Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-10
LAST OF B|NCHAM'S BONDS Governor Oates Admits Validity and Orders Exchange. CHAPTER OF STATE HISTORY The Old Story Bears Telling Anew, Which Is
 Very We'll Done. A CLEAR AND CONCISE STATEMENT How inc Papers Were Lost and Then Acci- dentally Found - Treasurer Bing-
 hams Statement Relative to
 Them-Lawyers' Part.
A CLEAR AND CONCISE STATEMENT

y, ernor Oates today announced his decision in the matter of the application of J. H. Bingham as the administrator of the es- tate of Arthur Bingham, deceased, for exchange of bonds under the debt set clement act. The governor, by his de- cision, admits for the state the validity of the bonds and orders that new bonds be exchanged for them. The amount involved is $50, ,000
 The story of the case leading up to the decision is an exceedingly interesting one.
 In December 1874, the general assem- bly enacted law providing for the ere ation of a "debt commission" with au- thority to adjust all claims against the state on account of bonds issued or in dorsed in it's name. The commission rec commended that the outstanding bonds be called in and that new bonds be issued for them This was accordingly done by the legislature in 1876.
 The bonds sought to be exchanged by the Binghams are as follows: Three bonds of 225 pounds each, issued under act of February IT, 1870, and due June l, 1890; ten bonds for 5000 each issued un- der act of February z, 1872, and payable May 1, 1892 and thirty-four bonds for 5000 each issued under act of February ,, 1873, and due March 1, 1893.
 On March 31, 1894. MT. T. c. Bingham, on behalf of his father, the late Ar thur Bingham, presented to Governor Oates as ex-officio debt commissioner Of Alabama these forty-seven bonds for eX- change MT. Arthur Bingham was al the time confined to his bed by what proved his last illness and he could not make any statement in the matter. The gov ernor promised to look intestine matter and did so. He found that the report Of the commissioners appointed to adjust the states indebtedness in 1876 referred to the lack of records showing num- Der of bonds issued. The commissioners said among other things that there are asonds in the office of the treasurer signed and countersigned as required by law, which mature in 1S83-S6-90-92. which bonds we presume were prepared for the purpose of extending a part of the ante bellnrn bonds. but if so, they have not been called for by the noiovrs of the old bonds
 Arthur Bingham was treasurer of Ala bama during the republican regime from July 1868, to December, 1870, and from July, 1872. to December, 1874.
 In 1875 he was indicted in two or three cases on charges of embezZlement, but none of the indictments cover any or the bonds now in question:. At his trial by inry of democrats MT. Bingham was honorably discharged in the three cases. The next question was why the presenta- tion of the bonds had been so long delay ed The holders explained the delay as follows: In November. 1884, the house Of Arthur Bingham, in Talladega, was bur glarized and tin box in which these bonds and other valuable papers were kept was stolen. A negro, Dean Wilson, was arrested. tried and acquitted of the Burglary. Nine years later MT. J. H. Bingham, who lives in Montgomery went to Talladega. at the request of his father who desired him to get mp some notes or drafts said Arthur Bingham held against a party in New York. Arthur Bingham was then afflicted with his fatal illness. He stated to his son where the papers were to the best of his recol- lection but the son looked there and could not find them. While searching in various places for the New York papers J. H. Bingham encountered an old trunk in an unoccupied room in his fathers dwelling, and while searching through its contents he came upon the forty seven state bords. He asked his father for a statement with reference to them Arthur Bingham said he purchased the bonds of the 1872 issue of Roe Reynolds about the time of his appointment as minister to Bolivia, and that he pur- chased the greater part of his bonds of the 1873 issue from Virgil Murphy He could not remember from whom he bought the sterling bonds. Soon after this Arthur Bingham died.
 While Governor Jones was considering the matter the legislature assembled, and not feeling disposed to exercise his dis erection in a matter involving so large an amount he referred the case with the re- suit of his investigations to the assembly. The house pro mpty recommended that the bonds be taken in exchange, but the senate did not act in the matter Subse- Oates. Attorneys Cecil Brown. John P. Tillman and Gen. c. M. Shelley had cha rge of the Binghams interests, and to their efforts is largely due the for tlInate result to their client.