The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-15
THE STOLEN BONDS
ARE IN EVIDtACt
The Legislature Refused to
Issue Duplicates.
The COUPONS WERE PAID
Mrs. Godfrey in Jonesboro Loses Them in Rob
berry but Gets Them Back and The
Coupons We're Paid by
State Treasurer.

Evidences that stolen property had been
recovered came to light yesterday.
The property in question Is two one
thousand dollar North Carolina tour per
cent bonds. These were reported as hay-
ing been stolen in December last when
there was a robbery in Jcnesboro.
The bonds We're, and supposedly are
now, the property OF Mrs. Godfrey, of
Jonesboro. But there was an interim III
which these bonds were in the hands OF
another party, and this interim after the
theft IN Jonesboro.
The semi-annual coupons on the two
bonds, whose numbers are 1870 and 1880
were paid yesterday at the State Treas
urer's office, $40 on each bond, $40 in ali
The coupons We're sent to the State Treas
urer from the Citizens National Bank,
Of Raleigh, presumably acting for Mrs.
Godfrey.
State Treasurer B. R. Lacy when asked
| concerning the matter declined to give
out any information about 1t. Mr.. Jo-
! seph G.. Brown, when asked about the
stolen bonds and the payment Of the
coupons stated that he had nothing to
give out IN the matter.
The stealing Of these bonds IN Jones
boro and the effort to have the General
Assembly at its last session to author
ize the issue of duplicate bones will be
remembered The bill authorizing the
duplicates passed the House but was
killed IN the Senate, the State Treasurer
opposing the bill, while Senator U. l..
Spence, OF Moore, who represented the
i district in which the robbery occurrd,
favored It's passage.
As to whether or not the bonds with the
commons or tho coJnarS a Iona have hqpp
returned, has not been given out. The in
ference is that both have and that bonds
and coupons are now back IN the hands
of the rightful owner.
The robbery at Jonesboro aroused much
interest at the time because among the
! things stolen was the two thousand dollar
State bonds, the property of a lady. It
was given out that there was no clue to
| the robbers, and it was not known that
the original bonds would yer be heard Of
again. unless sold to an innocent third
party, who would demand that the State
redeem the coupons.
Then came the introduction of the bill in
the House of Representatives asking that
i the State Treasurer be required to issue
duplicates. The bill passed the House
with very little argument about it, and
! came to the Senate, being referred to the
Finance Committee. In this committee,
! when the matter was being considered,
! Senator Henderson asked that the State
| Treasurer be heard on the matter. He
appeared before the committee and stated
! that he thought it unadvisable to issue
duplicates. His view and that of Senator
! Renderson's was that the matter was haZ-
ardous and dangerous, even though the
owners offered to give bond to indemnify
the State. The ommitte reported IN
! favorably and the House bill was killed.
From that time till the present there has
been nothing heard with regard to these
bonds, until the presentation and payment
Of them, and even now there has been no
statement as to how the bonds, or the cOu-
pons We're recovered.
That they are in the hands of the right
full owner is shown by the fact that they
were handled by the Citizens National
Bank, and that when they were sent to
the State Treasurer the coupons Of $40
each was paid. If the lawful owner had
not been the one presenting the coupons
there would have been arrests.
How have these bonds been recovered?
That is the question that IS agitating those
who have learned of the transaction. Was
the thief found, and did he deliver the
bonds? Were they returned with mo
questions asked?" Was a reward offered
for their return? Were they sent back
quietly by mail or express? Did a third
party handle them with or without a re
ward? How did the bonds come back,
anyway?
Mr.. Lacy tell me about the State
bonds stolen in Joresboro on which the
Y coupons were paid yesterday?" said the
reporter.
Il can't tell you anything about them
repled the State Treasurer.
Mr.. Brown, will you please let me
know about the Citizens National Bank
receiving payment for the coupons on the
!, State bonds stolen in Jonesboro, but eyi
IDENTIFY recovered" asked the reporter.
Il have no information about the mat
ter answered the President of the Cit
:. zens National Bank.
So there you are. and the question OF
who stole the bonds and how were they
recovered?' is yet to be answered. There
!. may, or there may not be an investiga
ton, and the mystery may always continue
to be a mystery except to those on the
inside.