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Cadle

Girard Russell County Ala.
April 27th 1867

General Swayne.

I am a colored citizen, and try to do my duty, and obey the laws, and wish to state my case to you, and ask you if I have been treated right. if you think I have, then I will submit cheerfully. My case is this. some time in the winter, say, December, I was requested by a colored woman, Becky Bacon - to hire a hand for her. that she wanted him to cut wood. I got a hand for her, and she showed him where to cut. by mistake he cut one tree on Mr Ben Farmers land, but did not cut it up. Mr Farmer had it cut up and took possession of the wood. Mr Farmer then sued me out of my [[beat?]] and carried me before Judge Waddell for cutting the tree down Mr Hooper the county lawyer read a paper that if the man that did cut the tree down was at court he would say that Gus Giddens (me) hired him, but the man want at the court. The woman that I hired the man for, swore in court that I want to blame about cutting the tree on Mr Farmers land, that I hired the man for her, and she showed him where to cut, but Judge Waddell said I should pay ten dollars and the costs. Mr Philips my lawyer told him if he done that, Judge Dougherty should try the case, and then Judge Waddell made me give a bond for one hundred dollars to appear at