Description
The following from the Missouri Democrat, entitled “Persecution of a Missouri Unionist for a debt for Slaves,” is decidedly rich. In 1860, John Ferrier, Missourian, bought negroes of Clinton Cockrill and F. T. Flannery, giving promissory notes, and taking a warranty that the negroes were sound and slaves. Some he sold, and they proving unsound, he could not collect his price. On his notes he paid more than he could get. The war soon freed the slaves, and Cockrill and Flannery were rebels, while Ferrier was Union. Rebels destroyed his property in Missouri and harassed him and his family till he removed to Des Moines, Iowa. Cockrill then procured a return upon a summons from the Platte County Circuit Court, (which serve was never made), and judgment was rendered against him (Ferrier) by default. Upon this judgment an action was brought in Polk County District Court (Iowa) and in this action the jury without hesitation returned a verdict fur the defendant. F. T. Flannery also commenced an action upon the note executed to him, claiming $1,500. Mr. Ferrier set up a cross demand upon the warranty. He did not dare to go to Missouri, whence he had been twice driven, but sent to take the deposition of a witness who he was satisfied knew of the unsoundness of negroes, but could not procure it, for the reason, as the notary writes, that the plaintiff had persuaded the witness to refuse to testify, and that there was no law there authorizing him to compel her to. In this action, the jury, after being out nearly a day, returned a verdict of $175 for plaintiff. The Des Moines paper from which we condense the above, adds: The trial has excited a great deal of interest in this place. Mr. Ferrier, as a citizen, has won the respect of the people of Des Moines; and the sympathy extended to him on account of his persecutions by the rebels, has been so general, that an uncommon feeling was awakened in regard to the result of the trial. It is natural that loyal men should receive encouraging sympathy when traitors of the meanest bushwhacking species endeavor to wring from them what little property may have escaped the foraging bands of their infernal rebellion. It is said that the attorneys who prosecuted the suits against Mr. Ferrier are entitled to the everlasting thanks of their cli- cuts for the persistency and unflagging zeal with which they hounded the thing through. They labored as though they loved it. We feel very sorry for Mr. Ferrier. He formerly lived in this place; was a negro and mule trader, and in conjunction with Gen. Dorris (Dorris), sold more of the former article in the South than any other man in the county. He never was accused of being a very strong Union man until he suddenly decamped from these parts, leaving his creditors in the lurch; but freely gave a wagon, mules and guns to rebels who were going to Price’s army. Mr. Clinton Cockrill and Frank Flannery are among our best citizens. They sold the negroes in good faith to Ferrier, and were cheated out of their money. Poor, poor, honest Ferrier!Date(s) of Creation
3/1/1867
