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In the fall of 1865 I was at work on the Howard place on Caney. During the corn gathering time. I was lying down sick in bed, in the cabin that myself and husband occupied. Mr. Shortridge came into the room and asked me how I did. Shortly afterwards E. S. Kugely came into the cabin and shut the door after him, and he (Kugely) said, Kill her Shortridge the dammed bitch kill her. Shortridge then commenced beating me with a board, and then took his fists. I was pulled off the bed, when Kugely got astride of me I was then down on the floor. Kugely was choking me and beating me with his fist, and Shortridge was beating me on the head. Soon I crawled on my knees to a table and took up a knife, and whilst on my knees struck Shortridge with the knife on the thigh. The knife was a sharp pointed knife, it was not sharp enough to cut meat. I do not think I drew blood. They then got me down and Charles the driver placed a rope round my neck and Kugely drew me out of the cabin. Shortridge got on his horse, fastened the rope to his saddle and started off in a trot. I was obliged to run to save my neck. I was carried to Mr. Kugely's plantation about three miles distant. Next day they took me to Columbia, before the Provost Court, there, and make complaint against me. The Court told Shortridge to show where I had struck him, Shortridge objected to take off his pantaloons, saying he was too weak, but the Court made him pull off, and he could show no cut. The Court dismissed the case and told Mr. Shortridge and Mr. Kugely that I had committed no offense as far as proof showed. I was then sent by a person to Houston who