Vicksburg Herald clipping
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A RASCALLY SCHEME THAT CALLS FOR PROSECUTION.
Washington, Nov. 19. The district supreme court today dismissed an action brought by L. M. Johnson of Louisiana and other negroes against the government to recover more than $68,000,000 which they alleged was due to their ancestors as slaves for involuntary service in connection with the federal handling of cotton during the civil war. The action was brought against Secretary McAdoo.
Of course there is no such fund, and none knew the fact better than "L. M. Johnson and other negroes" who brought the suit. But the suit was only an incident - the "nigger in the woodpile" seems to have escaped the court officials, and Secretary McAdoo. That hidden individual is clearly exposed by the Winona Times, in publishing a copy of the circular letter sent out by one of this flock of black birds of prey: Cornelius J. Jones of Memphis, one of "the others." That letter "called on all who worked in the cotton fields of the South during the years 1859 to 1868 to send him $1.75 and become a partner in a scheme to get a share in $68,000,000 held by the treasurer of the United States in trust, as it were, for money collected by the government on cotton during and just after the war."
"The circular," said the Times, "had all the ear marks of a scheme to rob the negroes of the South of $1.75 each, and we so warned them." The remittance asked was the milk in the coconut - the suit was a snare for the dupes. And that hundred, probably thousands of the negroes were thus defrauded there is no room to doubt. This is so plain that surprise is felt that the case was not turned in to the Department of Justice or Post Office. The whole robber gang should be proceeded against as they certainly can, if the U.S. detective service will take the pains to uncover some of the victims who remitted to "L. M. Johnson and other negroes" the amount of $1.75 as asked for.
Though he disappeared from these parts years ago, the said Cornelius left behind him a reputation as "yaller" as his skin; which he seems to be maintaining as he made it, by preying upon "the brother in black." While he claimed Greenville as his residence, some twenty years ago, he trumped up a force bill contest for the seat in congress from this district. His circular letters doubtless circulated freely in the Delta, and if any one will furnish to The Herald the name or names of any who sent him money, the information will be placed where it may send Cornelius J. Jones to the place where he has long belonged: the penitentiary.
Washington, Nov. 19. The district supreme court today dismissed an action brought by L. M. Johnson of Louisiana and other negroes against the government to recover more than $68,000,000 which they alleged was due to their ancestors as slaves for involuntary service in connection with the federal handling of cotton during the civil war. The action was brought against Secretary McAdoo.
Of course there is no such fund, and none knew the fact better than "L. M. Johnson and other negroes" who brought the suit. But the suit was only an incident - the "nigger in the woodpile" seems to have escaped the court officials, and Secretary McAdoo. That hidden individual is clearly exposed by the Winona Times, in publishing a copy of the circular letter sent out by one of this flock of black birds of prey: Cornelius J. Jones of Memphis, one of "the others." That letter "called on all who worked in the cotton fields of the South during the years 1859 to 1868 to send him $1.75 and become a partner in a scheme to get a share in $68,000,000 held by the treasurer of the United States in trust, as it were, for money collected by the government on cotton during and just after the war."
"The circular," said the Times, "had all the ear marks of a scheme to rob the negroes of the South of $1.75 each, and we so warned them." The remittance asked was the milk in the coconut - the suit was a snare for the dupes. And that hundred, probably thousands of the negroes were thus defrauded there is no room to doubt. This is so plain that surprise is felt that the case was not turned in to the Department of Justice or Post Office. The whole robber gang should be proceeded against as they certainly can, if the U.S. detective service will take the pains to uncover some of the victims who remitted to "L. M. Johnson and other negroes" the amount of $1.75 as asked for.
Though he disappeared from these parts years ago, the said Cornelius left behind him a reputation as "yaller" as his skin; which he seems to be maintaining as he made it, by preying upon "the brother in black." While he claimed Greenville as his residence, some twenty years ago, he trumped up a force bill contest for the seat in congress from this district. His circular letters doubtless circulated freely in the Delta, and if any one will furnish to The Herald the name or names of any who sent him money, the information will be placed where it may send Cornelius J. Jones to the place where he has long belonged: the penitentiary.
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Vicksburg Herald, “Vicksburg Herald clipping,” Mississippi State University Libraries, accessed December 22, 2024, https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/items/show/709.
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