Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1881-05-19

The New Orleans Democrat of the
22d published the following statement
by X. ID. Bridgcr. Judge Of the Fourth
Judicial District. in relation to the pub
lication made by Mr.. Charles Heath
concerning the burning Of bis property
in Caldwell Parish on The night of De-
eember 25 last:
Judge Bridger says: Il viii state
that Charles Heath owns no property in
this parish. and that be 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 thet&ainc of Edward Heath.
being given il as 260 acres Of land and
valued. including all the buildings
thepeon. fl s2. 500; the value OF horses,
mafes, mules. neat cattle etc. was
s6f5;>t cash value Of all carriages.
WAGONS and vehicles of all kind was
So; the cash value Of all merchandise
ortssss.-ia-frade was S400-making q
total appraised value OF Edward Heath $
property in this parish of $3.50. which
was q liberal and fair appraisement-
Charles Heath usually visited the place
and managed il for his brother. he
was never on the place more than three
or four months during each year. The
place was generally leased TO or worked
on shares by laboFers.
The Judge further says: The ward
in which Mr.. Heath place Is situated
Is controlled by the colored population
in IL IL is represented in the Police
Jury BY n colored man who Is also q
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. II Is = fact that piantA-
fions are leased In various parts OF the
parish 20 c0iorcd laborers. witn nos 2
single white man upon them, and
have never heard OF an ooleetL.'n OF
difficulty in consequence thereof.
The Columbia Herald published an
account Of the burning Of Heath g1n
house Al the time. The Judge further
saws. sThere having been several
fires recently in the parish and Az oi
the buildings /: burned being insured.
determined 10 have the matter infesti-
gated. Our District Court met on the
drst Monday in January and IN my
charge 70 the Grand Jury l-eaiied tHeii
attention 10 these facts and instructed
them &c investigate the matter fully.
direefed their special attention 70 tne
Heath burning and directed them L
investis ate the affair" The following
i an extract from the report OF ths
Grand Jury aa that term: That thel
have made special inquiry into tbs
burning Of the gin and mill Of Heath
situated on the Long Lake plantAtior
and find that the general opinl0n % sil'
persons residing in the vicinity oi IN
said plantation IS that the burning wa
the work OF an incendiary, but they hn'
/ no clue 10 me pei PV@1 l@'54S =. - =
II tisreported thas the property destroye q
.yas fully covered by Insurance
: In conclusion Judge Bridger says; =
have conversed with an eye-witness
! re burning Of the Heath gin and u
circumstances attending i, and a.
fully convinced that the property wa
hurned 70 get the insurance money