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Clinton Miss.
Novb'r. 17th 1865

Col. Donalson

Dear Sir
The woman who hands you this was robbed yesterday morning of her employers mule, and ten dollars in money. [[strikethrough]] I immediately [[/strikethrough]] [[She stays?]] at the house or near the house of Mr Geo. Waller & that Mr. Waller was present she thinks, when a young man of dark complexion who called himself Jones, but, who she was since told, was named Simmons, ordered her to dismount & dispossessed her of her employers mule & her money & I immediately issued a warrant & placed it in the hands of a constable, to have them arrested & brought before me, he has so far failed to find them. if his name is Simmons he is a man who I have been trying to have arrested for stealing two mules from Mr. Hillmans plantation; The evidence is altogether freedmen, & it is, in this unsettled condition of our State, & in the absence of any special law passed for their benefit, very difficult to convict. I hope you ^[[insertion]] will [[/insertion]] Cooperate with me in endeavoring to bring him to Justice. Some of our militia seem averse to act when the evidence is alone from negroes.
  
Very Respectfully &c 
[[signature]] J. B. Graves [[/signature]] 
Mayor Clinton

Transcription Notes:
("Donalson" a misspelling of "Donaldson")