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J.22. F.F.& A.L. D of P. 1st Vol. 1867

at all, this goes to show how fierce these people are for administrating the power of the law upon negroes and not on the whites. This whole affair was commenced backwards. Dudley being the cause of the riot, and besides, stabbing a negro. The authorities made no haste to punish him. But they commence on the latter end of the riot, and fasten the riot upon these negroes first, and then Dudley is to be tried simply for cutting Palmer, afterwards, so the jury trying these cases will not have their sympathies aroused in favor of the black until Mr. Dudley comes upon the stand, when it will be too late. And under this excuse, justice will be cloaked upon this affair and uncloaked in the eyes of the public. There are more white men who ought to paraded before the courts, but there are none to be found to complain of them, and although 3 or 4 magistrates the Deputy Sheriff and a constable were present and saw the whole affray from beginning to end, they will not issue warrants, for fear perhaps, that they could, if proper steps were taken, be brought up themselves for not proclaiming peace as they should have done. But this was not done.
 
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
Henry K.W. Ayres,
Lieut. V.R.C & Ass't. Sup't 6th Dist. Va

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-18 16:23:34 - removed "be" as it is not present in original document. removed some commas that were not present in original document. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-18 19:23:51 affray is a word ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-18 19:31:16