Besides this statement, Mr. Flummer enclosed a letter received by the Society two days before the tragedy at New Orleans.  This letter was written by Robert Charles, and it attests his devotion to the cause of emigration which he had espoused.  Memoranda on the margin of the letter show that the order was filled by mailing the pamphlets.  It is very probable that these were the identical pamphlets which were found by the mob which broke into the room of Robert Charles and seized upon these harmless documents and declared they were sufficient evidence to prove Charles a desperado.  In the light of subsequent events the letter of Charles, which follows, sounds like a voice from the tomb: 

New Orleans, July 30,1900

  Mr. D.J.  Flummer: 

Dear Sir—­I received your last pamphlets and they are all given out.  I want you to send me some more, and I enclose you the stamps.  I think I will go over in Greenville, Miss., and give my people some pamphlets over there.

  Yours truly,

  Robert Charles

The latest word of information comes from New Orleans from a man who knew Charles intimately for six years.  For obvious reasons, his name is withheld.  In answer to a letter sent him he answers as follows: 

  New Orleans, Aug. 23, 1900

  Mrs. Ida B. Wells-Barnett: 

Dear Madam—­It affords me great pleasure to inform you as far as I know of Robert Charles.  I have been acquainted with him about six years in this city.  He never has, as I know, given any trouble to anyone.  He was quiet and a peaceful man and was very frank in speaking.  He was too much of a hero to die; few call be found to equal him.  I am very sorry to say that I do not know anything of his birthplace, nor his parents, but enclosed find letter from his uncle, from which you may find more information.  You will also find one of the circulars in which Charles was in possession of which was styled as a crazy document.  Let me say, until our preachers preach this document we will always be slaves.  If you can help circulate this “crazy” doctrine I would be glad to have you do so, for I shall never rest until I get to that heaven on earth; that is, the west coast of Africa, in Liberia.

  With best wishes to you I still remain, as always, for the good of the
  race,

——­

By only those whose anger and vindictiveness warp their judgment is Robert Charles a desperado.  Their word is not supported by the statement of a single fact which justifies their judgment and no criminal record shows that he was ever indicted for any offense, much less convicted of crime.  On the contrary, his work for many years had been with Christian people, circulating emigration pamphlets and active as agent for a mission publication.  Men who knew him say that he was a law-abiding, quiet, industrious, peaceable man.  So he lived.

So he lived and so he would have died had not he raised his hand to resent unprovoked assault and unlawful arrest that fateful Monday night.  That made him an outlaw, and being a man of courage he decided to die with his face to the foe.  The white people of this country may charge that he was a desperado, but to the people of his own race Robert Charles will always be regarded as the hero of New Orleans.