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That the ruinous condition of the premises the effect of the shells, prevented her immediate return, whereupon a Freedman's family was placed in charge of the property to protect it from further injury and hold it for the use of the owner, until the necessary repairs could be made.  This applicant further states that about the same time that his tenant was driven from the premises in question, he and his family were also by the same cause driven from his residence in an adjacent quarter of the city, the necessity for which was soon made apparent, by the striking of shell which passed through it soon after he evacuated it.  He further states that being above the conscript age, he was never required and never was in fact in the military service of the so-called Confederate States nor was he otherwise engaged in aiding or encouraging the Rebellion against the United States.  That he has taken the Amnesty Oath as prescribed in the Proclamation of the President issued on the 29th day of May 1865.  That he has carefully read the said proclamation and that he does not come und any of the exceptions named in said proclamation.  

This applicant further states that the premises in question were never seized as abandoned by any act of the Government Agents but was brought under control of the Treasury Dept by an act of his own, intended for a very different purpose - Participating in the general belief that prevailed in the City viz: that all owners of property who had from any cause failed to pay their taxes on or before the sixth day of May 1865, were required to take leases from the Agents of the Treasury at a nominal rent, until the tax office should be reopened, This deponent went foward in good faith in July last and applied for a lease and finding that the premises in question were no where entered [[?]] partment