Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-19
MR. EVANS REPLY.
More About The Elders Funeral.
To Whom It May Concern:

weeks ago, over the signature of Lewis
Brsxton, appears what purports 10 be
q correction OF Q garble statement of
mine which had been publishsd in a
preceding number OF the same paper.
regret exceedingly that must add
further 60 this controversy, for had
great respect Ior Rev. P. II. A. Brax-
ton in his lifetime, and now wish to
do nothing which might ia any way
throw discredit on his memory. His
brother, Lewis Brsxton, however,
rushes into print with lot OF state.
ments rehecting upon me, and my ef-
forts to give his brother decent burr
al, and in my own defense am thus
forced to say what otherwise the gen.
eral public need never have known.
Rev. P. II, A. Brsxton had been in
amuent circumstances, but at the time
OF his death, and for several years pri-
| or thereto, he was almost penniless.
he left absolutely no estate, and what
did have the appearance of being his
estate, was simply the gratuity Of Mr..
e. j, w. Revell, the lessor OF the prop-
erty which had been occupied by Rev.
Mr.. Brsxton.
Through my efforts it was that Mr..
Revell did not pursue the remedies al
lowed him by the law. which had he
done would have taken erything
which was left in the home Of Mr..
braxton. These things were turned
over to me and in turn gave them to
Mrs. Kate Braxton, the widow. Mrs.
Braxton graciously gave TO Lewis
Braxton all her late husbands wear
ing apparel and his gold watch. To be
more exact, and TO show that am not
mistaking anything lie wisBraxton came
he
situation OF affairs, because ] had sent
him telegram IN these words:' Fun
eral at p no. Friday. Come prepzr-
sd to help bear expenses"
de gave the psltry SUM OF $500, and
.hen only after repeated solicitation to
do so, and which was subse quently re-
turned to him when it was discovered
that his chief concern was not the de
cent burial Of his dead brother, bat the
appropriation to himself of everything
he could get his hands on which he
thought his brother had had any inter-
est in.
1t may bs news to Lewis Braxton,
but 1 h irdly think it is, that had it not
been for services rendered by myself
aided by other friends of his dead
brother, he would have arrived In
Baltimore just in time TO see his broth.
Field, and not in TINS as he SAYS Ito
arrange for the funeral"
he spesks of paying me 81 90 in con-
sideration OF my services. This looks
strange when one remembers that |
had contributed in money $l7.75. and
had been Instrumental in raising the
balance OF the money necessary to COW
er the cost of the funeral. did refuse
to les him look over the pspsrs for rea-
sons stated above, and for the further
resuon that l thoughI Mrs Braxton
who, though, for sometime had been
living apart from her husband, was the
proper one Co give them, aud into her
hands com mitted them,
The relatives did not, should think,
need to be asked to do q service, which
they could not help seeing was neces-
sary. Not one OF them but knew all
the circumstances surrounding the
death OF their relative, Rev. p. II A.
braxton, aud had they have expressed
the slightest desire in the matter, I, O
stranger. would have retired, and al
lowed those nearest the deceased in
kinship at least, Co AXE charge of his
remains. This they declined TO do,
am positive for fear OF entsiling upon
themselves the expen es. Lewis Brax-
ton says that had told him the cir
cumstances, he would have taken
charge of his brothers effects, dispos-
ed OF them and paid all expenses. He
knows that this statemens il false from
beginning to end, and that it is m ds
wi b the deliberate purpose of deceive
ing the public With all his faults.
and he had some, Rev. p. 81. A. Brax-
ton had in his day rendered many a
noble service to his people in the city
and state where he had resided many
years, and with the thought that is
would appear the rankest Ingratitude
on our part to allow his remains TO be
buried IN Potter's Field, / undertook
the work which resulted in q decent
burial for one who, though fallen from
9 former high estate, was one who in
no sense deserved such q fats. / had
no thought that was doing anything
that would bring down upon my head
the wrath of relati -es who seem to be
giants at talking, but pygmies ct doing.
hope this is the emu of this contro-
versy. III it is not. have further facts
which can give to show the motive
underlying every action of mine in the
entire transaction, but for the sake of
him who 10 no more, and whose MEM
DRY 1 revere, I hope this ia the end.
II further evidence is desired by any
one ss Co the truthfulness of any state
ment herein concerned the financial
standing of the late Rev. Braxton, /
most respectfully refer them to Mr.. A.
Bernard Chancellor, who was his at
torney.
Respectfully,
j. P. EVANS.