The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-26

Special dispatch to the New York World
NEW ORLEANS, La, April 21.-The Democrat
tomorrow will publish a statement received by
telegraph from r D. Bridger, Judge of the
Fourth Judicial District, in relation 10 the pub
LEGATION made by Mr.. Charles Heath concerning
the burning of his property in Caldwell parish
on the night of December 25 last
Judge Bridger says: 1 will state that Charles
Heath owns no property in this parish, and that
he never has owned any. His brother, Edw ard
Heath, owns plantation in this parish, situated
ten miles below Columbia. The property was
given in and assessed last fall in the name Of
Edward Heath, being given in as 260 acres of
land, and valued, including all the buildings
thereon, at $4,000; the value Of horses, mares,
mules, neat cattle, &C., was $685.; the cash value
of all carriages wagons and vehicles of all kinds
was $75; the cash value Of all merchandise or
stock in trade was $4OO-makng total ap-
praised value of Edward Heath's property in this
parish of $3.50, which was a liberal and fair APP
praisement. Charles Heath usually visited the
place and managed il for his brother He was
never on the place more tha three or four
months during each year. The place was gen
orally leased TO or worked on shares by labor
ers"
The Judge further says: "The ward in which
Mr. Heaths place is situated is controlled by the
cOlored population in it, 1t is represented in the
Police Jury by colOred man who is also
member of the Parish School Beard. The JUS
tice of the Peace and Constable are both col
ored The statement of Charles Heath in rela-
ton to the alleged troubles and the causes there
Of are false. In the first place, every in this
parish manages his property or plantation to
suit himself, end have never heard any objec-
ton or protest to their so doing. 1t is a fact
that plantations are leased in various parts of
the parish to colored la5orers, with not single
white man upon them, and have never heard
OF any objection or difficulty in consequence
thereof"
The Columbia 1L1erdld publishes an account
of the burning of Heath's Clubhouse at the
time The Judge further says "There hav-
ing been several fires recently in the parish
and all of the buildings burned being in
sured, l determined TO have the matter
investigated Our district court met on the
first Monday in January and in my charge to
the grand jury called their attention to these
facts and instructed them to investigate the mat
ter fully directed their special attention to
the Heath burning, and directed them to investi-
gate the affair" The following is an extract
from the report of the grand jury at that term:
" That they have made special inquiry into the
burning of the gin and mill of Heath, situated on
the Long Lake plantation and find that the gen.
ty of the said plantation is that the burning was
the work of an incendiary, but they find no clue
to the perpetrators of the act. 1t is reported
that the property destroyed was fully covered by
insurance"
In conclusion Judge Bridger says: u have
conversed with eyewitness of the burning of
the Heath gin and the circumstances attending it,
and am fully convinced that the property was
burned to get the insurance money. The foreman
of the jury informed me that, while they could
ftos1
find a bill, yet he was fully persuaded and con-
vinced in his own mind that the property was
burned to obtain the insurance money. This is
the general opinion of those in the parish who
are acquainted with the facts. Indeed, / think
evidence had been obtained sufficient to justify
the Grand Jury at the July term in finding bill
Our jurors are disposed to perform their duties
regardless of persons, as two convictions for
arson were made at the January term There
are mortgages on record against Heaths prop
erty in this parish to the amount of $11 ,283.29.
learn but l cannot say that it is true that
the property burned was insured for $4,000.
Appraisers appointed and sworn to fix its
value since the fire with the view of col
Letting the insurance inform me that they
fixed its value at 81 400 Heath says he has
1000 acres valued at, including buildings,
$25 000 His assessment shows 260 acres,
valued at, including buildings, So 500 He init
mates that he had a large stock at the time
OF the fire. The appraisement of the cash value
Of the merchandise or stock in trade was $500,
and | am informed by the Sheriff and others
familiar with his business that he never had
large stock ON hand, and that at the time of the
fire the stock was much smaller His statements
are totally false and SANDER the people of
our parish. With the exception of an occasional
personal difficulty among The colored people
themselves in the ward and larceny cases, there
has been no outrage crime committed in The
ward. With the exception OF larceny, il is a
peaceable and law abiding ward, and The colored
people in the ward, except those who live and
deal with Heath are prosperous and happy and
are making money. Those who work with
and deal with Heath are in debt and DO not seem
to prosper like those who have moi had dealings
with him."
The above statement of Judge Brilger-ex-
cept his conversation with eye-wiinesses which
they did moi hearts ind0rsed by other parish
officials and prominent citizens.
Judge Bridger's statement is acc mpanied by
the following:
COLUMBIA, La, April 90. 1851 am a Re
publican, and have been one since the close of
the war. was born in this parish in 1890; am
a lawyer; voted for General Grant twice, was
Parish Judge Of Ouachia Parish, La, from 1870
to 1878 under the appointment of Governor
Warmoth besides q resident of Caldwell Par
ish in the month of September, 1S78 settled In
Columbia and know the place owned by Mr.
Heath. There has been no more quiet parish in
politics than Caldwell; everything for years
past has been conducted on amicabe principles
so far as politics is involved. Every man in this
parish can freely speak his political sentiments
without fear of molestation. No mans prop
erty is endangered on account of his political
feelings ROBERT j. CALDWELL"