The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-29
40 LADIES' And TOM FlNIY.
THE LADIES' PRAY FOR A NEGRO POST
MASTER AT ABBEvMLR.

The Good Character OF their Favor.
lite Negro is Certified by some Of
the Best Citizens OF Abbeville...
Possible Trouble to the Commune.
ity by a Stretch of Kindness.
Mn Dear Judge cottran: q
I received yours OF the 10Th inst, this morn
ing, respecting the application OF Tom Fin.
Abbeville c. H. office, and without delay,
went to the Postoffice Department and called
upon the First Assistant Postmaster General
the papers on tile as you desired me TO do so.
he ordered his messenger, to bring the pagers
to his office, and handed Them to me. The
first petition for the removal Of Mrs. Lawson;
and the appointment OF Finley contained
about one hundred and ten or twelve names,
and all seemed to be written by the same per-
son, using lead pencil. presume that they
we're oil negroes us iaea TO knSw ss pettion
against Mrs. Lawson, was that she was oid
The second petition, for the removal Of Mrs.
as postmaster, was endorsed on the back OF
the paper, "signed by 40 ladies Of Abbeyille,
G. r.. and country" and charged Mrs Law
son with haoituay Eynsd ,o I sneir ons
answer mo letters for you," and sometimes,
insult and order them ont Of the office. The
petitioners stated that a letter addressed to
q
April to September, before 1t was delivered to
the party to whom it was addressed. The
signatures were as follows, to wit:
Mrs. Mary Marshall,
Mrs. Georgia Bailey, - s-.&l
Mrs. Mary Adams, ~
Miss Nance Wardlaw,
Mara Turman. &
Nancy Turman, -
Mrs. P. Plumber,
Miss 8. A. Plumer. ." 9l
Mrs. Harriet Brown, l
Mrs. E. Prime.
Miss Carrie Knox, fiE
Mrs Harriet Calhoun, t3
Mrs. Sophea Quarles,
Mrs. Dinah Adams, 'sta
Miss Bette Presley, .'',N 4
Miss jamie L. Presley,
Miss Julia Presley, II.
Miss Elvira Coleman, ~
Mrs. Julia Fair, r KS
Mrs. Chanella Jones,
Mrs. Rebbecca Wins, ~
Mrs. Adline Johnson, ~
Mrs. Harriet Brown, -.s
Mrs. Anna Chiles,
Miss Laura Chtles, So
Mrs Phillis Chiles, -
Mrs. jamie Fisher,
Eliza Stewart: &
Miss Lucy Williams, &
Mrs. r. Allen,
Miss Susie White. '
Mrs. Celia Allen, iE.r ,s-s
Miss Lula Young,
Mrs. Perryline Adams, ~
Miss Katie Mitchell, t+'' 'hyy
Miss Lizzie Irwin, -
| Mrs, Martha Lawson, ~
| The third petition on nle, was rom the
citizens generally, Of Abbeville, and sur
rounding country, asking for the reappoint-
ment Of Mrs. Lawson, as Postm1stress: as
his administration. and had been continued
| in Office to the present time, and that she bad
administered the Office faithfully and well,
and to the satisfaction OF the entire commun-j
The fourth paper on file occurs to me. to be
| the most embarrassing one or the ennre
batch, and is in the form Of q certncate giyen
teacher OF Abbeville c. H.: from 1875 TO iSs!.
giving to him good character, and was sign
ed by 80. &
A. w. Jones, County Auditor. "
Eugene B. Gary, ATTORNEY.
J:F.C puPre, sheriff.
NJ. {. Bonham, Jr,. Adst. Gen. 9. c. a
| IT, D. Cannon, b
j. Fuller Lyon. .. .e.E
W. G. BENEFIT, lawyer. -. u@S
p. Rosenburg,
J. Miller,
t. Robertson. ag..
James M. Lawson, n. ~
w. L. Perrin. ~
James Chalmers, ~
w. A. Tenpleton.
u. u. Lawson, -.
q. A. Douglas, ~
D. w. Keller. 80.
J.S Hammond,
w. R. Powell, f
L. K. Bowie, r.s
j. NJ. Kirby,
G. D. Allen, *.
Ell. Wilson $50
J.D. Chalmers. ,.-
G.. Hughes, 80
G.H. Moore.
Jones F. Miller, ..
| I told Gen. Clarkson, that there were among
| the papers, petitions for the leappointment OF
| the present Postmistress, Mrs. Lawson, o
worthy widow lady, who was appointed dur
| ing the Grant Administration, and was en-.
dorsed by all the intelligent citizens OF the
community. and who had given entire salts
| faction In the management and control OF
| the Postofice. Gen. Clarkson then asked me
| II Mrs. Lawson was a democrat. l replied
| that did not know ihat she had any poll
ties, as hatl'never heard her spoken OF as q
| partisan of either side. also stated to the
| General, that the petitions for the appoint
ment of W. T. Finley. as Postmaster, were
signed by persons wholly unknown 10 me.
and who, I was confident did not represent
the sentiment OF the community, in any
respect whatever. He replied that he would
look into the mater, and give It atten tion.
| Hoping that this will find you and yours
in good health, and with our kind regards 10
each and all.
Very truly yours, !.