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had not yet realized that we slaves had become free. And that this petitioner knowing nothing to the contrary and fully believing that the matter had been fully settled by said punishment which he had received, this he has never denied to any one, that with the consent of the said girl he had had intercourse with her, which confession under the laws of the state this petitioner believes said bill of indictment was found and upon which he is sought to be convicted. He further states that said true Bill was not found until the last fall term 1867 of the Circuit Court for said County being nearly three years after the commission of the said offence.
He further states that he believes he has been indicted through the malice of some assigning person and not on account of the public welfare.
Your petitioner further states that he believes and has been so informed that upon a fair and impartial trial, he cannot be convicted of any offence or upon this indictment, and that he does not wish to avoid such trial, and were he at liberty upon his own recognizance for his appearance to said circuit court he would not forfeit it, but would be there present.