Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-17
INSTRUMENT Is VALID
CoM1GIssIONERs SATISFIED WITH
AUDITOR PErTY's BOND,
Covers Disbursement Of Money and
Does Not Require Renewal-Efort
for Watoou's Release.

| The District Commissioners satisfied
| themselves today as to the validity OF the
bond for $4,000 given BY Auditor Petty
| In 1883 for the faithful performance Of his
duties. Some question was raised as to
| whether or not the bond covered the dis
bursement OF moneys 1t develops that 1t
does while the three sureties on the in
| strument. Messrs. Jesse B. Wilson. c. B.
Church and George T. bearing own real
estate to the assessed value of several hum
! dred thousand dollars. The assessed value
| OF their combined real estate at the time
| the bond was signed May 1. 1882. amounted
| to s268 ORA
| There was also some question as to
| whether or not the law required that the
| bond should be renewed in 1900. twelve
years from the original date. 1t Is said
| there was no ground for the latter assump-
| tion as the bond is a continuing one. The
| only law on the subject is to the effect that
| no action can be taken on bond twelve
years after the right to sue had accrued
| The right of the District authorities to sue
| on Mr.. Petty's bond accrued about three
| years ago. when Watson is alleged to have
made his first defalcation. The Commits
| sioners therefore have nine years left IN
| which action can be taken and maintained.
| The Commissioners are awaiting Auditor
| Petty's report of the affair before taking
| further action. Mr.. Petty says he Will take
| some time in preparing this statement, as
| II Will Do Ills llIdl WOTUp SApidHhtioh Civ
defense. Mr.. Petty has expressed his be-
| lief to several of his brother officials at the
| District building that his report VIII thor
| oughly vindicate his administration OF at
| fairs in the auditorial office.
Text of the Bond.
The language of Mr.. Pettys bond seems
| to settle all doubt as to the liability OF
| his bondsmen in the present Instance. II
| reads:
| to-
| THAT we. James T. Petty, Chas b.
| Church, Jesse B. Wilson and Geo. L. Dear
| ing of the District of Columbia. are held
| and firmly bound unto the District Of Co
lumbia. In the sum of $40, 600, lawful money
| of the United States of America. to be paid
| to the said District of Columbia. or to the
| certain attorney, successor, or assigns
| thereof; for which payment. well and truly
| to be made. and each Of us do bind our
| solves, and each of our heirs, executors
| and administrators, Jointly and severaly,
| firmly by these presents.
| Sealed with our seals. Dated this list day
| Of May. AID. one thousand eight hundred
| and eighty eight.
| Whereas, the above-bounden James T:
Petty has been appointed to the office OF
| auditor in and for the District of Column
| bia: Now, therefore, the condition OF said
| obligation is such that If said James L.
| Petty shall faithfully and efficiently per-
| form all the duties of his said Office as
provided for by law. and the rules and reg
| ulations from time to time duly prescribed
| for the government of the civil service or
| said District: and shall well and truly pay
| over. disburse. and account for all moneys
| that shall come to his hands. as the law
| and orders governing said service shall re-
| quire. then said obligation to be void.
| otherwise to remain in full force.
| JAS. T. PETTY (SeaL)
"CHAS B. CHURCH (Seal)
| JESSE B. WILSON (Seal)
GEO. T. DEARING (Seal)
"Signed and sealed In the presence OF
Saml. Ourand, H. j. Caldwell, Frank A.
Sell. Geo. A. Thomas. Approved May 2.
1888. Chas. w. Raymond. major OF engi-
| neers. Engineer Commissioner. D. c.; 8. e.
| wheatley. Commissioner, D. c.; W. B.Webb,
| Commissioner. d. C"
Arranging to Give Bond.
Attorney Stuart Mcnamara of counsel for
James M. A. Watson, charged with embez-
| element from funds received in the au-
| ditors office. was in conference this after
| noon with Mr.. George T. Parker, the local
| representative of the Title Guaranty and
| Trust Company Of Scranton. Pa. relative
to that company qualifying as surety for
| Watson in the sum Of $4,000. 1t was ca-
| planned that Attorney Mcnamara has been
| very busy with other matters during the
| past few days. and for that reason delay re-
| suited in the completing Of the arrange
| ments with the bonding company. Watson
| will not be released today. Attorney Nc
| Namara stated, but 1t Is now only a Ques-
| ton Of very short time prior to his being
| liberated from Jail on bail
In reference to the absence from the city
| of Mr.. Bryant, Watsons father-in-law. it
| is pointed out that the business interests
| of Mr.. Bryant all center at New York city
| and that the metropolis is his headquarters.
| he being there the greater portion Of the
| time. He established a residence in this
| city 1t is added. principally because tho
| members Of his family preferred to live
| here Mr.. Bryant Is expected In Wash
| ington within the next few days. and 1t IS
| said that If Watson Is not released in the
| meantime he will very likely be released
| shortly after the arrival of Mr.. Bryant.
Deed Recorded by Mr.. and Mrs. Bryant
| A deed was placed on record in the Office
! Of the recorder Of deeds late this afternoon
| by which John H. Bryant and his wife.
Kate C. Eryant. conveyed to Horatio N.
| Taplin and Thomas J. Deavitt. trustees,
lots 10. 90 p and %. square 1898, to secure
the payment of $1O,JOO to Lille T. TapIin.
| The property mentioned is located at the
| southwest corner Of 14th and streets
| southeast and has a frontage of y feet on
| street, each Of the four lots having q
| frontage of 18 feet.
| Mr.. Bryant is the father-in-law Of James
| M. A. Watson. A friend of the former de-
| clared that the raising by him of $40 500
| at this time has no connection with the
| Watson case, but is merely a transaction
| in the ordinary course Of business. The
| paper making the conveyance Of the prop
| erty was executed yesterday at Atlantic
| City, N. ].