Washington D.C. May 1^st 1876

B. H. WarnerWarner, Brainard Henry

Brainard Henry Warner (1847-1916) born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania started as a clerk at the Washington Judiciary Square Hospital. In 1866 he was a clerk in the War Department. He trained in law and also was involved in real estate in Washington. He worked in a variety of banks and started his own company B. H. Warner Company. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. (FindaGrave website accessed 2025-08-21; Washington Evening Star, 17 May 1916). , Esq,

Agent for Geo. W Riggs Esq.

Dear Sir:

Referring to your note dated "Feby 28^th," but intended, I suppose, to be April 28^th, 1876, offering to release the land at the corner of U. and 17^th streets for two thousand dollars, I desire to state that in consequence of our agreement given in writing by Mr RiggsRiggs, George W.

, that he would release the land on which the houses stand in which I am interested for $300.00 per lot, my agent consented to make the loans of money now due me.

Mr RiggsRiggs, George W.

, as I am credibly informed, has released two of the lots (included in his agreement) to Mr Green for $300 each. About the time the releases were made to Mr Green, and for more than a year past I have steadily begged and urged Mr Riggs to name a sum for which he would release the three lots in which I am interested. Now if 10% interest were changed on the money for which he agreed to release, and taxes, including interest and expenses on the same, were also charged, the sum would not reach $1500.00. I cannot think Mr Riggs knowingly intends to take advantage of, or to deal inequitably with me, but this demand of $2000.00 is unjust and conceded so

to be by all parties who have knowledge of the amount paid by others in the square. This demand is three times as large as the uniform amount charged others. Taken in connection with the fact that Mr. Riggs has kept me waiting for over a year for a definite answer, and out of the interest of my money during that time, it seems to me extortionate.

Nevertheless to avoid any further trouble and delay and consequent injury to the property, I herewith hand you certified check on the German American Savings Bank, for fifteen hundred dollars in full-settlement of all demands of Mr. Riggs on lots 153, 154 and 155 in Boughton & Moores Subdomain of Square 150, the three lots having in all a front of forty eight feet on Seventeenth Street by a depth of seventy four feet to a ten foot alley

Very Respectfully

Fred^k Douglass

Mr WarnerWarner, Brainard Henry

Brainard Henry Warner (1847-1916) born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania started as a clerk at the Washington Judiciary Square Hospital. In 1866 he was a clerk in the War Department. He trained in law and also was involved in real estate in Washington. He worked in a variety of banks and started his own company B. H. Warner Company. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. (FindaGrave website accessed 2025-08-21; Washington Evening Star, 17 May 1916). is to take this Check and confer with Mr Riggs—and if the proposition is accepted he is to deliver the check to Mr Riggs.

Fred^k Douglass