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the seizure was a real procedure and not a sham they were of course full well aware that their property had been seized to pay Crisp's debt to the negroes and that they were still liable to Crisp for the full amount due on the note. There is still another strong reason to believe that the seizure was a sham and that the pretended claims of the negroes which have been trumped up by Hanford & Willard are groundless: The freedmen on the place were well aware that Dr J.H. Crisp and his son A.S. Crisp were going to leave Texas. The matter was of general and public notoriety for months before they did leave. The preparations were open and public and were made known to the Freedmen on the place who are said now to bring forward at this late day, after the property had been sold to Hanford & Willard, and months after the departure of Crisp & Son, this large claim of $4700 specie! Is it to be supposed for an instant that the Freedmen would have willingly permitted the property to be sold H.&W. and willingly allow Crisp & Son to leave the State if their large sum of money had

Transcription Notes:
-The word "their" is underlined in the original text. Per instructions, ignore this. -Last name looks like it could be Lesip, but previous documents indicate the name is "Crisp" -specie = money in the form of coins rather than notes. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-12 20:05:26