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Crawford Russell Co Ala
June 17, 1867

Gen Swayne - In behalf of a freedman, Augustus Giddens by name, who is sober, industrious, and I believe honest, I write you, sincerely believing that injustice has been done him. As to who I am, and whether my statements are to be believed, I respectfully refer you to A. P. Watt Esqr of the Exchange Hotel, Hon Samuel F. Rice and Hon David Clopton of Montgomery and could refer you to more but these I think will suffice.

I will give you a plain statement of the facts of the case ---

Giddens was prosecuted under Paragraph 189 of the Penal Code page 60 for cutting timber on the land of Mr. B. R. Palmer in this County - Before entering on the trial - I, as counsel for Giddens, was asked to admit what it was proposed that Charles Iverson, a freedman, and a witness for the State would move, if present, he being absent.  The admission was as follows "That Charles Iverson, if present, would swear that he was ordered by Gus Giddens to cut timber on the land of Mr. B. R. Palmer in