Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-01-21
The RatIrOad Frauds.

Never was q people moro UNANIMOUSLY
swindled and gulled than have been the
people of North Carolina. It is now nearly
q year since the appropriation OF w. OOO,-
600 in State Bonds was made to the Yves
tern Division of W. n. G.. II. r. 1t is
we'll understood 100000 of the Bonds
were sold months ago at GO cents on the
dollar, yielding $1,9SO,000. Where is that
money? Not moro than 100000 have
been paid out for tho work on the road,
and there is not So, 600 in the Treasury at
this time Who has got the remainder?-
It should be in the hands OF the Treasurer,
but il is not. George w. Swcpson, the
former President, who sold these Bonds,
resigned his Office into the hands of the
present President, with the remaining
81, 600, 600 of Bonds. Swepson and Lit
tIefeld, Immediately after the So, 600, 900
of Bonds were sold, purchased, by Git
tie piece Of rascaIity," q railroad i'll Florl-
da-Where the purchase money came from
is strongly suspected. The Florida Rail
road Is Incomplete and u bad spccul ttIon
unless ii is extended, and SwepSon has en-
plOycd gentlemen Of our acquaintance IN
Columbia, S. c., to build that extension.
Littlefield, who holds the 81, 600, 600 bonds
belonging to our road, is also President
and part owner Of the Improbable Florida
road. As the former President sold 3d.
900, 600 just before he bought the Florida
road, and cannot or will not account for
the proceeds, is there not great reason to
suspect that the ''iittle piece Of rascality"
in Florida will turn out TO be very great
piece of rascality i'll North Carolina, by
selling the remainder OF our bonds to
finish the Florida road? We consider this a
! legitimate suspicion, and ask those mem
! beers Of the Legislature who are now Op-
! posing the Investigation Of the alleged
railroad bond frauds, if they intend to shut
! their eyes to the danger until it Is too
| late SWepSon ought to be forced by legal
process, TO diegorge or account for this
amount, immediatel y, and Llttleheld, his
accomplish should be enjoined at once
| from selling any more bonds, and remov-
ed from his position as President. The
Lcgislatnrc-:hose who oppose investiga-
tion--say there has been no charges made
against these men. We can tell them the
people are making charges against them
every day and demand an Investigation of
| these charges.
We clip the above from the Ashville
| News The charges which it contains
against Swep5on and Littlefeld are most
damaging. And they are scarcely less
damaging 20 Governor Holden, who it
must be remembered, is responsible for
their appointment to the Office of Presi-
dent Of the Western ". G.. Railroad. In
the face Of ali this, 20 it not most strange
that there should ever have been any oppo-
sitinn to the appointment of a special COM
mitleD O! investigation Is it not strange
that Gov. Holden has not sent in special
message urging the appointment of such
committee, and asking for the most rigid
| Investigation ? Why has he not done so ?
bat one answer presents itself TO the
minds OF honest and intelligent men-he
fears the effect upon his party, if not upon
| his own character.
The people demand an investigation,
but it will not be made. The suggestions
of the News, that one OF the parties be
compelled to disgorge, and the other be
enjoined from selling any moro bonds, and
be removed from Office, if the charges can
be proved to be true, will not be carried
out. We need not tell our readers why.
They will find the answer in the venality
of the times and in the amount Of money
involved. OM North State.