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The voucher is printed in Senate Ex. Doc No 71, present session at page 27.

Luther Blake claiming a credit, under his instructions or contract of April 18 1851 [Doc.71 page 2-3] for removing 3 Indian Warriors who were delivered by me to Judge Turman of this County, and files the affidavit of Judge Turman to support his voucher-

I enclose Judge Turman's explanation of that affidavit or certificate, and his explanation of the manner in which it was procured from him

The facts area as follows:
Under the Orders of the War Department, dated October 7 1850 and February 1. 1851, I demanded the murderers of the boy Hubbard.

The Chiefs sent the three warriors implicated to me, at Fort Myers, on May 17 1851, where they were received and secured by my Assisstant Lieut. Walbridge

The next day [[insert]] May 18 [[/insert]] the Indian Affairs were transferred to the Department of Interior, or, its agent, Luther Blake - excepting of course these three murderers, who were at once brought to Tampa, and by me delivered to the civil authority Judge Turman, as I was ordered to do by the Secretary of War February 1 - 1851

These three warriors were at no time in possession of Mr. Blake or any other Officer of the Department of the Interior.

It is due to Judge Turman to say, that although his suspicions were excited by the attempt of Blake to procure a false certificate, from him, to wit, a certificate that he Blake had delivered or sent the three warriors to him - yet he had no idea that any [[?]] fraud was to be perpetuated by means of his certificate-

To complete the history of this transaction I may add that although Messrs. Blake and Bowman arrived at Fort Myers some days before the 18th May 1851, I did not hesitate to postpone the transfer of the Indian business, from the War Department until I had secured the murderers then daily expected in, especially as neither they nor I had any evidence of the appointment of Blake to releive me.

The day following the transfer was made- excepting the funds -: and then on my own responsibility - without any official notice of his appointment

Most respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
(signed) John C. Casey
Capt. U.S. Army

Hon Jeffn. Davis
   Secretary of War -

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Copy of Certificate accompaning the letter to Secy. of War -July. 26.

This is to certify, the Capt. John C. Casey of the U.S.A. was the "Agent of the Seminoles" referred to by me in my certificate found on page 27 Senate report. Doct. 77-33 Congress - 1st Session, and that my name is Turman not Yurman as printed in said report -

I further certify that I refused to give to Gen. Luther Blake a certificate that I had received said three Indian Warriors from him, as I received them from Capt. John C. Casey he (Blake) having requested such a certificate - Whereupon he took the certificate as printed in the aforesaid Document saying it would do

Given under my hand, and seal at Tampa in the State of Florida this 25th day of July 1854

(signed) Simon Turman  [[image-square with word seal inside]]
Justice of the Peace
Hillsborough County
Florida

   State of Florida}
Hillsborough County} I Martin Cunningham Clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the County & State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Simon Turman whose genuine signature appears to the above certificate is & was a Justice of the Peace duly Commissioned and sworn at the time of signing of the same. And I further certify that he (Turman) is the identical Person referred to above.  In witness whereof I have hereunto let my hand and affixed my Official at Tampa Florida. This the 25th day of July AD 1854

(signed) Martin Cunningham
          Clerk

 [[image - swirly circle drawn with words Seal Hills. County  Co. Court inside]]

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