Thread: Court Backs N.C. In Ownership Of Bill Of Rights Copy

U.S. Appeals Court Backs N.C. In Ownership Of Bill Of Rights Copy
POSTED: 9:47 pm EDT June 22, 2006
UPDATED: 9:47 pm EDT June 22, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. -- A federal appeals court agreed Thursday that North Carolina was entitled to reclaim the state's original copy of the Bill of Rights, missing since it was stolen at the end of the Civil War.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said North Carolina had rightful possession of the document, which Connecticut businessman Robert Matthews claims is worth $30 million on the private market and was improperly seized by federal agents in 2003.
Matthews had bought a half interest in the document in 2000. He contended he didn't give up his ownership interest when his partner, Connecticut antiques dealer Wayne Pratt, did.
The court rebuffed Matthews' bid to regain possession, but said "nothing in the district court order returning the document to the state prevents Matthews from litigating, in other proceedings, his claim that he owns the document and thus is entitled to permanent possession."
Matthews' attorney, Michael A Stratton of New Haven, Conn., said Matthews planned to pursue an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing the state has illegally seized private property.
Matthews wants the document back, Stratton said.
"It's been in private hands for 140 years at least. He bought it and he wants it back," Stratton said. "At the very least we want a jury trial where the government has to establish that it has a right to take it."
The copy of the document listing the rights enjoyed by United States citizens was one of 14 made in 1789. It was taken from North Carolina by a Union soldier during the Civil War. He sold it in 1866 to a Troy, Ohio, buyer, whose family sold it to Pratt in 2000 for $200,000.
In March 2003, an FBI agent posing as a museum buyer at a meeting in Philadelphia pretended to purchase the paper from Pratt and Matthew, for $5 million. Instead, the agent presented a seizure warrant signed by a federal judge.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.wral.com/politics/9413612/detail.html

Do you reckon Governor Easeley wants to sell this to Mexico?

Knowing Easley.......he probably already has

Originally Posted by ruthiela

Knowing Easley.......he probably already has

Easley is such a turd.

How do Democrats like him continue to get elected in North Carolina?

It can't just be the Mexican nationals voting illegally, because there aren't enough of them to carry a gubernatorial race.

At least, not yet.

Although the Dems are doing their best to change that I suppose.

I'm curious as to why there was a seizure warrant in the first place.

FOR SOME REASON NORTH CAROLINA DOES ONE PARTY FOR FEDERAL AND THE OTHER FOR STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT BOTHERS ME TOO.

THE BILL OF RIGHT - WELCOME HOME

KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS FOR THEY WANT TO CONQUER THE UNITED STATES AND DESTROY OUR AMERICAN HISTORY.