Posted on 08/04/2005 6:22:14 PM PDT by nypokerface
RALEIGH, N.C. - An original copy of the Bill of Rights that was given to North Carolina by George Washington back in 1789 was returned to the state Thursday, culminating a bitter legal tug-of-war over the historic document.
Gov. Mike Easley accepted the weathered document after a judge ordered federal marshals to turn it over to the state — the first time North Carolina has had possession of the document since the end of the Civil War.
"North Carolina's stolen Bill of Rights may have been out of state for nearly 140 years, but never out of mind," Easley said in a statement.
Easley signed a receipt accepting possession of the document, in an ivory-colored frame, from U.S. marshals during a quickly announced ceremony inside the antebellum state Capitol from which the document was stolen by an invading Union soldier in 1865. The document is one of the original 13 delivered to the colonies for review before the final Bill of Rights was approved in 1789.
The stolen document was sold by the Union soldier in 1866 to an Ohio buyer, whose family sold it to Connecticut antiques dealer Wayne Pratt in 2000 for $200,000.
In March 2003, an FBI agent posing as a museum buyer pretended to purchase the paper from Pratt and his investor, Robert V. Matthews, for $5 million. Instead, the agent presented a seizure warrant signed by the judge in the case.
Pratt relinquished his ownership claim to the document and has agreed to donate the document to North Carolina. Matthews continues to claim partial ownership of the paper, which has been valued at up to $40 million.
U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle last year awarded the document to North Carolina, but in January, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., told the judge to reconsider.
Boyle determined the document should return to the possession of the person or entity who owned it before the government's sting operation. He ruled Thursday that Pratt had the clearest right to possession, but had relinquished the claim to North Carolina.
"It's just thievery; it's absolute thievery," said Matthews' attorney, Mike Stratton of New Haven, Conn. "Bob Matthews paid real money, $200,000, to buy a document that's been in private hands for 140 years."
A North Carolina legislative leader praised the decision.
"Justice is finally being done, and we're delighted to have it returned," Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand said on the Senate floor.
Easley said the Bill of Rights will be displayed in the state Museum of History.
About time!
Who the hell is Tony Rand?
This case makes no sense in so many ways. I have followed it for as long as its been going around. So much of the antiques business is dealing in goods which were stolen at one point in time. The greatest upheaval of possessions takes place during war and such items are scattered to the ' four corners '. They usually end up in an antiques shop or auction house at some point. So are all of these goods considered stolen property which must be returned even well after 100 years? I strongly suspect a great deal of property which belonged to Southern states was stolen during the Civil War.
Really a very odd story.
I just wish Gov. Easley and our legislators would read the Bill of Rights! Asking them to follow it would be too much to ask for!
A crooked state senator from Cumberland County. I would respect sleaze before Rand..
Damned Yankees!
I have lived in NC 4 years and the only State Legislators I know are Black, Basnight, and Pittenger. I have never lived in a place where the local media pay so little attention to State Government.
I like Pittenger - good conservative. Rep. John Rhodes is a good conservative as well. They are few and far between in the General Assembly.
There is one more but his name escapes me. Big time RINO.
How many commas does it have in the second amendment (or the fourth if this copy contains the two amendments not ratified)
Why would you ask our state government to follow a Bill of Rights that was intended to apply to the federal government only
Lots walked north on Yankee boots. I wonder whether only State governments can claim stuff back.
"Boyle determined the document should return to the possession of the person or entity who owned it before the government's sting operation."
Hmmmm . . . The people who owned it (North Carolinians) lost it during a "sting" operation (the War of Northern Agression).
Exactly.
All that fuss over the document, when the ideals it represented have been completely trashed.
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