21 years since North Carolina’s Bill of Rights copy was recovered during sting operation
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Monday marks a historic date in North Carolina history.
On March 18, 2003, a sting operation resulted in the recovery of North Carolina’s copy of the Bill of Rights from a group of antiques dealers.
The document was stolen in 1865 from the State Capitol in Raleigh by Union soldiers occupying the building. During the 140 years it was missing, the historic paper came up for sale several times, but the state refused to pay for its own property.
In 2003, an offer to sell a copy of the Bill of Rights came to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. When their experts recognized it as North Carolina’s copy, they notified the state.
A sting operation was organized by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A meeting was set up to close on the purchase of the document. A check for $4 million was brought to the meeting but the document was not. Once the seller was satisfied with the closing documents, he had the manuscript brought into the room. Once verified, authorities entered and seized the document.
The Bill of Rights copy now resides in a vault at the State Archives of North Carolina.
