could ever come from the doctrines which were preached by Charles or the
papers and pamphlets distributed by him. Nothing ever written in the
_Voice of Missions_, and nothing ever published in the pamphlets above
alluded to in the remotest way suggest that a peaceable man should turn
lawbreaker, or that any man should dye his hands in his brother's blood.

In order to secure as far as possible positive information about the life
and character of Robert Charles, it was plain that the best course to
pursue was to communicate with those with whom he had sustained business
relations. Accordingly a letter was forwarded to Mr. D.J. Flummer, who is
president of the colonization society, in which letter he was asked to
state in reply what information he had of the life and character of Robert
Charles. The result was a very prompt letter in response, the text of
which is as follows:

Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 21, 1900

Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett, Chicago, Ill.:

Dear Madam--Replying to your favor of recent date requesting me to write
you giving such information as I may have concerning the life, habits
and character of Robert Charles, who recently shot and killed police
officers in New Orleans, I wish to say that my knowledge of him is only
such as I have gained from his business connection with the
International Migration Society during the past five or six years,
during which time I was president of the society.

He having learned that the purpose of this society was to colonize the
colored people in Liberia, West Africa, and thereby lessen or destroy
the friction and prejudice existing in this country between the two