Statement-1862,September 26-A

State of Missouri
County of Jackson

Nathan Scarritt and John T. Peery each for himself seperatelay make oath and say

   I have for many years been intimately acquainted with the Rev. Thos. Johnson Superintendent of the Shawnee Manual Labor School, and for a number of years were employed by said Johnson as teacher in said school and are consequently acquainted with the more important business transactions connected with the Superintendency of the said school. We certify that the amount of money which the Government of the United States owes to the Missionary Society of the M. E. Church South on the contract now existing between them is actually due to said Thomas Johnson by virtue of a contract now existing between said Johnson and said Society, and that according to this contract between said Johnson and said Society the quarter payments received by said Society from the Government were regularly turned over to said Johnson for the support of said school until the breaking out of the present rebellion when the said payments were stopped; but said Johnson has continued to carry on said school up to the present time entirely at his own expense depending upon the faith of the Government for remuneration. We certify that whereas, in the operation of the two contracts above mentioned, the Missionary Society was but the channel through which the payment from the Government for the support of said school came to said Johnson: it is but simple justice that now as those payments cannot come through the aforesaid channel they should come direct to said Johnson, to whom they are due by contract and for service rendered, This view is strengthened by the fact to which we also certify that by a formal act of said Society, of several years standing, said Johnson was constituted the Society’s agent and authorized to receive any monies due from the Government for the benef1t of said school.

   In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seal this twenty Sixth day of September A. D. 1862

Nathan Scarritt Seal
John T. Peery Seal

State of Missouri County of Jackson

   Personally appeared before the undersigned a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid Nathan Scarritt and John T. Peery who are known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the fore­going statements and subscribed the same and by me were sworn to the truth thereof this the twenty sixth day of September A. D. 1862. In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Official seal. Done at Kansas City, Jackson County Missouri.

D.L. Shouse Notary Public
J. C.

[Photostat in MSS. Department, K.S.H.S.]