Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-01
THE BLUFF GAME.
Some One. Afraid 10 Give His Name
ReckOns without His HOst9


! On yesterday, Gen. J. A. Cooper received
the following anonymous note through the Fos'-
office: ,o-,
STATE OF MISSOURI, July, 1871
Mr.. JOS. A COOPER, Knoxville, Tenn;
| SRI have kept an eye on you ever since
your pretended purchase of the land belonging
| nv relative and friend r. b. Reynolds. I GU
| are not an innocent purchaser, because you were
| aware of the worthlessness OF the title derived
| from Brownlow. [ have noticed with what i'm.
| pudence YOU enjoy your i'll gotten gains You
/ do not practice the noble principle of do unto
others what you would have them do unto
| you"
Now, sir rather than see you further enjoy
| the property of my relative and friend I would
| prefer to see it sunk into the bottomess pit or
grow up in thOrns and brambles. Let this be
your last year of cutivating that tract of land.
[ have no malice at your wife or children; but
neither you nor they shall enjoy that place after
this year.
shall hold any one responsible who cultivates
it be he yourself sons tenants or hired laborers.
1t does not belong to you, and you have no right
to its use Be warned then, that one who owes
a relative and friend debt of gratitude will see
to it that you shall not cultivate that land du-
ring the year 1872 either by yourself or others.
Let it be occupied by savage beasts first. and
the fertile fields become desOlate.
Now, sir, you may think you can escape any
harm but tell you / have my plans so ar
ranged that you will not escape the punishment
you so richly deserve, if you attempt any fur
Their occupation of that property. If you yield
possession you will be unharmed otherwise
you may look for the worst. Imaean achat say
D. p. H.
The foregoing, it will be seen, was written in
the State Of Missouri the writer failing to give
what point, though the post mark shows that it
was mailed at st. Louis.
For the benefit Of those who may not under
stand it, we will state that Gen. Cooper lives on
q farm five D0IlpS kDOYVillp which h6
purchased from Gov. Brownlow, the same hav-
ing been sold by the Sheriff of Knox county, to
satisfy a judgment against r. B. Reynolds, late
Confederate States Commissioner, the former
owner. Since then Reynolds has commenced
suit for the recovery of the property. The case
Was heard in the United States Circuit Court,
where a decision adverse to COoper's claims was
rendered. He appealed, and the Supreme Court
of the United States, last winter, reversed the
decision Of Judge Trigg and remanded the case
for new trial. This is now about the state of
the case Cooper occupies the place, and is en-
gagged in an effort to make an honest living upon
it. Whenever the courts of the country say he
is not entitled to it. after a proper hearing Of
the case he is ready to vacate, but not before
We can say to this anonymous writer, that he
is evidently labOring under delusion. He
knows nothing of the character of 10. Cooper,
or he wouldn't have addressed him as he has.
If we were going to play a game Of bluff, Cooper
would be one of the last subjects we would
think OF practclng on. ~ r H. whoever
he may be, will find out this, if he persists in
carrying out his cOwardly threats
1t will be seen that the letter is not the pro-
duction of an ignOramus. 1t is we'll written
and betrays the author to be a man of some cul- |
ture, such as it IS and we shouldn't be surprised
if he is a scion of that defunct, played-out class
that formerly gloried in the souJriquet of
Southern chivalry." He has, perhaps, writ
ten what he has after consultation with those
who would not like to have it understood pub
iicly that they would engage in such a cowardly |
way of carrying out nefarious designs, but who, |
when behind the scenes, afford striking illus |
perhaps, like to associate with gentlemen, and |
do, but if the secrets of their hearts could be |
OWNED they would show traits that would |
make them loathed and scorded by decent men
of all sects and parties.