Mose Johnson
The Kentucky Times Star, Saturday, March
22, 1919, page 1
Former Slave is Defendant In Land Suit
Aged Negro says "Massa" Gave it to Him
Heirs Seek Title
Nevel Case and Testimony Arouses Keen Interest
"Uncle Mose" Johnson, colored, 84, a veteran of the civil war and a former slave, sat beside his attorney's Samuel Adams and John Klette, and his son, Fred Johnson, 46 in Judge Tracy's division of the Kenton Circuit Court Saturday morning and listened to testimony in the case of Dr. Thomas Nelson and others, who claim ownership of a 50-acre farm on which the aged defendant has lived for the past 46 years. Dr. Thomas Nelson, one of the plaintiffs in this suit, a grandson of Thomas Nelson, who owned Johnson in slave times, sat with his counsel, Attorneys John B O'Neal and Robert C Simmons.
The plaintiffs are contending that Johnson refuses to vacate the farm although the heris to the Nelson estate have, they declare, paid the taxes for many years. The farm is located on the Dudley pike in Kenton county. It developed in one of the depositions read by Attorney Adams for the defendant that "Uncle Mose" Johnson was a famed wood chopper as well as farmer. When Johnson was on the witness stand Friday, his testimony aroused the interest of the court, jurors, attorney and spectators. Johnson displayed keen mental facilities in regard to events which transpired many years ago and he answered questions promptly.
The defense contends that as Johnson has held undisputed possession of the property for more than 40 years the title can not be take from him. "Uncle Mose' claims that he was given the farm by his former master for long and faithful service rendered and for living with him after the days of slavery were over. "I'se feeling pretty good this mornin." said "Uncle Mose" as he stood in the corridor of the city hall awaiting the convening of the court. "Are you much of a farmer, Uncle Mose" he was asked.
"I sure is. I was raised on a farm and I
was in the civil war and Massa Tom Nelson wanted me to live with him after the
civil war, and I was glad to do it/" he said. The old man, who says he can
not read or write, entertained a crowd in the corridors before the court with
accounts of the slavery days in Kentucky. County Engineer A A Lewis was
among the witnesses called Saturday morning. Hearing of the case will be
resumed Tuesday.
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The Kentucky Times Star, Wednesday, March 26, 1919, page 1
Ex-Slave Won Suit for Land
"Ise Much Obliged Gemmen." said "Uncle Mose" After the Verdict
After deliberating ten minutes, the jury in the case of Dr. Thomas Nelson and others against "Uncle Mose" Johnson, 84, former slave and civil war veteran, to recover possession of 54 acres of land on the Dudley pike in Kenton county, Ky. returned with a verdict in favor of the defendant.
"Ise much obliged gemmen" murmured "Uncle Mose" as he bowed to the jurors and the court when the verdict was read. The case has been on trial several days. The defendant, when a slave, was owned by the late Thomas Nelson, grandfather of the plaintiff. "Uncle Mose" had lived for forty years on the farm. He set up the claim through his attorneys, Samuel Adams and John Klette that he was given the farm by his former master. He said that when he obtained his freedom, he worked for his former master until the latter's death. The plaintiff's contend they paid the taxes on the property and were entitled to possession.
Attorney Adams, in his argument to the jury,
paid tribute to the faithfulness of "Uncle Mose"
to his former master. He said his client had voluntarily returned to work
for Thomas Nelson after his freedom was obtained. The plaintiffs were
represented by Attorneys John B O'Neal and Robert C Simmons.
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Kentucky Times Star, Friday, June 10, 1921, page 1
Attorney N W Adams, one of the counsel for the defense in the
case of Dr. T H Nelson and W K Nelson against Mose
Johnson, 88, former slave of the plaintiff's grandfather, the
late Thomas Nelson, took the stand when Judge Tracy convened court Friday in the
Kenton Circuit court.
He read a deposition of one of the witnesses
from the defense. The plaintiffs assert that
Johnson is in wrongful possession of a tract of land on the
Dudley pike and are seeking possession of it. Attorney Ben Graginni for
the plaintiff also read affidavits of witnesses.
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Kentucky Times Star, Wednesday, June 15, 1921, page 1
Verdict Given Former Slave in Land Case
Jury Again Returns Finding in His Favor
A verdict favoring Mose Johnson, 88, former negro slave, was returned by a jury in the Kenton County Circuit court Tuesday afternoon in the case in which Dr. Thomas Nelson and W K Nelson, heir of the late Dr. Thomas Nelson, sought to gain possession of a fifty-acre tract on the Dudley pike occupied by the defendant.
The case had been on trial for several years.
Johnson set up the claim that the
land was given him by his former master at the close of the civil war. He
also got a verdict at the first trial of the case a year ago, but it was taken
to the Court of Appeals, where a new trial was ordered. Attorneys Samuel W
Adams and John H Klette represented him.