Correspondence from Guinier to Venable
Correspondence
July 22, 1982

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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; . 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