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E and M. "2" P7. D. of. A. 1868
STATE OF ALABAMA.
BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
Montgomery, Ala., March 20, 1868.

Respectfully returned to Bvt. Brig Gen'l J. Hayden, Asst Com'r. B.R.F. & A.L.

It appears on investigation that two different Justices of the Peace tried the cases named in Bvt. Major Cochran's communication: the one who held the colored man to bail in the sum of $300 being a different man from the one who held the white man to bail in sum of $100. Major Cochran was led into the error of supporting [[strikethrough]] Bv't Brig. Gen. & Asst. Commissioner. [[/strikethrough]] it was the same man by his having been there but a short time and not much acquainted. He however showed a commendable zeal in attempting (over)
to protect the rights of all, and by his efforts succeeded in getting the bail reduced to two hundred dollars, which the colored men were able to give and are now at liberty. The statements of facts made by different parties, and which was sworn to, were too conflicting to induce one to conclude there was evidence of partiality on the part of the Magistrate in question. I did not therefore direct anything further to be done. 
Edwin Beecher
Insp for Ala
B.R.F. & A.L.  

Transcription Notes:
edited: removed archive stamp it is not part of the original document so ignore per SI, changes and corrections. moved word below strikethrough that had not previously been moved