Correspondence from Guinier to Venable

Correspondence
July 22, 1982

Correspondence from Guinier to Venable preview

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  • Case Files, Bozeman & Wilder Working Files. Affidavit of Lou Sommerville, 1982. 2b7e4702-f192-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/cb30d06c-db35-4e95-83e6-d190e3d81ae7/affidavit-of-lou-sommerville. Accessed April 06, 2025.

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    AFFIDAVIT

. My is Lou Sommerville. I am 96 years old this March 11

' Maggie Bozeman has never been in my house yet.

My granddaughter Ernestlne Brooks and Julia Wl1der have
done aII my wrlting.

They never told me who to
great big black man. f voted
to be wet. And those were the

vote. f.or. I--:roted for Mi11er, a
ror @ror the town
only two I voted for,

On the day of Maggiers trial-, the Hlgh Sherlff told me to
go up there and say that Maggie wrote these ballots. Before
Magglcrs trlal , Loui.s Coleman toLd me lf I dldn't telL lt,
somethlng would happen to my food stamps. They then cut me
down to one $1O.OO food stamp a month.

The High Sherlff told me this 1n the,Courthouse in Carrolton
tn the hallway, He saidr We want to stop her off of this job
from vottng, If you do not teII about Maggte coming to your
house and flxlng your baLLot up, then you wonrt get any more
food stamps. "

I told hlm Maggie aln't never been to my house Just like he
ainrt never'been there. I asked him, "Have you ever dld my
wrlting?" He said no. I sald, "We}I Maggie is just like you."

After they left me off the stand, I was sitting on the
Bench in the Courthouse. I overheard'sophie Spann telling
Louis Coleman, the Sheriff : "I tol-d what you said for me to
say. Dldn't I get it right? Now give me a }ittle something
for a drink." He said, "I aln't got no money. Yeah, you fixed
.1t. 'r Then he walked of f .

I took thls conversation to mean that Sophie lied on the
witness stand because the Sheriff told her what to say. A few
months later when I heard Sophie had dled, I thought, "WelI
God took her off the map because she know she was lying.r'

Dated: October

Signed by Lou Somervllle

Wl.tnctgcd By:

Sworn to before me thls

October, 1982.

w

auv oedy'



AFFIDAVIT

My name is Lou Sommerville. I am 96 years old this March tI.
' Maggie Bozeman has never been in my house yet.

My granddaughter Ernestlne Brooks and Julia Wilder have
done all my wrlting.

They never told me who to vote for. I voted for Mi11er, a
great big black man. f voted for a man for the town
to be wet. And those were two I voted for.

On the day of Maggie's trial, the High Sheriff told me to
go up there and say that Maggie wrote these ballots. Before
Maggie's trial, Louis Coleman told me if I didn't tell it,
somethlng would happen to my food stamps, They then cut me
down to one $10.00 food stamp a month.

The Hlgh Sheriff told me this in the,Courthouse in Carrolton
in the hal1way, He said: We want to stop her off of this job
from voting. If you do not te1} about Maggie coming to your
house and fixing your ballot up, then you won't get any more
food stamps. "

I told him Maggie ai.n't never been to my house just like he
ain't never been there. I asked him, "Have you ever did my
writing?" He said no, I said, "WeJI Maggie ls just llke !ou,"'

After thcy Loft me off the stand, I was sttttng on the
Bench 1n the Courthouse. I overheard'Sophle Spann telltng
Louis Coleman, the Sheriff: "I told what you said for me to
say. Dldn't I get it right? Now give me a litt1e something
for a drink." He said, "I aintt got no money. Yeah, You fixed
.it. rr Then he walked of f .

I took this conversation to mean that Sophie lied on the
witness stand because the Sheriff told her what to say. A few
months later when I heard Sophie had died, I thought, "We1I
God took her off the map because she know she was lying. "

Dated: October l1/ l18L

(
)

Signed by Lou

Witnessed By:

Somerville

sworn to before me this l[*^u "f'[/
Qctober, 1982,



AFFIDAVIT

My name is Lou Sommerville. I am 96 years old this March 11.

Maggie Bozeman has never been in my house yet.

My granddaughter Ernestine Brooks and Julia Wilder have
done aII my writing.

They never told me who to vote for. I voted for Mi11er, a
great big black man. I voted for Louis Coleman for the town
to be wet. And those were the only two I voted for.

On the day of Maggiers trlal, the High rsheriff told me to
go up there and say that Maggie wrote these ballots. Before
Maggle's trlal, Louls CoLeman toLd me 1f I didn't teII it,
something would happen to my food stamps. They then cut me
down to one $10.00 food stamp a month.

