New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-06
EXCITEMENT IN MISSOURI.
ALLEGED FRAUDULENT ISSUE OF BONDS.

ALLEGED FRAUDULENT ISSUE OF BONDS
ST. LOUIS, March Am alleged case of
fraud and theft In connection with the issue of county
bonds has been in the hands of the police since satur
day. but not much known until late tonight. Ii ar
pears that in 1857 Cass County. No. voted to issue
per cent bonds In aid of the Missouri Pacific
Railroad Only 5000 OF these bonds delivered 1t
being claimed that the Railroad Company failed TO fulfil
its agreement in tho construction OF the road and the
remaining sos 900 locked up In the County Treas
urers safe at Pleasant Hill. During the raid
made upon Pleasant Hill by the Federal troops, when
these bonds found and semitic Gen. schofeld then
commanding this Department who, supposing them to
belong to the Railroad Company turned them over to its
officers. After the war, Cass County refused to &C.
knowledge the legality of the bonds, and yir
tually repudated them The Railroad Company
however retained the bonds and with accrued interest
for years. laid claim against County for
II has recently been determined that the claim Of the
railroad company Is valid and it is alleged ring
formed embracing some members OF the Cass County
Court and several prominent citizens by whom 1t was
proposed the county shoud s229 In bonds
which should be gwen to the railroad company and the
was strongly opposed by the citizens Of the county but
1t alleged the bonds were prepared and during last
Signatures, and Friday night Judges stevenson and
Forsyth OF the County Court James r. Cure lawyer, of
and then came to ST. Louis kilograms were
received 10y the Chief Of the Police ST. Louis from the
sheriff Of Cas- County ordering the arrest OF any and all
parties Offering the bonds for SALE stating they had been
audnently issued and stolen Inquiries by the police this
onn revealed the fact that several banks and bankers
had been visited Saturday The few bonds found Loft
at several places The parties having them were TO call
to-day 10 consult regarding their transfer sale About
detectives entered the boarding Of Barholo
new Lewis Co. and arrested two men, who exhibited
a document which, 1t is alleged, belonged TO the county
records and Is said 10 have been distracted thcreirOn
Express receipts were found on the men one i9E 29
pany, NewYork another for IS bonds. sent to MT
Stevens, No. Nassau-st, New-York Al these bonds
United states Company in this city One hundred and
6 judges "E Stevenson asd FORSYTH Carried Of
the bonds TO Kansas City, Mo- another party, name I'M
still in Jail
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARs-sUICIDE OF ONE OF
THE CULPRITs.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 5.-Sheriff Bryant OF
Cass County arrived here this morning, and has been
coseted with the police authorities most OF the day His
statement and that of A. Hutchinson, who IL also here
in connection the late fraudsn that county In sub
stance as follows The Missouri Pacific Railroad Com
many after holding the original bonds for 100000
for several years from the time they were turned
over 10 them the military authorities and finding the
people Of Cass County averse TO paying Them waived
their claim and delivered them 10 the agent OF Cass
County taking his receipt therefor Subsequently the
County Court made order TO destroy the bonds (Which
now stands on the county records but appears they
were not destroyed, and q few months ago, 1T Is
alleged, ring formed, In and out OF the County
Court egaze these bonds In some way and sell them
This became known and srenuOusy opposed by the
people who regard ed the whole thing barefaced
fraud New bonds printed however to the amount
of the original issue. with accrued interest at ten per
cent, and, last Friday, after the adjournment
of the regular session OF the Court, and
one OF the Judges who was not in the
ring had left for home the remaining Judges Steven
SOL and Forsyth reconyened the Court and approved
the issue OF the bonds, and Judge Stevenson James
Cline Robert b. Higgins. and Ladue h Nichols. who
were arrested here yesterday took the bonds and I'M
mediately left town. Previous 10 reconvening the
Court the clerk was invited out osensby business
by two OF the ring but really TO get him ont OF the
vay and IL was during his absence that the bonds were
npnroved aud the Court record signed by a young
deputy clerk who persuaded TO do so on repeated
assurances that the action OF the Court was legal and
proper IL stated that these bonds are in favor OF
some land and trust company, whose exact name how,
ever il not Known II stated that they In aid
of the St Louis and Santa Fe Railroad Judge Steven
son is known to have come TO Sedaa, whence IL Is
believed lie went Iwest the Missouri, Texas ana Kan
sas Railroad Cline was at WyandOte last night, but
euded the officers andI has probably gone west j. ID.
Ume another OF the ring and Cines law partner. has
also fed and is supposed has gone TO California. X
b. Higgins arrested last night and this forenoon
and died instantly. Judge Forsyth did not
fee but, according TO kilograms received, has pledged
himself 10 remain at home convene the Court anu with
Judge Copeland rescind the act by which the bonds
were approved All these parties are men or standing
and have families. Hine and Cline were prominent
LAWYERS in HarrisOnvie, and Higgins was merchant,
and has heretofore borne good reputation