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time of the alleged assault in conversation with Mr Sherrill who runs Took's gin the lad Tooke who was intoxicated came out of a store near where they were talking & ordered him (Taylor) home, after a few words he called on Moore to take him away which Moore started to do whereupon Taylor threw himself around & as Moore states struck him across the back with his walking stick This Taylor denies stating that if he did it was accidental but that he has no knowledge of doing so whilst Mr. Sherrill swears positively he did not. Taylor was talking quietly, on his own business when he was violently assaulted with words from a drunken boy which being an elderly man he resented by other words & desired the boy to go away -

This whole case is in my opinion an effort to extort money as Taylor is a freedman of more than ordinary intelligence & possessed of considerable property. I was present at the Trial & would recommend that his bondsmen be released from any further security -

W. J. Darden who is acting as Mayor was appointed by the Aldermen of this town as reference to my communication of Aug 26th to