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3rd. In many cases Freedpeople are deprived of their wages, and if not altogether denied redress by the civil authorities, they are in nearly every instance [[?]] in a bill of [[cost? cash?]].

I was unable to get any positive proof as to who committed the murders and robberies alluded to, but from the best information I could get, there seems to be but little doubt as to one John Lawrence's complicity in the murder of two or three Freedmen in Chambers Co Ala, and also one or two in Troup Co Ga.

It seems that this man Lawrence is a lawless character who has no permanent home, but prowls about from place to place along the State line keeping up a constant dread amongst the Freed people. There are evidently other parties engaged with Lawrence, but they are always in disguise while depredating upon the Freedmen. I find that the good people of that neighborhood who favor law and order are afraid to investigate the outrages committed in their midst: they contend that to do so, would endanger their lives or property.

In view of the reign of terror in that community, I am of opinion that the only way to ferret out the perpetrators of those murders and other outrages, is to send sufficient Military force with authority to send for persons and compel them to give evidence

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 12:10:11