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14
Case Continued

For the Defense

John R. Knight - being duly sworn states as follows
To wit: That the evening of the 14' of Aug 1865 Plff. came to him and requested him to go over to Def'ts and see about his Family and himself going back to Def'ts. That he went over and saw Deft and Def't told him that they (Plff & Family) might come back if they choose to do so and that the Def't did not drive there away and would not ask them to come back and that Def't stated that he did not know they were gone, until some hours after they had left.

Statement of Benj T. Bullock Def't=
When the slaves were liberated I called them together and stated to them that they were free and were at liberty to make their own bargains and they could go or stay and if they stayed and worked as they formerly had done that I would do as I had done before some left and stayed. Ben said he had a large family and did not know what to do with them and that he would stay and do as he had done before and he stayed until the 14 of Aug. when they left without my knowledge and on the same evening Ben sends Mr. John Knight to come and see if they might come back. I said to Knight that Ben might come back but his family might come if they would  come under my directions and if they would not they could not come for I thought that I had been relieved of a considerable expense for they had been an expense and therefore I had been greatly relieved
(signed) Benj T. Bullock (Sen.)(over)


15
Case Continued 

Judgment 
The Court - after Mature deliberation find as follows
That nothing is due the Plantiff in this case.
Wm Jones
Capt VRC & Asst Supt

Transcription Notes:
Please Note: transcribe exactly: Cap where they use a Cap, abbreviate when they abbreviate and pay close attention to punctuation I had trouble with the names.