupation of Upper Last Tennessee.
an artillery duel took place in the inn
mediate vicinity Of my mothers resi-
- HV.N 4hoNSN NIcek. L he 1amllN
He'd for safety. and, upon theirreturn.
found that one General Elliott, who
formerly disgraced the uniform of a
Federal officer, had made his head
quarters III the housc. Every lock in
the house was broken, and railroad
bonds, papers Of all kinds, books,
household furniture, ladies' dresses.
etc, We're gone. This man in Of
flcer's uniform while p,'etput}i,,y to
project the property, allowed his
"'ftge,S-o" t" appropriate whatever
suited them. The only excuse the
"SfoW offered was. that they under
stood 1t WAS 4 'Sec,a>A' house. When.
ON account of the proximity OF the
rebels, this hero departed, In or one
Of AfS St.d took with them Il will not
say sh"l@, that is an ugly word from out
OF the Generals own slecpinc-room
Il tine guitar belonging to one of the
family. And now, Mr. Payne, allow
me to say. | strongly suspect you be-
longed to this party, eitacr rs s,ui.2..
}o?'na'r "nSf-'F or 0rAny .foA,wc,- If
my suspicious are we'll founded, pro
badly you purchased from hcadquar-
ters the guitar and some otherarticles
prlZed by the owners, who will proba-
bly, come to some understanding with
yon. Hoping to hear from you again
soon, with full descriptive and price
l'@ Of AL the articles which may now
be III your possession, l have the
INxN,