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them to keep the Boy in custody, to which the answer was, that Noble Lea had the paper with Affiant then called to Tom to come to Affiant that Affiant might speak to him, whereupon some one of the men spoke & said that Tom was under guard and that he should not leave the gard: Affiant finding that there was not information to be had from Farmer & the others, determined to attend in person at Magnolia in the Boys behalf, which Affiant accordingly did

Tom was before the officer in command without any witnesses and confronted by Lea, his son George Lea & his son in Low Farmer. The result of the investigation was, that Tom was confirmed in his right to remain on the Lea place until the [[strikethrough]] expla [[/strikethrough]] expiration of his contract, but that the crop raised was all liable to Lea's demand even to the extent of not allowing Tom to gather an ear of corn or a sweet potato for the support of himself or family

Believing that Lea had violated his contract with Tom, and that Tom had been very harshley delt with both in picket and person, Affiant advised him to apply for redress to Head Quarters.

What Affiant has done for Tom Bates is entirely without remuneration

E. P. Fourniquet

Sworn to & subscribed before me the 25th day of September AD 1867
Charles A. Lyster J.P. {Seal}
Town of Summit