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B.R F. & A.L.
Office Sub Asst. Com'r 14th Sub Dist of Texas
Columbus April 8th 1868

Lieut J.P. Richardson U.S.A.
A.A.A.G. B.R.F. & A.L.

Lieutenant:

The fees charged by lawyers & doctors here are exorbitant, & the slightest mishap which requires the services of either profession by a freedman consumes the profits generally - more often the gross earning of a year. As a rule the lawyers will not act unless his fee is secured before hand. The Doctor is sent for in an emergency & the freedpeople, when in distress, will bind themselves up to any price.

A Colored man was shot last year; his cousin agreed to pay the Doctor's bill, which for nine days attendance & riding over a half miles per day was seventy five dollars. The Crop (which failed) & stock was mortgaged to pay the 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-03-22 21:59:42