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T24

Paris Tex Sept. 4th 1866

Having just learned that Capt. Thomas J. Mackey has recently filed with Genl Howard the head of the Freedman's Bureau, in Washington City, D.C. a Statement in substance that a freedman Orange Bray was tried in District Court of this Lamar County, under the code of Criminal Laws for the trial and punishment of slaves and convicted and sent to the Penitentiary. This Statement I understand was field by Capt. Mackey. Now I make this Statement, I am a resident citizen of said county and a practising atty in the District Court and was present at the Fall Term of the Court 1866 and witnessed the trial of Orange Bray freedman upon an indictment for an attempt to kill and murder John H L Bray the son of his former owner. The assault to kill and murder while Orange was a slave, the property of Ed Bray. The presiding Judge Hon. B H Gray, distinctly announced that the trial must be conducted in all respects as though Orange was a white man, and the trial was conducted by that rule of law, the evidence was heard and the Jury charged by the Court. The law was charged by the Court as it would have been had Orange been a white man and he being unable to procure counsel to defend him, Counsel learned and able in the law was assigned.  Orange