The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-28
JONES GIVES BOND
In Goldsboro He Sees
The Sheriff.
Will Come to Raleigh For Conspiracy
Trial Monday With E. W. Pace
of Wilmington.

Charles =. Jones called for by bench
warrant is now in Goldsboro, and will
appear here on Monday in the case charg-
ing him, II. p. Dortch, Jr., and Col. ]. c.
l.. Harris with conspiracy, extortion and
blaclxmail in the case of the 81, 900 given
up By Mr.. J. l. Godfrey, of Jonesboro,
from whom two one thousand dollar State
bonds were stolen in 1902.
Jones reached Goldsboro yesterday from
New York lawyer Mr.. Horace Comfort,
who had visited Raleigh to see how and
where to have Jones give his bond. This
is for $500 for his appearance before
Judge Brown on Monday and was given
the sheriff of Wayne yesterday, the surety
on the bond being Mr.. r. j. Handley, OF
Coldsboro.
The absence of Jones and Dortch caused
a postponement of the case from the l5th
of this months to the 18th, tomorrow,
While the appearance of Col. Harris ana
c. e. Jones is certain there is no news
about Dortch and the officers here say
that they do not know where he is to De
found.
Jones. It is given out by his New York
lawyer. will plead absolute good faith IN
all his dealings with the bonds and Will
repeat his statements made before the
Grand Jury that he asked Colonel Harris,
through Mr.. Dortch, only to get back the
$500 he claims to have advanced the man
known in the case as ''Staunton." HIS
plea is to be that he was an innocent
purchaser, and that the law. IN the case
of negotiable securities which are stolen,
protects an innocent purchaser, giving the
owner no title against such purchases, and
that a bona fide purchaser without notice
of a lost or stolen bond is entitled to
recover.
This being Jones plea the burden OF
proof is shifted upon him to show to the
court that he is an innocent purchaser,
and in addition to this it will be neces-
sary for him to show conclusively that he
is not guilty of conspiracy. extortion or
blackmail in the getting of the one thous-
and dollars from Mr.. Godfrey.
While the case is set for Monday 1t Is
not known what action Judge Brown or
the Solicitor will take in case Dortch
is not here He is involved in the charge
OF conspiracy and il may be that there
will be an effort to have him at the trial,
so that the evidence of all the principals
in the transaction may be investigated
at one time, as the three are named to-
ccther in the complaint of Mr.. Godfrey.
The witnesses who have been summoned
TO testify in the case are State Treasurer
r. Il. Lacy, President Joseph G. Brown,
OF the Citizens National Bank, and Mr..
Henry E. Litchford, cashier OF the same
bank who are summoned Tor the purpose
OF identifying the bonds and the coupons
Mr.. j. L. Godfrey, of Jonesboro. owner
of she stolen. bonds Mr.. w. f. Murchison
of Jonesboro, attorney Tor Mr.. Godfrey
who came to Raleigh with him and ar
ranged for the return of the bonds;
Messrs. Henry Mckee and w. ]. Blow,
10th of Goldsboro, who said to have seen
Jones loan to $500 to Staunton or Brad
ley on the bonds; E. w. Pace, of Will
mington who is said to have directed
Staunton or some one answer bis discre-
ton to ness to borrow the money, w. B.
Snow, of this city, an attorney, to whom
some one went last summer to ask the
status of stolen bonds and whom Mr..