Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain,
Very respectfully,
John R. Garland.
This extraordinary letter elicited the following reply:
Augusta, Mississippi, ——, 1858.
John R. Garland, DeKalb, Miss.:
Dear Sir—I am in receipt of yours bearing a recent date, asking me for information relative to certain characters within your vicinity. Giving three names, you wish to know if they are the same persons who were implicated by Copeland in his confession to me.
In answer, at the time of writing the confession, I could have located all the parties given me as members belonging to the Wages and Copeland clan, but did not at the time deem it expedient to do so, because believing that the people in the different sections of the country wherever they might live would be very apt to know them from their general character. But from the description you give of S. S. Shoemake, and from one memorable remark that Copeland made at the time he gave me this name, I am constrained to favor the opinion that he is the same person as both he and yourself have pointed out.
Very respectfully,
J. R. S. Pitts.
SHOEMAKE VISITS THE SHERIFF IN PERSON WITH HIS BOGUS AUTHORITY FROM THE PROBATE JUDGE OF KEMPER COUNTY.
But a short time intervened after the correspondence until Shoemake himself suddenly made his appearance in person at the door of the parlor in which the sheriff at the time was engaged in reading. In reaching so far, Shoemake had passed the outer gate, fronting the street, unnoticed by the watch-dog, or by any of Hon. Drewry Bynum’s family with whom the sheriff was boarding. Shoemake boldly opened the parlor door, and, after a graceful and dignified salutation, next inquired if the sheriff was present. Being answered in the affirmative, he was then invited to walk in and take a seat, for which he returned the usual compliments of civility. His next expressed wish was to retire to the sheriff’s office, which was situated within a few paces of the dwelling-house—all enclosed within the same yard, as he had communications to make on official business. Both retired accordingly, when, as soon as properly seated, Shoemake drew from his breast-pocket a large document, written in a beautiful style and evidently prepared with great care and taste. This instrument of writing was produced to show his authority from the Probate Judge of Kemper county to pursue and apprehend a certain person named and described, for stealing eleven negroes belonging to minor heirs of said county. This instrument of authority was soon detected as counterfeit—not having the legal impress—the court seal of the county from which it pretended to have emanated. This fact, in connection with the introduction of his own name, very properly put the Sheriff on his guard as to subsequent movements which were to follow. Shoemake continued to the effect that the thief, from the direction in which he had been traveling, would be more than likely to cross at the junction of Bowie creek with Leaf river, which is situated about twenty miles above Augusta. Shoemake further added his belief that the thief was making for some point on the seashore at or near Mississippi City, and that he had called on the Sheriff to accompany and assist him in the capture. To this application the Sheriff peremptorily refused, remarking at the same time that the Probate Court was then in session, and that he could not be absent for the period of time necessarily required in a task of this sort without material injury to business transactions and the duties of his office. To this unqualified refusal Shoemake sat for a moment in a silent pause. If the Sheriff himself could not accompany him, he had no desire to have any of the deputies with him.