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a freedmen last fall and fled the County, has returned and an indictment has been found against him and he has given a bond for his appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court. The freedmen are getting along better than they did last year.

In Shelby County the condition of the freedpeople is very much improved. Nearly all parties appear to be endeavoring to treat them fairly and justly. The planter to secure their services and the politicians to secure their votes. There are, however exceptions. Quite a number of complaints having been made to this office by parties who have been defrauded to a greater or less extent out of their pay for services rendered. It is, I find, much easier to obtain justice for them in the Courts this year than last. My attention has been drawn to the frauds being committed when the colored people by certain  Claim Agents of this City. I have succeeded in having one of the firms Messrs. W. Combs Jr & Co. indicted by the Grand Jury of the U.S. Dist. Court for the violations of the Act of Congress limiting the amount of fees to be charged by the Agents for collecting 

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