Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time

by Jacob R. Freese

"Ah! at Richmond, is he? Only a little while ago you told this creditor that you did not know where he was, and I understood you to say the same in your story to me, and now, all at once, when you seek to screen him from justice and from Northern laws, you recollect that he is at Richmond. Very well, sir, then to the Richmond authorities he must look for protection, while this Northern merchant has no protection save through our provost-court, and though I told him, previous to your coming here, that the court could not take up such cases, yet now that I have heard your story, and see that by allowing you to retain and sell the goods will virtually be to give 'aid and comfort to the enemy,' while to interfere in behalf of this merchant will be to weaken the enemy, by cutting off some of his resources, besides doing an act of simple justice—in view, I say, of all these facts, I am now resolved to take up this case, and the first step in the case will be for the court to take possession of the store-room and all of its contents until the case can be heard and adjudicated. You will at once hand the key of the store-room, after closing it carefully, to the Provost-Marshal. He will place a guard over the premises to see that nothing is taken away or disturbed until the case is heard and decided, and to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, you will be at the court with any books, papers, or witnesses you may have, when the case will be heard."

Had a bombshell fallen and burst at the feet of the agent, he could not have been more surprised. For some moments he seemed so dumbfounded that he could not, or did not, utter a word. Then, slowly arising to his feet, he was about to leave, when the Judge told him to again be seated, to await the coming of the Provost-Marshal, for whom he had sent.

When the Marshal made his appearance, the Judge directed him to accompany the agent to the store-room, to see that every window and every door was securely closed and fastened, to then place a guard both at the front and at the rear of the premises, and to see that they were regularly relieved and replaced, the same as other guards of the city, until further orders from the court, and meanwhile to retain the key of the store-room in his own possession, and see that nothing whatever was removed from the premises.

The agent then left with the Marshal, and all was done precisely as directed. That the Philadelphia merchant was pleased with the turn things had taken need hardly be added.

Next day, at ten o'clock, the Philadelphia merchant, the agent, and about a dozen friends of the agent, including the secession lawyer heretofore spoken of, appeared at the court-room. When all the police cases had been disposed of, the court said it was now ready to hear the civil case, in which, upon the court record, Mr. G., of Philadelphia, was named as plaintiff, and Mr. T., of Alexandria, as agent for Mr. S., was named as defendant.

Mr. G. arose, and said that he had no attorney to represent him in this case, and that he was himself wholly unacquainted with court proceedings, and did not know even how to take the first step. He begged to inquire of the court what was needed to be done upon his part?

The Judge replied that the first thing required of him was to prove his claim against Mr. S., beyond any reasonable doubt. To do this he must produce his original books of entry, and prove by the one who sold the goods, or by some one who knows of their delivery, that the goods charged in the original entry were actually sold and delivered to Mr S., and then you or some one else must, under oath or affirmation, satisfy the court that they have never been paid for.

Mr. G. replied that all this could be done if a few days' time could be given him; that he had not brought his account-books with him, nor was the clerk who sold the goods present. He could himself at once make affidavit as to the correctness of the account, and to the fact that it had never been paid, but beyond this he could not go until he could send to Philadelphia for his books and clerk; that he could have his books and clerk present if the court would adjourn the case for two days.

The court said that, under the circumstances, it would be entirely proper to grant the adjournment asked for by the plaintiff; but, to justify the Marshal in longer retaining the goods, the court would require Mr. G. to make a written state-of-demand against Mr. S., setting forth the nature and amount of his claim, and the fact that the claim had never been paid in any way, and was now justly due and owing to him. To this he must set his name, and then make affidavit that the statement is true. Upon this, as prima facie evidence of the claim, the court will direct the Marshal to continue possession of the goods until the case can be heard. The court asked the defendant if he had any objection to an adjournment, or to the course of procedure proposed, to which he answered that he had not; whereupon the court adjourned the case for two days.

Two days after, the parties again appeared before the court The plaintiff now produced his original books of entry, and both he and his clerk swore that they were such. The clerk swore that he had sold to, and forwarded to, Mr. S. every article charged upon the books. Mr. G. swore that he had seen many of the articles in Mr. S.'s store-room on the day he first arrived in Alexandria; that the account was due and overdue; and that no part thereof had been paid.