First Comptroller Porter, of the Treasury at Washington, has lead a
novel case presented to him for decision:
A wealthy Scotch gentleman, while travelling by rail in his native
country in 1876 lost his portmanteau, containing five hundred thousand
dollars in bonds of various nations, among which were five thousand
dollars in United States six per cent coupon bonds. Some time ago the
police of Scotland arrested two men and one woman upon suspicion of
having stolen the portmanteau.
Upon being arraigned they confessed the theft, and related a singular
story about the disposition of the property.
They explained that, not being able to read, they were not aware of the
value of the papers, and fearing to retain them, they were burned.
A relative of the Scotchman residing in this country now comes forward
with an application for the issue of duplicates for the bonds stolen, a
full description of which is given.
Similar applications to European Governments whose bonds were among
those alleged to have been burned have been granted.
A transcript from the record of the Scotch courts sets forth these
facts, and attests the respectability of the gentleman who lost the
bonds.
The First Comptroller has intimated that if, upon a thorough
examination, the facts are found to be as stated, he will approve the
application.
Should the duplicates be issued, they will have to be deposited in trust
with the United States Treasurer in order to secure the Government
against loss.
When those particular bonds are called for redemption the amount will be
paid the owner, and in the meantime he can regularly draw the interest.
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