The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1910-11-04
HE C0ULDN'
HELP BUTLER
PETTIGREW WRITES A LETTER In
HIS BEHALF THAT DOES NOT
EXPLAIN
HE ADMITS BOND DEALS

Marion Butler has gotten his friend
and bond partner Pettigrew to write
The News and Observer a letter, the
purpose being to eXhonerate Butler in
the special tax bond matter in which
Butler is implicated. However, the
letter does not explain the matter at
all, II. fact the evidence against Butler
is so overwhelming that it was not
to have been expected that he could
extricate himself.
Pettigrew's letter follows:
Spokane, Wash, Oct %, 1910.
| News and Observer,
! Raleigh, n. C.
| Gentlemen: Ny attention has been
called to the charges you are making
against ex-senator Marion Butler, OF
North Carolina, in relation to the do
nation of the bonds of the State to the
State of South Dakota. | will say that
| am entirely familiay-Ni this trans
action, that the bonds donated to the
State Of South Dakota by Schaefer
Bros, of New York, were the bonds Of
your State for which the State receiv
! ed the full value of the face of the
bonds. All the facts connected with
this matter were thoroughly investi-
gated by me before South Dakota ac-
cepted the bonds. That whole series
of bonds were a legal obligation of
the State of North Carolina that
ought to have been settled in full, and
every citizen of your State who has
the good of the State at heart and
who is a loyal citizen, jealous of the
good name of the State, should. as
Senator Butler did, favor the payment
of these bonds in full After the
iSchafer case was settled. very many
bond holders in the North sent me
their bonds for collection against
North Carolina, and in this way my
self and associates accumulated many
millions of these bonds for col
lection. We wrote to Senator Butler
and desired to employ him in that con
nect1on. He came to New York an(
went over all these bonds with us
and after thoroughly examining the
same declined to be a party in any
way to the collectiono these bonds
for the reason that they were fraudu
lent and the State had received by {
very small consideration for same 7
was. largely his attitude upon this sub
ject that prevented the further dona
tiOn and collection of these bonds.
, knew that in the heat of a politica
contest men are liable to say ant
newspapers are liable to print NOR
with regard; to a political opponen
than even they themselves would jus
, ! tify in their cooler moments. I trus
! that you VIII feel justified in publish
ing this letter and thus setting your
self, as we'll as Senator Butler righ
before the people of North Carolina.
Very truly yours,
r. F. PETTIGREW.
Commenting on Pettigrew's letter
The News and Observer says in part
Thus the first egg is Matched, and
lit as worthless as Buffers own de
mails. 1t makes no attempt to explain
the killing. damnab1e fact that But
Ter and Pe1tigrew were advertisin
; over their own signatures. on Apri
2S. 1905, after the South Dakota an,
Schafer claims were settled for re
, pudiated bonds of all kinds. an,
! claiming that they had the exclusiv
, and only way of collecting them
There must be another stirring Of tn,
, pot What viii the next move be?
, While Pettigrew's letter does no
explain the advertisement, it give
, cause for the explanation of SOM
, other things. 1t explains why Butte
is in politics in North Carolina today
, and why he has been fighting so Ion,
to get footho1d in the State. TIL,
IoGlOF dOH1lLS ludG 6tIJ1SI0W anu Ill
associates. Butler and others, go
millions of repudiated bonds. in thei
possession Gas result of the adver
tisement, of course.)
Mr.. Pettigrew says in his letter 9
am entirely familiar with this trans
, ton; that this State received thu
full value of the face of the Schafe
bends" AS matter of fact they were
5 sold just after the war and at mucl
below rar in greenbacks, and ever.
holder of the same ssue except Scha
fer Bros, recognized the justice o
our compromise offer made in 1878
5 Mr.. Butler knew, whether it wa
: known to Mr.. Pettigrew or not. tina
t the South Dakota suit was bold Ell
: fort to annul the action of his State il
? effecting a just compromise.
i He says that Butler did favor tn
t payfent of these bonds in full.
| When did he declare his position o1
: this subject? Was it when he was ask
} ing the people of North Carolina t
2 give him a high place of trust? o
was it after he was employed b,
Schafer Bros. before his term in tn
2 Senate expired?
: Mr.. Pettigrew says after, the Schafe
; case was settled myself and associ
/ ates accumulated many millions O
+ those bonds for collection Their
were no more of these bonds. Schafe