Viewing page 178 of 229

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Sub. District of Demopolis
Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Demopolis Aug. 31st 1868

Bt. Lt Col. Beecher
Assistant Commissioner
Sir
I have the honor to state in explanation of the matters treated of in your communication of the 27th inst relative to the murder of Jerry Clark marked in red ink L. 73.943. The one containing the matter you critices should have been marked "non-officials" — so far as it instructed him as in his duty as a citizen bound to aid in the arrest, if necessary, Code of Alabama 3994-4001. he not being a lawyer and looking to me for advice & instruction without discriminating between his official & non official capacity. And I was guilty of the same confusion of ideas without his apology.
The official part grew out of the extraordinary circumstances. It was the first time the white-people had been excited sufficiently to take energetic measures for the arrest of a white man who had wantonly killed a negro. And it was vitally important that that spirit should be encouraged, as it would go a great way towards putting a stop to the lawlessness prevalent in this District. Bit a little money would be necessary when the