Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-06-27
FULL ACCOUNT OFTHE KILL
ING OF GEN. LIDDELL AND
THE JONESES.
Statement Ofan Eye Witness and
Friend Of All Parties TO Il Sad
and Terrible Tragedy.
ICouespondence Of the Daily State I
BAYOU SARA, June ., 1853.

last February, shall .be made known
to you and to the public for the first
time III its entirety, stripped Of all
sentiments, all romance. Let Us
tice be done if the heavens fall"
In the fall of 1869, the late Col
Charles Jones, together with Mr.
Elijah Cotton (brcther to your late
Judge John i. Cotton), both Of Cata-
houla parish, La, engaged in nego-
tiation for the purchase of a planta-
ton on Black river, formerly the
property of Gen. st. John II. Liddell
ut that time owned by the citizens
Bank of New Orleans. The neso.ia-
tion was being conducted by Col.
John Nixon, of the firm of Thorn
hill d Nixon, with whom Col Jones
was doing business as cotton factors.
Mr.. Cotton was doing business at the
time with Penn & Pace, Col. Nixon )
former partners.
The negotiation progressed as "a,
rs obtaining refusal of the proper
ty. L am not positive upon this
point at this late date, without data
or authority, but think upon condi-
ton that Gen. Liddell did not want
the property Col. Nixon had con-
Quoted his inquiries through his init
mate friend, Mr.. Chas. Cammack, at
that time cashier of tho Citizens,
Bank. Mr.. Cammack suggested that
lie could buy the place from the bank
upon better terms, and would do SO
upon condition that the three buy
Jointly with equal interest. Col.
Nixon wrote to Col Jones, SUBMIT
ing this proposition, which in turn
was submitted to Mr.. Cotton. Your
subscriber was present at the confer
ence, having carried the letter from
Col. Nixon to Col. Jones Messrs.
Jones and Cotton consented to the
proposal, and so informed Col. Nixon
their agent and mutual friend. Mr.
Cammack bought from the bank,
taking the title to his own account
awaiting Mesrs. Jones and Cotton's
arrival in New Orleans to convey
title to them after compliance with
the conditions agreed upon between
them. In the meantime Gen. Lid
dell had determined to purchase his
old homestead; and, hearing of the
sale,
WROTE TO COL JONES.
sending the letter through the hands
of Col j. III. Boatner, of Little River.
quote from memory-having been
present at the reception of the one,
and the sending of the reply in an
swer to the same.
LLNlDA, Dec, 1869.
Col. Chas. Jones:
SIR.-Am to understand that
your secret attempts TO purchase the
(or my, have forgotten whichl Lima
da plantation has been done with the
intention of opening the old difficulty
which existed many years ago.
Respectfully,
ST. JOHN II. LIDDELL
ELMLEY PLANTATION, Dec 1869.
Gen. st. John II. Liddell:
SIR-In reply to yours of this date
wall say that my effort in the pur-
chase of your place, my motive was
prompted through purely speculative
purposes, and after having repeatedly
heard that you had no intention OF
buying. Respectfully,
CHARLES JONES.
Col. Boatner, at the time substan-
tiated the statement of Col. Jones, as
relates to the general having no
wish or intention to retain his place
Subsequent to this, and within few
days after, Gen. Liddell went to
New Orleans. and upon approaching
the bank under the belief of the Sc
curity of former refusal from that
corporation, ascertained these facts
as previously stated, regarding the
sale to MIR. Cammack, approached
him through friends Il think Col.
John Scott, now dead), when Mr.
Cammack resold to Gen. Liddell, at
$4,000 over the original purchase
price. Messrs. Jones and Cotton
having re epaired to New Orleans
dHriag this time to have titles made
to them, finding the condition as
stated, instit uted suit at once to set
aside the sale from Mr.. Cammack
TO Gen. LiddeH. do not know at
this time who the lawyers were that
had the man agement of the case.
The many read ers of your paper are
too familiar with the cruel tragedy