The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-06-05
JEFFERSON D4HzS RECEIVERS

We hear with much satisfaction, says
the New Orleans PGcay,srse, that the Court
of Appeals of Mississippi has, within a
few days past, rendered, on o rehearing,
a final judgment in favor of our honored
friend, Jefferson Davis, restoring to
him, in full title and interest, his fine
plantation Of Bakersfield, Warren county,
Miss. The history of the litigation
which has had this very happy conclu-
sion is of an interesting and even ro-
mantle character. Bakersfield and Hur-
ricane plantations. now constituting the
whole island, produced by a cutoff Of
the Mississippi river, is a magnificent
domain, which was acquired more than
fifty years ago by Mr.. Joseph E. Davis,
the older brother of Jefferson Davis,
and for long time was cultivated with
great profit. Mr.. Joseph Z. Davis was
a gentleman Of great sagacity. strong
sense and enterprise, and became one of
the wealthiest and most influential citi-
zens of Mississippi. When his brother.
Jefferson Davis, married the daughter
Of Gen. Taylor and resigned his COM
mission in the army, Joseph L. Davis
invited his brother to come to Mississip-
pi and enter upon the life of cotton
planter. Mr.. JEFF. Davis accepted the
invitation, and took possession of Brier-
field, which he cultivated successfully
for many years. Despite his long with
drawal from the care of this estate, Mr..
Davis, with the aid of his energetic and
intelligent present wife, managed to ad-
minister his plantation so as to acquire
q competence and reimburse his brother
the full value of the place. Still the
formal title to the plantation re NAMED
with Mr.. Jos. E. Davis. When the war
broke out, he held this property beyond
the reach of the Federal Government.
And when the President of the defeated
Confederacy became prisoner at For
tress Monroe, Mr.. Joseph Davis made a
sale of the whole estate to his long chief
manager, colored man, named Mont
gomery, for $500, 900, payable on long
time, with interest at the rate of six per
cent. Mr.. Joe. Davis then made a COM
plicated and a5struse will. He was a
very old man, dying shortly after, at the
age of eighty four His will recognized
Mr.. jeff Davis children as legatees for
the sum of eighty thousand dollars, to
be collected by trustees, Of whom Mr..
| jeff. Davis was one, and to be paid to
his children when they obtained major
ity. The balance of his estate was be-
oueathed to his (Mr. ]. E. DavisO natu-
raj children or grandchildren. As Mr..
jeff. Davis youngest child is but four
teen, long time would elapse before
ANYTHING could be realized from this be-
quest, and as M. Joseph Z. Davis had
left evidence that his brother had paid
the full value of the estate. Mr.. JEFF
Davis finally, with much reluctance or
account of his great love of and respect
for the memory of his brother, yielded
to the urgent advice of his relatives and
friends and Instituted suit to reclaim
and re-establish his title in the property
All honest and good men will rejoice
that this patriotic and noble gentleman
and veteran has succeeded in his suit
and that his decling years will thus be
soothed and defended from the care:
and humiliation of poverty and depend
ence