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case was insufficient to sustain the charges as laid in the indictment and that the fine was excessive and unreasonable. I would farther represent that these Freedmen are hard laboring men, they have families dependent upon them for support, their profession is that of Agriculture, that if this fine or execution in the hands of the Sheriff for its collection is held over them, or forced to collection, it will so cramp their resources and paralyze their energies as to renderer them still poorer and will have the [[?]] to dissatisfy not ony them, but all other freedmen, who happen inadvertently, unintentionally and ignorantly to fall into any minor difficulty. I [[Strikethrough]] then want [[/Strikethrough]] would farther state that Lt. Huntsworth, in chg of the Freedmen's Bureau at this place was in attendance in the trial of this cause and can vouch for or against the statements herein made. I respectfully ask that you order the fine assessed in the cause of the Commonwealth vs. Robert Johnson, Richard Johnson and Horace Bird in the Circuit Court for Essx County at its November Term 1866 be discharged and released as to the Defendants. I have the Honor to be Coln Very respectfully yours Lewis H. Garnett, Counsel for defendants &c