Charles W. Chesnutt to Rexford L. Holmes, 19 November 1921
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November 19, 1921.
Rexford L. Holmes, Esq.,
321-323 Southern Building,
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Holmes:
We have as yet heard nothing from you with reference to Mr. Barnes' note for $50.00, due in June of next year, to the order of Mary A. Holmes, endorsed by her and yourself and sent to us in payment of balance of our account against you, which note I sent to you September 13th, 1921, in accordance with your request and your statement that Mr. Barnes was willing to pay September 21st, with interest to that date, you stating that you would make the collection and forward us the money.1
We are frank to say that we do not understand your methods of doing business. We gave up the security that we had for your indebtedness, whatever it was worth, and you do not even do us the courtesy to write explaining why the note was not paid, forif it was not paid. We should be very glad to hear from you in regard to this matter.
Correspondent: Rexford L. Holmes (1883–1943) was a White lawyer from Taylorville, Illinois, who had moved to Washington, D. C.in 1905 and by the 1920s ran a large stenography office, which seems to have had business transactions with Chesnutt's office. Mary A. Barnes (1852–1942), his mother, signed the promissory note given to Chesnutt alongside her son.
1. Mr. Barnes has not been identified. Because only Chesnutt's two letters regarding the matter (September 13, 1921, and a follow-up from November 11, 1921) have been found, it is not known whether Chesnutt was able to collect the $50.00 that Rexford L. Holmes owed for services rendered by Chesnutt's firm. [back]
