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will be acquitted at next term of the court I presume.  One was for swindling, he having failed to pay $20.00 that he owed at the time he promised it.  Quite a number arrested for light offenses were aquitted and a still greater number have their cases continued until next term of the court. Some of the lawyers I think have got cases of freedmen continued until next court that they might place them under heavy obligations to work for them for little or nothing upon the conditions that they (the lawyers) bail them out of jail.  This of course the poor freedmen will do.

The great injustice of the civil authorities here is in not punishing white men for offenses against freedmen.  They don't show any disposition to do this even in cases of murder.  As I told you in another communication I am satisfied that one freedmen was murdered by men deputized to take him to jail by the civil authorities.  They punish them by their law but do not protect them.

Respectfully
Your obedient servant
L.S. Barnes
Major and Sub Asst. Com.