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armed force, could readily discover the murderers, in both this and the other case. For prudential reasons I withheld many significant facts; for some how or other, it appears that whatever I write is known here almost as soon as I send in my communication. I would, therefore, most earnestly request that the extreme care may be taken to maintain the subject matter of at least that paper strictly secret.

Reports are now rife that Mr. Hutson Lamar will be the next to be sacrificed & I understand that it has also been said of Mr. Qusinberry, that unless he looks sharp he will also "go up" before long, so who knows when his turn will come. 

When Mr. Hart was on duty here a strongly armed force once entered the town, in the day time, threatening all sorts of mischief: & but for the fact that he at the time had a detachment of U.S. troops here, it is hard to say what they might have done. I see nothing to prevent such a party from even taking me out of my bed at night, and deliberately murdering me; an occurrence not at all unlikely.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
W. F. De Knight
Clerk &c