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He was reported to the Military at Columbia about two days after his brutal assault which was commited on the 26th day of July 1865— & two soldiers was ordered to arrest him— He by some way found that he was to be arrested & left his home immediately concealing himself for about two months, after this he arranged so as to get the case turned over to District Court.— While he was Thus keeping himself concealed from Military power & hydeing himself I sent him word by one of his friends to come in & hide no longer, & pay the woman one Thousand in gold & that I would use my influence with her to get her to settle the affair & have the farther trouble done with —  He refused & so the thing goes on—

I am well informed about the whole transaction of this troublesome affair, & under the circumstances I have no disposition to bear too heavy upon him — but if  he can get off by paying her the damages done say fifteen Hundred dollars in coin it would be as light as he aught posibly expect to get off — He is amply able to pay this — It is one of the worst cases I ever knew — He has no justifiable excuse in the world to give for his conduct — Men has been made to pay for less crimes five & Ten Thousand dollars in Common Courts of Law —

I submit my views with all due respect to your good Judgement— I have no interest in the matter farther than a proper respect for Law & Justice —

Very Respectfully 
Joel Spencer

P.S. I know as much of the transaction, & the facts in this case as any other person who was not an eye witness — The freedwoman was born on my plantation — The crime was commited on a part of my premises —

Brevet Maj. Gen. Griffin
Galveston- Texas