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ment [[payment - see previous page]] of the labor on the place -

On Saturday Oct. 5" a cold blooded murder was committed near Sardis in this county, Anthony Foster was arrested by Maj. F. Wiseman Ag't of De Soto County on suspicion of having murdered Dr. A. Settle, he being at that place at the time, On the 6" he took the prisoner to Grenada procured a guard, and returned on the 7" A preliminary investigation was held at Sardis by Maj Wiseman and Myself, and from the testimony we received we decided to hold the prisoner, he was then brought to this place, and kept in jail until Nov 1, then sent to Vicksburg by order of Gen Gillem, under guard. The investigation was continued on the 9" but no testimony offered except for the prosecution, The guard from Grenada returned on the 14" after which time I had sole charge of him, (the prisoner)
Among many of the planters, and all employing freedmen there is an evident desire; and intention of not paying the freedmen; some try by exorbitant charges of articles advanced during the year, others by damages of some kind, some persons by charging enormous interest, as high in some cases as fifty percent; for advancing goods to bring the freedmen in debt to them, or that no pay will be due at the close of the