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
races, set about earnestly and faithfully distributing the literature
that we issued from time to time. He always appeared to be mild but
earnest in his advocacy of emigration, and never to my knowledge used
any method or means that would in the least appear unreasonable, and had
always kept within the bounds of law and order in advocating emigration.
The work he performed for this society was all gratuitous, and
apparently prompted from his love of humanity, and desires to be
instrumental in building up a Negro Nationality in Africa.
If he ever violated a law before the killing of the policemen, I do not
know of it.
Yours, very truly,