The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-25
knight Elected But Not Per-
mited TO Touch a Cent.
AN INSULT TO THE COUNTY
Does Knight Know What His
Bondsman's Attitude Means?
A MERcENARY UsuRPATIoN
Riggsbee Went His Bond For Pecun-
larry Reasons But Unwilling to Trust
Knight With Handling Money,
Wake County Trusted Him.

A few days ago at Auburn Mr.. Fl. III.
Knight, candidate for county Treasur-
err, in the course of his campaign re-
marks, admitted that, owing 10 his
inability 10 give bond when he was
last elected, he had to farm out his. Of
fee 10 A. NJ. Riggsbee, of Durham. He
said, however, if he was elected again
shis would not be the case.
In view of this statement. it be-
hooves the people to ask how can
Knight now any more easily give bond
than he could on December 9th, 1894.
The scandalous story of that trans
action is enough to make the ears OF
freenen burn.
On the date mentioned, the county
commissioners met to resume consid-
GRAFTON of the official bond of Treas
urer Knight.
Except Mr.. Riggsbee, the sureties
on each of Mr.. Knights bonds, namely
that for the school fund and his county
bond, justified in comparatively trifiing
amounts.
On the first bond, Mr.. Riggsbee JUS
titled in the sum of 5000, and on the
county bond in the sum of $751;
900. Mr.. Riggsbee is a wealthy citizen
of Durham, and the bargain was that
his son, Mr.. r. III. Riggsbee, should
have charge of the office, handle the
funds, and receive the greater part of
the remuneration.
Now listen: Is not what followed
enough to make reputable citizens
stand aghast? Mr.. Riggsbee went SO
Tar as to make statement in effect
as just noted above. He stated that
Mr.. Knight had agreed to put his son
in the office and pay him 81, 500 year,
and under the written contract be-
tween him and Mr.. Knight all the
county and school money should be
placed in bank to the credit of FL. H.
Knight, Treasurer, and none of the
same could be drawn out except upon
q check signed FL. H. Knight by Riggs
bee: that this was the agreement with
the banks, and that FL. H. Knight could
not draw one cent of the money on his
own check as Treasurer. This con-
tract was in writing and in evidence
at the meeting, as is attested by those
who were present.
Now there is question involved in
this matter larger than the mere
validity of the bond. Should the law
sustain a contract as the one consul
mated between Knight and Riggsbee
under the terms of which Knight alb
dictates the office to which he is elected,
and for valuable consideration sur
renders it with it's duties and the
greater portion of it's emoluments to
another? And it is worthy of note
that the man in possession is not a
citizen of Wake county. The agree
ment was practically sale of the Of
fee Knight is mere fgure-head,
without authority. He cannot pay a
duly audited claim against the county.
He cannot touch dollar of the public
money in his hands for the purposes
to which it is applicable without the
signature of Riggsbee, who controls
and disburses the funds. He is treas
urer only in name, shorn of his au
thority, bound in chains to Riggsbee,
a beheaded official-and all by his own
act
Riggsbee has bought the office, and
is the real treasurer, by a bargain
which is neither reputable nor seem
ingly legal. lit is not lawful for
public official to assign the duties and
the salary or emoluments of his of
flee to another. If the trade between
Knight and Riggsbee amounts to such
assignment, the law should not sus-
tain it.
There is another interesting ques-
ton connected with this matter. Sec
ton 991 of the Code provides that
'any person holding office under the
~ C+a{ ytaN c.h
X directly or Indirectly, any
thing of value, or personal advantage,
for emitting to perform any official
act shall be guilty of fell
ony.'
Does not this provision apply to
Knight? He is a public officer-he
received something of value and per-
sonal advantage for emitting to per-
form the official acts of his Office
that is for consideration of the sig
nature of A. NJ. Riggsbee to his bond,
he transfers 10 Riggsbee's son the
performance of all duties of his Of
fee.
One thing lis certain: the bargain
between Knight and Riggsbee arous-
ed the indignation of the public. Such
contracts have never been tolerated in
this community. They are not in ac-
cordance with the ideas of this people
in regard to the incumbents of impor-
tant offices. The people of this county
have not been accustomed to having
the duties of their treasurer perform
ed by an alien purchaser of the Of
Zee.
Apart from all other reasons-there
are too hard s--4common-sense
facts that ought to be brought to bear
upon this case. These two facts will
appeal to honest men everywhere.
The first is that when the people of
Wake county elect Mr.. III. FL. Knight
or anybody else for treasurer, they
are cheated out of their rights of
suffrage, if man from Durham coun-
ty comes and takes the place. leaving
the hands Of tlse treasurer elect
bound
The second is that man who, elect
ed as treasurer, is yet willing to enter
a 4 - 4...ts q