Bernard J. Sage seeks to recover $1,500 from Franklin C. Robertson for various business transactions. In 1856, Sage leased his "premises at the mouth of Bayou Rouge" to Robertson in the hopes of creating "an important and profitable business point at the aforesaid location." However, due to Robertson's "lack of capital as well as his violation of his obligations," competition was "brought into the neighborhood" and Sage's "point of mercantile business was by all this discredited so that he has been damaged in the value of the place and the loss of rent." Sage further informs the court that, in 1857, he and Robertson planned to make "improvements on the plantation" at Bayou Rouge. By the agreement, Robertson was to run the operation after being provided with an overseer, two "stout able bodied negroes," and a horse. Sage also hired a contractor to fix the land, who "planted stakes for said improvements." According to Sage, Robertson "caused said stakes to be plowed up." He also fired the overseer, did not plant enough crop of corn, illegally cut down timber on the land, and stole bacon and pork from Sage's store room, which he then sold for profit. Further, Sage claims that a "negro carpenter" was injured due to Robertson's conduct towards him and thereby three months of labor were lost. For all these violations of obligations, Sage prays that Robertson pay him $1,500 plus interest in damages.
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Repository: St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, Louisiana
