The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-17
SECOND CHAPTER OF
STOLEN BONDSSTORY
Colonel J. C. |, Harris and
His Unnamed Client.
J. [. GODFREYS STORY
Col. Harris Sold Him The Bonds on Which His
Client Had Lent Sl,O00---This Client
Got the Bonds From
Friend"

The first instalment of the "Jonesboro
Stolen Bonds story published in Satur-
days News and Observer proved most in
teresting reading, whetting the appetite
of the public for more. Though no an
nouncement of ITO be Continued" was
made the volley of interrogations that
wound up the first instalinent was in it..
self a promise of more to come.
Well those who looked for it are not
to be disappointed. The second instalment
OF this fascinating serial came to hand
yesterday. It's author is J. l.. Godfrey, of
Jonesboro. He seizes the veil OF mystery
and partially tears it aside, but not far
enough to reveal the figure 'of the thief
the man who distracted the bonds. This
revelation will probably be reached in
the third instalment of our serial. In the
second Mr. Godfrey says:
To the Editor:-The article in Satur-
days News and Observer about the
''Jonesboro stolen bonds is calculated TO
cause so much guessing that perhaps L
had better inform you of all the facts
known to us so that there may be at
least no unjust reflection on the owners
of the bonds.'
After the Legislature refused as stated
i'll the News and Observer, to grant any
relief, nothing whatever was heard by
US of the stolen bonds until nearly three
weeks ago, when my attorney here (at
Jonesboro) received a communication
from lawyer of Raleigh in reference
to them On my return from Baltimore
where 1 had been on business trip l
N-nc mfr of he
mediately went, with my attorney, to-
Raleigh to see Mr.. ]. c. l.. Harris, the
Raleigh lawyer referred to. We had an
interview with Mr.. Harris about four
o'clock p. M, August 5th. Mr. Harris
declined in advance to give any names,
and we do not to this day know whom
he represented He stated however, that
his client (who was perfectly
straight man") had loaned one thous-
and dollars to a friend on these bonds,
or three months time; that the friend
Rad got into trouble and was compelled
to leave the State. That he (Mr. Har-
rs 'client') then tried to place the
bonds and in attempting to do so, dis
covered that the bonds were stolen (Mr
Harris did not inform us where his
client had tried to place" the bonds,
and who told him they were stolen, but
forgot to call the matter to the atten-
ton OF the owners). Mr.. Harris stated
to us that he had great difficulty in pre-
venting his ''client" from burning up the
bonds when he discovered they were sto-
len. But having been rescued from such
a fate, he now, representing his client,
offered them TO tie owner for one thous-
and dollars the amount claimed to have
been loaned.
l told Mr.. Harris l did not think we
ought to have to pay so much to reclaim
the property, and made him counter
proposition to pay $500 He said he could
not accept that without further instruc-
tions from his client, but that he would
phone him, and we could return about
six o'clock We returned at the ap-
pointed time and Mr.. Harris declined to
accept less than $1,000 which ] finally
agreed to pay. Mr.. Harris declined to
part with the bonds in return for
check, and the city banks all being closed
at that hour. | came to Jonesboro that
night, returned to Raleigh next morn
ing, and Mr.. Harris delivered up to me the
bonds on payment of 81 900 cash.
The bonds had no entry ON them of
the transaction referred to by Mr. Har-
ris, no endorsement of any kind, and
were in all respects just as when stolen
from the safe at Jonesboro, except that
the January coupon had been detached
from each.
l have made this statement very cir
cumstantially so that the News and OBJ
server may see in detail all that is known
to u.s.
In the article in Saturdays paper con-
siderable space is given to statement
as to how Mr.. Lacy opposed the bill for
relief OF the owner of the bonds One
would almost think he had saved the
State that amount of money. Of course
any such view is arrant nonsense. The
Legislature was asked to do no more
than any individual, and every railroad
in the country has done under like cir
cumstances, and something for which the
Senate committee was cited precedent,
| am informed, in this State.
J. L. GODFREY.
Jonesboro, N. c., Sept. IS, 1903.
Col. J.. c. L. Harris was seen last night
and was asked to say something IN regard
to the stolen bonds case.
II know nothing more about the mat