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Office B.R.F and A.L.
Tuscaloosa Ala. May 7th 1866

Maj. O.D. Kinsman
Asst. Adjt. General
Major

I have the honor to forward the following information relative to the affairs of the Bureau in this Dist.

A store was broken open in the vicinity of Marion Perry Co. about a week since and a few days later, two horses or one horse and one mule were stolen from the same locality.

The proprietors of this store, horse and mule, John Hogue, John James Hogue and R.S. Clarke suspected a Black named Jim Moore - arrested him and took him (Moore)out into the woods and hung him by neck until life was almost extinct to force a confession.  Jim Moore says he told them (to save his life) that he knew who broke open the store, but denies to me any knowledge of the matter, says that he can proove that he was absent at the time.

The hangmen took Moore down when he made the confession and left him with John Hogue, the other two going for a civil officer.  Moore seeing an opportunity made his escape and came to Tuscaloosa.  Here the parties charge Moore with stealing a horse and mule and riding