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Richard M Day (f.m.) formely owned by Captain McDay of Hempstead, Austin Co, Texas makes the following statement for Mrs Venie - (fov.) formerly "Lucy Degg".

Statement
On Wednesday the 19 ulto, a party of Four (4)freedmen - one the Husband of said "Lucy" and the remaining three (3) her sons - went to Brenham - from Dr Merediths' plantation- for whom they were under contract for this year (1867). - for the purpose of registering. They left the said plantation of Dr Merediths' followed by Dr Merediths' overseer to Brenham. On arriving at Brenham the aforesaid overseer went to Capt Collins, the agent at that place and stated the case, whereupon Capt Collins had them arrested and confined in the Brenham jail - with the exception of one of the sons, who ran away from Brenham, and went back to work. In the coming he was discovered and put in the calboose at night, and has been every night up to this time. Capt. Collins said they should not break their contract. After they were taken out of jail, they (2 of them) were tied up by the thumbs until (It is said blood burst out of their thumbs by Mr Wren on his place at Chapel Hill, all of which was countenanced by Capt. Collins. They were tied up by the thumbs for hours. The planters say f they can do anything with the agent for little money, - as the agent and Bureau   will back them up for this great injustice