. The High Sheriff told me this in the.Courthouse in Carrolton
in the hallway. He sald: We want to stop her off of this job
from voting. If you do not tell about Maggie coming to your
house and flxlng your ballot up, then you won't get any more
food stamps. "

I told him Maggie ain't never been to my house just 11ke he
ain't never been there. I asked him, "Have you ever did my
writlng?" He said no. I said, "We1I Maggie is just like you."'

After they left me off the stand, I was sitting on the
Bench in the Courthouse. I overheard'sophie Spann telling
Louis CoLeman, the Sheriff: "I told what you said for me to
say. Didn't I get it right? Now give me a little something
for a drink." He said, "I ain't got nomoney. Yeah, You fixed
.it. " Then he walked off .

I took thls conversatlon to mean that Sophte lled on the
witness stand because the Sheriff told her what to say. A few
months later when I heard Sophie had died, I thought, "WelI
God took her off the map because she know she was Iying. "

Dated: October

Signed by Lou Somerville

Witnessed By:

\T

a.v or,lFSworn to before me this
October, 1982.



a

AFFIDAVTT

' My name is Lou Sommerville. I am 96 years old this March 1I.
' Maqgie Bozeman has never been in my house yet.

" My granddaughter Ernestine Brooks and Julia Wilder have
done all my writing.

They never told me who to vote for. I voted for Miller, a
great big black man. f voted for Louis Coleman for the town
to be wet. And those were the onLy two I voted for.

On the day of Magqie's trlal, the High Sheriff told me to
go up there and Eay that Magg1e wrote these ballots, Before
Maggle's trial, Louls Coleman told me if I didn't tell it,
something would happen to my food stamps. They then cut me
down to one $10,00 food stamp a month,

The Hlgh Sherlff toLd me thls ln the,Courthouse ln Carrolton
in the haIIway. He said: We want to stop her off of thls job
from voting. If you do not tell about Maggie coming to your
house and fixing your baIlot up, then you won't get any more
food stamps.rl

f told hlm Maggle ain't never been to my house Just llke he
alnrt never been there. I asked him, "Have you ever did my
writlng?" He said no. I said, "WeII Maggle 1s just like you."'

After they left me off the stand, I was sitttng on the
Bench tn the Courthouse, I overheand'Sophie Spann to1Ilng
Louis Coleman, the Shertff i 'tI tol"d what you satd for me to
say. Didn't I get lt rlght? Now give me a llttle somethlng
for a drink." He said, "I ain't got'nomoney. Yeah, you fixed
.1t. " Then he walked off .

f took this conversation to mean that Sophie lied on the
wltness stand because the Sheriff told her what to say. A few
months later when I heard Sophie had died, I thought, "WeI1
God took her off the map because she know she was Iying."

Dated: October

Stgned by Lou SomervtLle

Witnessed By:

t?
.:. i'

ri,tlSworn to before me this

October, 1982.

_dayo



AFFIDAVIT

My name is Lou Sommerville. I am 96 years old this March 11.

' Maqgie Bozeman has never been in my house yet.

My granddaughter Ernestine Brooks and Julia Wilder have
done all my writing.

They never told me who to vote for. I voted for Miller, a
great big black man. I voted for Louis Coleman for the town" to be wet. And those were the only two I voted for.

On the day of Maggie's trial, the High :sheriff told me to
go up there and say that Maggie wrote these ballots. Before
Maggrie's trial-, Louis Coleman told me if f didn't tell it,
something would happen to my food stamps. They then cut me
down to one $10.00 food stamp a month.

The High Sheriff toLd me this ln the.Courthouse ln Carrolton
in the hallway. He said: We want to stop her off of this job
from voting. If you do not tell about Maggie coming to your

, house and flxing your ballot up, then you won't get any more
food stamps. "

I told him Maggle alntt never been to my house Just llke he
aln't never been thene. I asked h1m, "Have you ever did my
wrltlng?" He sald no. I said, "WeIL Maggle ls Just Ilke you,r' '

After they left me off the stand, I was sitting on the
Bench in the Courthouse. I overheard'sophie Spann telling
Louis Coleman, the Sheriff : I'I told what you said for me to

. say. Didn't I get it right? Now give me a little somethlng
for a drink." He said, "I ain't got no money. Yeah, Vou fixed
.it. I' Then he walked off .

I took this conversation to mean that Sophie lied. on the
witness stand because the Sherlff told her what to say. A few
months later when I heard Sophie had died, I thought, "WelI
God took her off the map because she know she was Iying. "

Dated: October

Signed by Lou Somerville

Witnessed By:

l?
,l; .

Sworn to beforc me thts day of,'^t'

October, 1982 .



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