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OFFICE SUP'T R.F. & A.L.
1st DIST. OF VIRGINIA,
Norfolk, Va., May 11th 1866.

General,
I have the honor to report that on the 13th April I received a telegram from Lieut Geo H French Asst Supt for the county of Accomac Va., stating that a colored man by the name of John Halden had committed a double murder in the 
Village of Pungoteague in that County, that the victims were a white woman and a colored woman. I telegraphed to Lieut French to turn Holden over to the Civil Authorities for trial: on the 16th I received a letter from Lieut French that the people taken of the crime had been summarily hung by the people (See the enclosed marked, "A") I sent a copy of this letter, with my views in the case, to Brv't Major Genl N. A. Miles commanding, at Fort Monroe Va, the County where the crimes were committed being in his District (See copy of my letter herewith enclosed marked "B") Not having anything farther from the case. I instructed Lieut French to proceed to the 
village of Pungoteague and to ascertain if possible the names of the parties who were engaged in hanging Holden and to present them to the civil Authorities to be tried for murder; believing that they were not warranted in taking such summary vengeance even upon a murderer. I do not know what steps the Lieut