New Orleans January 25th 1850
Majr. Gleaves
Dear Sir
I have taken the liberty of writing to you on the Subject of a boy the Son of the woman Sally I have always understood that the boy belonged to me by my paying a Certain Sum of Money to William Rutherford I sent for the boy repeatedly by my brother Nehemiah Rutherford offered William the money he not only refused to let me have him or have anything to do with him but Sold the boy for $225 to a Mr Ragan or hypothecated the boy for a debt or money by which Ragan refuses to pay any attention to my Claim on the boy I can only Say to you that I may Call on you for the delivery of the boy to me before next September the exact Situation of the Case I have never under stood only So far as my information through Nehemiah Rutherford I have never yet Seen a Copy of my Fathers will you perfectly understand the nature of the will and can inform me whether or not I am labouring under a mistake relative to the boy in question I write this as well for your own information and benefit so that you may Secure yourself from any loss and me get what is justly my own property
I am Sir
Respectfully yours
C. M. Rutherford
P. S. You will please write me to this city in reply to the above
R
C. M. Rutherford
Letter, written
on the 25 of Jany, 1850
“Hypothecated” means “to pledge as security without delivery of title or possession.”