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Jackson, Miss. Oct. 13, 1865

Lt. Ephraim Bamberger
Act. Ass't Adjt Gen'l

Lieut:
I have the honor to state that in obedience to your orders to go to Clinton to inquire into matters pertaining to Freedmen at that place, that I went there on the 12th inst. and learned the following particulars :-

Prince, a colored man, formerly a slave of Col. Wilburn, stated to me that on Monday ^[[insertion]] last [[/insertion]] at the depot where he was about to take the cars in pursuit of his business, he was arrested Sheriff Watts and, surrounded by several white-men was taken to the Mayor's Office where Mayor Greaves proceeded to try him for breach of contract with Col. Wilburn; that in court, after being sworn, was asked by the Mayor "Did you promise Col. Wilburn you would work for him till Christmas?", to which Prince answered "No Sir", When Col. Wilburn cried out, "You are a liar", repeating it several times, with oaths and obscene language. Also that in court but not in answer to a question by the court, on saying he did not agree to work for Col. Wilburn, Col. Wilburn brandished a heavy stick over Prince's head, saying, "If you dispute my word you infernal son of a bitch, I'll smash out your brains" The Mayor said "Dont Gentlemen".

The above occurences in court, I stated to Mayor Greaves who said they occurred as stated; but afterward said he thought they occurred after the Court adjourned, but could not remember if it was after adjournment or not.

Prince also stated that he was asked for no witnesses till after the Mayor had given his decision in the case, and then he had been so threatened, and several of the bystanders friends of Col. Wilburn being around, he did not dare to go for any.