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Arborvitae Pike Co., Ala  Oct., 11th 1866,

Maj., Gen., Wager Swain

Dr Sir  I take the liberty of addressing you a few lines for information and lest I be tedious I will give as short statement of the case as I can, to make it be undstood. James W. Harp and myself are acting Justices of the Peace in this (Missouree) Beat., and Mr Reynolds living in this Beate and having a number of Freedmen in his employ came to me and stated that 17 of said Freedmen had left him for which he wanted a warrant of arrest, at the same time, said freedmen went to Harp and demanded a warrant of arrest for said Reynolds, all met at Perote the place of holding our justice court at the same time we had the parties brought in to court, had about twenty negros Examined as Witnesses which give corroberating testimony also four white persons, which all proved that the said Reynolds was in the habit of drinking too much, and had previous to that time tied down and whiped some of said freedmen unmercifully and on that ocasion he commenced shooting among their chickens killed  a dozen or more, and threatened to shoot the negroes if they said anything or picked up their chickens after he had killed them, that he presented a pistol to the Ear of one negroe and threatend his life if he moved from his tracks, that he did shoot at one or two of them but missed and that the said freedmen only went to Harp for protection as they were fearful of their life

On hearing of said Evidence, we believed said freedmen were justifiable in leaving at the time & therefore discharged them, and give judgement against said Reynolds for the cost, and further awarded that he should give Bond and security in the penal sum of Five hundred Dollars to Keep the Peace for six months

Now the said Reynolds went before D.W. Siler Judge of Co court and obtained a warrant of arrest for Harp and