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in my house until the Soldiers came- They would have been murdered but for my protection.

There is an organization called the "Simon Brown Company" in this County. I do not know what are its objects  Some of the men belonging to it I know to be violent Secessionists, and I think, the rioters at the upper part of the County belonged to the "Simon Brown Company."

I know that the present laws of Virginia allow a negro to keep arms, but if I were to go to my neighbor and tell them that a negro had a right to keep arms I would be likely to be knocked down.  If I had gone to a public place a month ago before the arrival of the Soldiers and said that Negro testimony should be taken I would have come home bruised if I had got home at all.

Now Many of the people say that they dont care so much for Negro testimony because white men will be on the Jury and will not believe the Niggers no matter what they Swear."

Statement of William H Dix J.P.
"On 10th of July last George Phillips a colored man, late a Sergeant in a United Stated Battery, came to me to make complaint against white men who had taken a gun and Sabre from his house. I advised that he had better let the matter alone, as his life might be taken. I had heard such remarks made to me. Then he went away. But on the next day he returned with Several other Colored men whose names [[strikethrough]]  we have [[/strikethrough]] appear in the warrant (Exhibit A). I tried to get out of issuing the Warrant because I was afraid I would get

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