The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-27
ALL THE PARTIES KNEW THE GOD.
FREY BONDS HAD BEEN
STOLEN.

jury to make an investigation. The facts
are that the grand jury, at the former
term of Wake Superior Court, left the
matter to be Investigated by the grand
jury at the January term. The present
grand jury was composed of men of high
character and they entered upon the in
vestigation without waiting to be directed
to do so by the judge. When Col. Harris
at first refused to testify on the ground
that an attorney could not be compelled
in his professional capacity, Judge Brown
promptly ruled that he must testify, and
Col. Harris then stated his connection
with the affair. giving the name of his
client. The grand jury examined other
witnesses and made it's report to the
judge. 1t was not wanting in promptness
and in devotion to the public veal, but
we think that it ought to have examined
every witness who knew anything about
the affair. 1t was because the grand jury
did not examine Mckee, Pace, Blow AMI
|
tify, and not because of any lack of con-
fdence in the jury, that this paper said
yesterday that ''the investigation did MOI
go as far as it should have been carried.
Why was the investigation discontinued
before all the witnesses were examined?
Upon that point, Mr.. T. H. Briggs, the
patriotic and conscientious foreman Of
the grand jury, said:
1.-THE testimony of Mr.. Jones seemed to
furnish all the evidence that could be
educed. He made plain statement ---dt
impressed the jury as being true. We
understood that the witnesses who had
been brought by Mr.. Jones would zorro
bcrate his statement and therefore we
did not think it necessary to prolong the
| Investigation. The court was waiting for
our report. We had obtained all the
evidence we thought would be Of value,
and for that reason did not put Mckee,
Pace and Blow on the stand.
Those who know the personnel Of the
grand jury will have no doubt that they
were conscientious in their action. II
NAV be that no further evidence of value
!
think that in case of this magnitude,
the other witnesses should have been put
through a vigorous examination to see It
some light could not have been thrown
upon this most disgraceful transaction,
without precedent, in the annals OF the
State. However that may be, the grand
Jury is to be thanked for their promptness
in the matter and for giving the evidence
to the public. With the evidence obtain
ed the Solicitor, in whose hands the en-
tire matter now rests, can proceed in such
way as to compel the payment Of all the
money into court and to the punishment
of the guilty parties. Judge Brown states
he will issue bench warrants for any one
upon the application of Solicitor Arm
tistead Jones. AS soon as he finishes
Wayne court, Mr.. Jones will no doubt eX
anime the testimony and begin such pro-
ceedings as will bring the guilty parties
to Justice Nobody who has followed
the case and read the evidence believes
that the matter will be allowed to drop
in it's present shape. To do so would be
to put a premium upon larceny and upon
extorting money from the person robbed.
The evidence before the grand jury
shows that every party who handled the
bonds knew they were stolen. Here is
the evidence OF Col. Harris upon that
point:
! O. How did he (your client) happen to
know that the bonds were stolen?
! A. He did not know that the bonds
were stolen originally. What information
he got was some months after the bonds
had been stolen.
O. When your client discovered that
the bonds were stolen, and that he really
had no security for the $1,000 he had
loaned on the bonds, why did he not IN
form his friend of the fact that he had
learned-towit, that the bonds were
stolen?
A. 1t was not my client that loaned
money on the bonds.
| Mr. H. P. Dortch, Jr., who employed
! Col. Harris to negotiate the bond deal
with Mr.. Godfrey, was examined on this
point. mere are the uueSIiohS dc4Neu NJ
Dortch and his answers:
| @. Did you know the bonds were stolen
when you employed Mr.. Harris?
| A. Yes, sir, he (Mr. C. c. Jones) dis
covered they were stolen after they came
F, into his possession, and they were delV'
cred to Mr.. Harris with that understand
ing, and he (Mr Harris) was TO deliver
the bonds to the owner the amount CT
money for which to be paid not being
mentioned. If there was any Objection or
to be any hereafter he (Mr. Harris) was
| to give them to the owner.
@. How did Mr. C. G. Jones discover
that the bonds were stolen?
A. The party he loaned the money 10
did not return. Mr.. Jones mao pe.'ef
answer that question himself.
| From the testimony of Mr.. c. c. Jones.
the following extracts are taken:
| o. Did you know or have reason to be-
| lieve at the time you obtained the bonos
that they were stolen?
A. No, sir.