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May the 28, 1867
Perryville Perry County Ala
Maj Gen W. Swain

Sir I respectfully ask your consideration of a difficulty now existing between Richard Edwards a Freedman & J. Butler, of this county.  I will State some of the particulars of the case as Brief as possible.  Richard made a contract with Butler last year to make a crop he did so with the assistance of of four other hands Richard paying for the labor. half the feed for Stock half the Blacksmithing, &c. and to receive for his Services 1/3 of said crop, and Butler Says himself that he made the best crop in that neighborhood of his The corn was gathered (Richard 1/3 placed Separate from Butler) and about 2/3 of the cotton. Richard from some neglect, and (I must state them both to blame) was made to leave him and his Lands. about the first of Jany" Richard made repeated application to get pay for his work and that by the contract which the contract specified was by arbitration, and in March he found he could not get anything asked me help him I have tried faithfully and fail. I succeeded however in getting Butler to let myself & his Son in law the witness to the contract, settle it we done so, and I thought Satisfactory in a few days after that Settlement I went to get possession of the corn and found that Butler had been halling off the corn that belonged already to Rich.