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the case is call'd for trial, The Judge orders that the negro be brought into Court. The case is sounded when the Judge enquires of the prisoner if he has Councel, if not, if he is able to procure one and, after he is made to understand, what Councel or Attorney means, he answers that he is unable to procure an Attorney, when the Judge calls on some member of the bar present, to defend him, This is a rule I have never known varied from.  
The counsel for the defendant (if he has any idea of his innocence) announces himself that they are ready; when the trial progresses, twelve jurymen (white) are to hear the evidence and deside the case.

Now imagine to yourself the chance, to establish his innocence, even though he be not guilty. You must take into consideration, that this is probably the first time the freedmen had even looked into a Court-house;  He is arrested for the first time in his life, if not, he had a master whose interest, if not moved by the feeling of Justice and humanity, would see that he had a fair trial, he went into Court with the influence of his master a White man in his favor, and if the prosecutor in that case should have to be a poor White man, the advantage if any was in favor of the Negro, for if the master refused to bail him out of Jail, he would look after the evidence in the case, and see justice done him.