The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03
BONDS IN BELGIUM.

MEssRs. ROLLINS AND HARMENs CHARGED WITH
HAVING FORGED AMERICAN RAILWAY SECURE
TIEs-MAG1sTERIAL INVESTIGATION IN BRUs-
FORTH IN THE TEsTrMoSY-No DEMAND NOE
INFORMATION PROM WASHINGTON.
BaussRLs, March 20, 1876.
Messrs Rollins and Harmens at Brussels. They
appeared Thursday tho 10th inst before the city
magistrates, and at demanded through their at
torpcys temporarily at liberty bail They
were provided with the best legal advice. and ~ de
Jaer the Judge who heard the case expressed himself
in manner favorable to the prisoners, who then
exsmined through an interpreter The Court ulti-
matcy decided to accept bail and nxed tho sum a,
So 600 for Rollins and S. 900 for Harmens, making
total Of ST., 900.
The prisoners were then taken hack 10 the PaaIs do
Justice Tor the necessary ormatics which preccde the
release OF alleged criminals, and they large.
OFFICIAL CONSIDERATION.
II Is worthy OF remark that they were conveyed
from the prison OF the Pcts Carmcs to the Palas do
Justice in private carriage and not in the prison van,
aud that there appeared an evident disposition on the
part Of the Belgium authorities ID treat these alleged
criminals with especial consideration, Notwithstanding
the proceedings taken against them.
INNOCENT.
Indeed, II is not impossible that very painful mis-
take may have been committed anu that two innocent
gentleman may have been SUBJECTED unrcasonaby 10
very painful and distressing form oil annoyance Tor
up TO tho present time such part OF tho evidence as
has been made pubic appears ut least as much IN favor
OF their acquttal as oil their tulpability.
TuE DKYExcE
Their system OF defence Is plain aud simple. Har
declares that he has acted throughout merely as
the agent OF Rollins. Rollins asserts that he acted
with perfect good faith and that lie merely employed
Harmens as convenient agent who was IN no sense
his accompcc IN any attempt 10 commit fraud Har-
niu observes with much p0usibllitv that
II he had been swindicr he would have takcir care
to the changer, Samuel, time TO examine the
forged bonds; and certainly would not have loft them
in the changers hands TO DO produced in evidence
against him. Moreover, that he would not have COM
mttcd The blunder Of ordering the California aud
Oregon bonds 10 be sold, because by putting these
forged documents into circulation he must have known
that their spurious character would be detected
With respect TO remark made BY tho Belgian au-
thories that II nexplicablc that persons should
come Belgium TO negotiate bonds which might have
boon much more advantageously negotiated IN the
United states Rollins answered that considerations
relative the financial condition OF America had alone
induced HIM TO try his luck In the Brussels market
REMARKS ny THE JUDGE
The Court also observed that the sudden departure
OF the prisoners from Brussels their mysterious Jour
ing them were calculated 10 arouse not unreasonable
Messrs Rollins and Harmens, however, offered ex-
plantations OF their behavior which were not upon the
WHOLE unsatisfactory.
no ACTION nY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
But the TACT which weighed most III their favor was
the total abstenon from any hostile action against the
prisoners the part OF the Amcr:an gov
ernment or its representatives. Immediately
after the arrest OF Mcssrs. Rollins and Harmcns
the Belgian authorities telcgraphcd TO the United
States Informing the American government Of the
alleged against tho prisoners; but Inasmuch
ply received the Belgian judges felt dsinclncd TO
take vigorous proceedings in so full OF doubt
Whether tho prisoners are guilty or innocent u was
argued question which only Affects belgium TO the
extent OF lew thousand francs which VIII not be lost
whereas II the United States to the amount
OF many millions OF dollars
This mode OF reasoning is not perhaps morally
sound, but " Is ny means wanting In worldly
shrewdncss. and the Bclgians have possessed q
due regard for their own interests.