American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-05-14
Dawes Man Heath.

The New Orleans Democrat of the
22d published the following statement
by r. ID. Bridger, Judge of the ourth
Judicial District, in relation to the pub
LEGATION made by Mr.. Charles Heath
concerning the burning of his property
in Caldwell Parish on the night of De-
cember % last:
Judge Bridger says: Il will state
that Charles Heath owns no property in
this parish, and that he never has
owned any. His brother, Edward
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,
valued, including all the buildings
thereon, at 1880; the value of horses,
mares, mules, neat cattle, ETC.. was
$500; the cash value of all carriages,
wagons and vehicles of all kind was
$50; the cash value of all merchandise
or stock in trade was S40O-making a
total appraised value of Edward IIeath's
property in this parish of So, $40, which
was liberal and fair appraisement.
Charles Heath usually visited the place
and managed it for his brother. He
was never on the place more than three
OF four months during each year. The
place was generally leased to or worked
on shares by laborers."
The Judge further says: "The ward
in which Mr.. Heath place is situated
is controlled by the colored population
in it. 1t is represented in the Police
Jury by a colored man who is also
member of the Parish School Board.
The Justice of the Peace and Constable
are both colored. The statement of
Charles Heath in relation to the alleged
troubles and the causes thereof are
false. In the first place, every one in
this parish manages his property or
plantation to suit himself, and | have
never heard any objection or protest to
their so doing. 1t is fact that planta-
lions are leased in various parts of the
parish to colored laborers, with not
single white man upon them, and l
have never heard of an objection or
difficulty in consequence thereof"
The Columbia Herald published an
account of the burning of Heath's gin
house at the time. The Judge further
says: "Ihere having been several
fires recently in the parish and all of
the buildings burned being insured,
determined to have the matter investi-
gated. 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 matter fully. l
directed their special attention to the
Heath burning and directed them to
investis ate 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 general opinion of the
persons residing i'll the vicinity 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 isreportedth that the property destroyed
was fully covered by insurance.
In conclusion Judge Bridgcr says: II
have converscd with an eyewitness OF
the burning of the Heath gin and the
attending it. and am
fully convinced that the property was
burned to get the insurance money.