Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-02
Monday Morning, May ?, 1851.
WHAT MIR. EDWARD HEATH SAYS.

Monday Morning, May 2, 1851.
 WHAT MIR. EDWARD HEATH SAYS.
 Since Mir. Charles Heath told the story of his experience as planter in Louisiana vari-
 ous attempts have been made to show that
 his statements were unworthy of credence,
 and that he did not suffer on account of his
 want of regard for ''southern sentiment "
 His attack upon his old neighbors and the
 Ku Klux has been met by attacks upon his
 character, and one of the defenders of Lou
 isiana goes so far as to charge that the Heath
 property which was burned there was burned
 in order to get the insurance.
 It was to be expected that such story as
 Mir. Heath told would stir up those hit by it.
 as it did. And they will be still further stirred up by the story of MT. Edward Heath,
 of New Orleans, the brother of Charles Heath, which is published in the New Or leans Democrat. Edward Heath, who has lived in New Orleans many years, and who is youched for as man of excellent character, sustains and confirms in all essential points the story of his brother. He narrates the circumstances under which he and his broth CT became owners of the Caldwell parish plantation and the difficulties they have had in their enterprise. He is more definite and precise than his brother was in his statement of the trouble and interference of their white neighbors, because after several unproftable seasons of employment of white overseers they determined to work their plantation with a colored superintendent. He details the warnings they received not to persist in such purpose, and the circumstances of the shooting of Harris, who was first employed by them as overseer. He speaks of the first burning of the gin-house by accident some years ago, after which they erected new gin house and a grist-mill, both supplied with improved machinery and run by steam power. For several years they carried the insurance themselves, but last fall owing to threats that had been made, they were afraid to do so any longer, and he got insured for s4, 45O by three policies, one covering the gin house and machinery, one the cotton in the gin-house, and one the merchandise in the store. There was no insurance on the large nor on the furniture, mules, wagons, farm ing implements and tools in the shop, which were lost in the fire.
 In reply to Judge Bridgers declaration that the Heaths were in peaceable possession of their property, MT. Heath says that Harris (who was made cripple by those who shot him) is, if he is living, walking refutation of this declaration. If it appears to the judge that they have had peaceable posses sion it does not appear so to Mir. Heath. He denies the judges story about the Massachu- sets carpenter, says he was himself at the plantation from the time of the mans arrival until his death and burial; that he had every comfort the circumstances would permit, was buried in as good coffin as could be ob- tained there, and that his chest was neither hid nor kept from his widow.
 A statement by Charles s. Rice, who set tied the Heaths claim upon the insurance company after the fire last December, shows that if the property was burned for the in. surance it WAS not very profitable opera tion, the loss upon merchandise In the store alone being over five thousand dollars, and policies It was proved to the satisfaction of the company that besides the cotton of other persons cotton belonging to the Heaths was burned and the insurance on the cotton was paid. With regard to the value of the in the gin-house there was some difficulty about coming to an agreement. MT. Rice says he personally ascertained from merchants the value of such machinery as was admitted to have been burned, made lib- eral deductions for deterioration, and then deducted twenty-five per cent. under what is called the "country clause" which was in all the policies, and proposed to settle for $1, 567. The company's figures were SLIP, and the difference was divided. MT. Rice says: "The home company had sent it's ad- juster to your plantation after the fire From my conversation with him, Mir. Bagine and Mr. Sefton, vice president, thought them aware of the prejudices and difficulties which appeared to affect your brother in the parish of Caldwell. They spoke of intimations that the fire was incendiary, but did not under stand then, nor do I now, that either of them seriously thought of imputing the act to desire to recov CT the insurance money"
 MT. Heath closes his statement as follows II might recount many other difficulties that we have had to encounter, but if the above is not convincing nothing that can say would be-" Which is very true. It will be interesting to sae what will be said in reply to MT. Heath's confirmation of his brothers story