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Office B.R.F. & A.L.,
Abbeville, S.C.,
October 2nd, 1868.

1st Lieut Wm. Stone,
Sub Asst Comr

Lieutenant:
I have the honor to report that yesterday Tom Carter (freedman) came before me in a terribly mangled condition, having a deep cut from an ax on his head, several scars on his face, shoulders, & back, which was covered with bruises, & the remnant of a shirt he had on being stiff with blood. He stated, that having the previous night been taken out of his house by "Press Blackwell" (who lives in Edgefield), a Mr Cason (living not far from himself, near Squire Darne's Gold mine), James Sharpton (also living in Abbeville), and two others unknown, stripped, tied, held down under the feet of some party, who kept their pistols pointed at him all the time, he was then beaten by the others, with sticks, &c, and afterward cut in the head with the ax. At one time it was proposed to kill him, but it was subsequently concluded not to. Having searched his house for arms, [[strikethrough]] for arms [[/strikethrough]] & finding none, they took off with them two axes; one the property of Plaintiff, and the other his Brother's; and his wife says they likewise appropriated $5 in money which was