The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-04
AS GOOD AS He SENT.
A Philadelphia Broker Writes
Letter Here
Suggesting That It Would Be c
Good Time for Topeka
To Pay the Outlawed King Bridge
Bonds-City CIsrk McFad-
denis Reply.

Thomas D. CoulstOn, a Philadelphia
broker. taking advantage of the mani
festations of prosperity in the Fail Fes-
tival, wrote Mayor Chas. A. Fellows a
scathfng letter. demanding the payment
of a series Of city bonds which the
United States supreme court has de-
clared void. City Clerk AIcFadden re-
piled in the vein assumed by Coulston.
Mr.. Coulston's letter to the mayor
follows:
Il notice with pleasure that you are
in the midst of a weeks festivities in
celebration of the new era of prosper
ity. 1 congratulate you heartily in the
fact that you are experiencing such
prosperous times.
I would not wish to mar your en-
Joyment of the festivities but would it
not be a good time to show your appre-
citation of prosperity by paying off
some legal obligations of the city of
Topeka?
Z represent the holders of $50. 600 of
city bonds issued by the city of Topeka
20 year bonds bearing date of Aug
uSt Is, 1872. Duly certified by the aud
itor Of state that these bonds have been
regularly and legally issued; that sig
natures are genuine and that the same
have been duly registered in that office
in Topeka according to law, etc. The
city of Topeka paid two coupons so
that the interest, etc, the amount due
is now over $3.50 900.
rs there some way whereby we can
compromise this amount and thus leave
your fair fame and name untarnish-
ed 2''
In reply City Clerk McFadden said:
4 am pleased to state that the week of
our festival has just closed and l be-
lieVe that the citizens of Topeka must
have taken in at least a quarter of a
million dollars in cold, hard cash, and
beg leave to assure you that the city
is abundantly able to meet all it's legal
obligations, and believing that you
may have been imposed upon by some
designing person or persons to me I'M
known, l desire to give a glimpse Of
daylight on the $780, 900 of bonds you
represent.
Il he facts are that the King Wrought
Iron Bridge Manufal turing company
came to our little city about a quarter
of a century ago and by gross misrep-
reSent3uon succeeded in Victimizing
number OF our people, and afterwards
the matter reached Judge Dillon of the
L nited States court, who said that the
! bonds were void and in February. 1874
the supreme court of the United States
! affirmed the decision of Judge Dillon.
Judge Dillon was always considered
a good judge of law and has rendered
many very valuable opinions on bond
matters, q majority of his opinions be-
ing in favor of the bOndhOlders Your
clients must either be densely ignorant
buncO men or bond swindlers, if they
have represented to you that this city
has ever refused to pay any of its le-
gal obi cations.
7 trust that you and your clients
will take due notice of the decision of
the United States supreme court before
proceed ng further or writing insinua-
ting letters without becoming familiar
with the facts. 1t is rather unreason-
able to suppose that any person would
hold overdue bonds for more than 20
years without even making a demand
for payment, if the same were legal OBJ
legations.
mo, the city of Topeka does not owe
one cent on those bonds"