Case: Nelson Anderson v. The United States
Abbreviation: Anderson v. United States
Decision Date: 1868-12
Docket Number: 
Citation: 4 Ct. Cl. 467
Volume: 4
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: United States Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: Nelson Anderson v. The United States.
Judges: 
Pages: 467–469

Head Matter:
Nelson Anderson v. The United States.
On the Proofs.
The rule in Grossmeyer's Case, (ante, p. 1,) tiiat the testimony of the vendor of captured property is competent evidence in a case under the “ Abandoned or captured property act,” (12 Stat. L., p. 820,) reaffirmed.
Mr. T. J. D. Fuller for tbe claimant:
Claimant, a tree man of color, by occupation a drayman and cotton-sampler, being possessed of personal and real property, in tbe early part of tbe war, and before tbe bombardment of Charleston, purchased of Daniel F. Fleming’ from fifteen to twenty bales of cotton, in a loose and damaged condition, which be removed to Dr. North’s farm, near tbe race-course, where it was dried, assorted, and rebaled, making ten or more bales of good cotton j and in September, 1864, and within three months thereafter, at four different times, he purchased of Philip M. Doucen forty bales of cotton, ten of which were sea-island, and stored at No. 33 Ashley street, the place of his residence in Charleston. The last purchase was made some time before the evacuation of Charleston by the rebels. On the 8th of March, 1865, Anderson reported his cotton to the United States military authorities, and on the 5th of April following, it was removed by Lieutenant Young, from its place of deposit, to the Charleston custom-house, from whence it was shipped to New York, and there sold by S. Draper, for the United States, and the proceeds thereof paid into the Treasury, netting the gross sum of $7,362.
The claimant did not give any aid or countenance to the rebellion against the United States, but, on the contrary, furnished material aid to the United States, in the way of voluntary contributions of money for the comfort and support of the United States prisoners, and entertained, and was known to entertain, the strongest sympathy for the success of the Union cause from the beginning to the end of the war. The cotton in question was all that the claimant owned, and was purchased from time to time as the opportunity presented and his means permitted. Efforts were made by the blockade-runners to pur- obase of tbe claimant tbis cotton, but be refused to sell it for tbat purpose.
Tbe last purchase could not have been later than tbe last of December, 1864.
Mr. B. S. Sale, special counsel of tbe Treasury, for tbe defendants.

Opinion:
Casey, Ch. J.,
delivered tbe opinion of tbe court:
Tbis is a claim for forty-eight bales of cotton — thirty-eight of upland and ten of sea-island — seized by tbe military at Charleston, sent to New York, and tbe proceeds paid into tbe Treasury of tbe United States.
Tbe claimant proved bis ownership of tbe cotton, bis right to tbe proceeds, and tbat be never gave aid or comfort to tbe rebellion. Tbe weight of evidence satisfies us tbat forty-four of the bales of cotton were upland and only four were sea-island. Tbe petition was filed on tbe 5th June, 1868. Tbe claimant also proved tbat be is a man of color.
Tbe United States resist a recovery on tbe grounds—
1st. Tbat tbe proof of ownership, and tbat the proceeds came into tbe Treasury, is defective.
2d. Tbe proof of loyalty is not complete according to tbe requirements of tbe act of June 25,1868, because it does not show tbat be gave no aid or comfort to persons engaged in tbe rebellion.
3d. Tbat tbe claim was not preferred to tbis court within two years after tbe suppression of tbe rebellion, and it is, therefore, barred by tbe limitation of tbe third section of tbe act of March 12,1863.
Tbe United States moves to strike out tbe deposition of tbe claimant, and also those of Philip M. Doucen and Daniel F. Fleming, who respectively sold to claimant a part of tbe cotton before tbe seizure, tbe proceeds of which are claimed in tbis .case.
. Upon tbis motion tbe court struck out and suppressed tbe deposition of Nelson Anderson, tbe claimant; but overruled tbe motion to suppress tbe depositions of Doucen and Fleming, tbe vendors of tbe cotton, upon tbe grounds and for tbe reasons stated at large in tbe case of Henry Grossmeyer v. The United States, ante, p. 1.
We think tbe ownership and caption of tbe property is well proved. It is matter of record tbat tbe cotton seized by tbe military at Charleston was all turned over to tbe care of Simeon Draper, tbe cotton agent at New York. Tbat tbe cotton was shipped to tbe latter city, sold by Mr. Draper, and tbe net proceeds paid into the Treasury of tbe United States. We have in this record tbe transcript from tbe official record of its receipt by tbe government officers and agents at Charleston. And in tbe absence of proof to tbe contrary, we think that is sufficient.
Upon tbe point of tbe proof of bis loyalty bis caséis similar in all respects to tbat of Edward Fordham. He proved tbat be consistently adhered to tbe United States during tbe rebellion, and gave no aid and comfort to tbe rebellion. And from bis general character for loyalty, and from tbe presumptions arising from tbe race to which be belongs, we infer tbat be gave no aid or comfort to persons engaged in rebellion.
His claim was filed on tbe 5th of June, 1868, within two years after tbe suppression of tbe rebellion, on tbe 20th of August, 1860, as settled in tbe case of Grossmeyer v. The United States, and, therefore, it is not barred by tbe limitation contained in tbe third section of tbe act of March 12, 1863.
It is, therefore, now, to wit, February 22, 1869, considered, adjudged, and decreed by tbe court here, tbat tbe said Nelson Anderson do have and recover of and from tbe United States tbe sum of six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-three dollars and thirty-six cents, ($6,723 36.)