By Jessica Gorman
In 1900, an appeal of the case of Tandy Webb vs. Felix H. Drake, R.H. Miller, Tom Crichton, and James Crichton came before the Supreme Court of Louisiana. The case centered on Mr. Webb’s claim that the defendants had intentionally brought about the ruination of his hotel, Webb House. As mentioned in last week’s article, Webb House was located across the street from Jacqueline Park. It was said to be regarded as one of the best in North Louisiana and received the entire patronage of the traveling public and especially of ‘drummers,’ who patronized it in preference to any other hotel.”
Tandy Webb served as assessor of Webster Parish and the trouble seems to have stemmed from what the defendants deemed as Mr. Webb’s overassessment of their property two years prior. The situation quickly escalated to the point that Tandy Webb filed suit against the others claiming that they had “individually and collectively, illegally, wantonly and maliciously determined to destroy his hotel business, to ruin him financially, and to disparage him in public esteem.” He claimed they had accomplished this by means of an organized boycott of any drummer, or traveling salesman, who stayed at his hotel. Word spread quickly across North Louisiana, and in about a month’s time, Webb House closed. Tandy Webb sued for damages in the following amounts, $10,000 for destruction of business, $10,000 for humiliation of himself and his wife, and $10,000 in punitive damages.
The defendants first claimed that there was “no cause of action” and that the business belonged to Mr. Webb’s wife and not to him, so he could not legally bring the suit against them. The property had, in fact, been bought in Mrs. Webb’s name and at least in part with money belonging to her. The hotel was also primarily run by her. Mr. Webb, however, asserted that they jointly owned and ran the business. The court affirmed that Mr. Webb did have the right to sue and have his case heard.
Mr. Tom Crichton was first to testify. He admitted to being enraged by a previous indictment brought against him by Mr. Webb. That indictment was in response to Mr. Crichton’s nonpayment of the increased property tax that was brought about by Mr. Webb’s assessment of his property. Mr. Crichton also admitted to discussing the matter with other businessmen and the traveling salesman. In a conversation with Alfred Goodwill, he stated his intentions to boycott and suggested that Goodwill do the same, as he too had been indicted. Goodwill disagreed and wanted no part of the boycott. Crichton never admitted intention to harm Webb’s business, only that he was outraged and that others agreed with him. Those others expressed their unwillingness to do business with Mr. Webb because of his actions.
Next, was the testimony of fellow businessman, Col. McIntyre who felt that it was in everyone’s best interest to settle the dispute. He said that after hearing of the lawsuit, he went to F.H. Drake to get him to end the boycott but Mr. Drake “said they had to do something.” He also went to Tom Crichton to convince him to end the boycott, but he replied that “he had been slapped on one cheek and had turned the other, and that now he was kicking.” Col. McIntyre also spoke with R.H. Miller who claimed to know nothing of a boycott.
Mr. H.W. Smith, one of the traveling salesman known to frequent Minden, testified that the Webb House had a good reputation among the salesman and that he enjoyed staying there. He also told of how he had heard the previous spring “that Mr. Webb had antagonized the interests of the leading business men in Minden.” Upon his arrival in Minden, he asked F.H. Drake about it. Drake related the details and that he decided on his own that he disagreed with Mr. Webb’s actions, no longer wished to stay at Webb House, and sent for his things. He said that this decision was based on Drake’s information, but that no direct threat was made to boycott him as a salesman if he continued to stay at Webb House. He simply did not agree with how those he considered to be his friends had been treated.
Tom Crichton had been accused of spreading word of the boycott beyond Minden by means of the railroad. This was evidenced by the fact that many had heard about it before their arrival. The court was of the opinion that whether or not an actual “conspiracy” existed, the widespread knowledge of the situation implicated the men.
Another salesman, J.H. Price, testified that Drake told him about the boycott. Price claimed that Drake first asked him where he was staying before he told him of how Webb had raised taxes and the merchants had retaliated by boycotting any salesman who stayed at Webb House.
L.W. Stevens, identified as clerk of the police jury and a justice of the peace, also testified. He, too, had attempted to settle the matter between the men. He described Mr. Drake’s behavior as “violent indignation against Mr. Webb.” He said that Mr. Drake felt as if Mr. Webb was in a fight against them and that they had no choice but to fight back.
Next, came the testimony of J.W. McDonald, Drake’s bookkeeper. He had witnessed a conversation between Felix Drake and R.H. Miller in which they discussed the boycott with Mr. Miller stating that it served Webb right, to which Drake agreed. He told the two “that it was undignified to take the action.” Mr. McDonald also confirmed that an organized boycott existed.
Two more traveling salesman, a Mr. Riser and a Mr. Ganucheau, provided testimony in the matter. Mr. Riser testified that he had been told before reaching Minden not to stay at the Webb House and that it was “known all over the road that the Minden merchants had boycotted the Webb House.” Mr. Ganucheau testified that he had a conversation with Tom Crichton in which they discussed the boycott.
Following the testimony of these men, R.H. Miller was asked to provide letters that Mr. Webb claimed he was to have in his possession. These letters had been written by Mr. Miller to C.S. Chapman “telling him that if he wished to sell goods to any of the Minden merchants . . . that he better not stop at the Webb House.” Mr. Miller provided letters sent to him by Mr. Chapman, including a letter written by Mr. Webb to Mr. Chapman, but denied having any of the letters he had written to Chapman. One of the letters seem to elude to the situation without being forthright. In the letter, from Webb to Chapman, he asks for a copy of the letter from Miller warning Chapman not to stay at Webb House. Chapman claims to no longer have the letter, but in a letter dated the same day, reveals that he had returned it to Miller.
The existence of all letters in question, with the exception of the letter from Miller to Chapman, caused the court to question why Mr. Miller was unable to produce the one reported to implicate him. It was decided that if the letter was not brought forward, it was because it proved “that Miller wrote to Chapman warning him that if he wished to sell goods in Minden, he had better not stop at Webb’s Hotel.”
Ultimately, the court found in favor of Tandy Webb. It was determined that the boycott started around the end of February or first of March. The hotel closed by March 25th. James Crichton was not found to have been a participant in the boycott, but the court equated the actions of the others to having the same result as if they had set fire to the hotel. Damages were awarded in the amount of $2000 to cover Webb’s financial loss. No damages were awarded for “injury to character.”
Tandy Webb, with his family, left Minden. They moved to Shreveport and then to Monroe Mr. Webb was elected to the state legislature in 1916 and served for a number of years.
(Jessica Gorman is the Executive Director for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, and an avid genealogist.)