Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-02-12
PAY FOR SHERMAN COTTON.
L. >. Court Of Claims Hands Down
Judgment for $17C,O00.

savannah, Ca, Feb. 5.-The Unit
ed States Court Of Claims has hand
cd down Il Judgment awarding si76.-
656.79 to stockholders of the Old
Importing and Exporting Company
OF the State Of Georgia for cotton
3eized by Sherman in his memorable
march TO the sea in 1865. The liti-
CATION was instituted shortly after
The War Between the States.
When Sherman's army entered Sa-
vannah the company had great guam
titles Of cotton In warehouses. Gen.
sherman ordered It confiscated.
Some Of 1t was used for the army,
but the greater portion was shipped
10 Boston and sold there The pro-
cceds from the sale we're deposited
In the United States treasurey and
The money has been kept intact. The
Supreme Court in the early days
g. ter the war held that the money
clonged to the claimants. The
loyalty test statute barred practically
every Southern man interested. Tho
loyalty test was removed by Congress
in 1905.
F.. II, Abrahams, attorney for the
claimants. announced the decision Of
Tie court Of claims to-day.
Will Take Appeal.
Washington, Feb. 6.-An appeal
to the Supreme Court probably will
be taken by the government from a
decision OF the Court of Claims
which awards $251,592.28 in four
cases of cotton seized after the close
os the Civil War. The reward was
made to the receiver for the Export
ing and Importing Company Of
Georgia, which was organized by
Ghzaway b. Lamar, of New York.
ana to the administrators Of Lumar's
estate, and two other partnerships
IL which he was associated with his
sen, Charles A. l.. Lamar, and VIM.
". Cheever.
No appeal will be taken from the
courts award Of $1,4l9.S5 to J. G..
| McDonald, administrator for Alcx;,n-
der Mcdonald. of Thomasville. Ga,
| ~ similar case
Approximately 900 other eases
| brought to recover for cotton seized
hy the United States government are
pending before the court, but it was
said to-day by W. T.. Norris, repre-
senting the Department of Justice in
| defending them, that the decisions
! just announced will have no effect
on the cases still to be heard. The
Lamar cases are regarded as unique
hecause the corporation involved was
! formed after the war started, with
! the announced purpose Of purchasing
cotton to be run through the block
ade. thereby hindering the defense OF
the Union. 1t was argued that the
corporation has no standing in a
nitcd States Court, differing in that
respect from private individual
whose cotton was seized after the
close Of hostilities. The Court of
! Claims decision enunciates the prin-
ciple that recovery may be had where
the seizure took place after June | =,
1865, and where the proceeds can be
! raced to the United State treasury.
The claims pending aggregate
about S14,000,000, but include many
eases Of the so-called Confederate
cotton. purchased by the Confederate
government. but left on Plantations,
where it. was seized after the close
Of hostilities. The Supreme Court
has held that no recovery can be had
in such cases. 1t was in the seizure Of
Confederate cotton that the claims
Of individuals arose, the collectors
admittedly appropriating much
staple belonging to individuals
which the treasury specifically had
ordered should not be disturbed.
AS only about $5.0Oo,O0O was ever
turned into the treasury for the cot
ton, that is the maximum which can
he recovered before the court, under
the terms Of the law permitting com
pen: .tion for the seizures.