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Mr. Isaac Foster, which is appended hereto.

Notwithstanding I am satisfied from what I could see and hear, in addition to this testimony, in the neighborhood that the most unwarrantable, cruel and revolting outrage was committed upon this freedman, Thomas Jefferson, and that upon a mere suspicion founded upon a difficulty with Mr. James R. Goodwin in regard to settlement with him for last years labor.

This difficulty I was, of course, precluded from thoroughly investigating, but I saw that it was generally Known by the neighborhood to have occurred, and that "Tom" claimed he was wronged by Mr. Goodwin.  In regard to the burning of the factory I could not make up an opinion whether it was set on fire at all or not. I observed that there was a conflict of opinion in the neighborhood concerning it. I can only infer from the testimony of Mrs. Austin and the distance from Mr. Austin's to the factory that "Tom" could not have set it on fire. In regard to the regard to the character of "Tom" from general conversation that I had, he does not seem to have been looked upon as a vicious or dangerous Negro, but about an average character. Most of the parties engaged in the crime in question are large land holders and former slave owners; that very respectable dominering class of such high sense of honor, so well Known to Agents of this Bureau and so powerful in their influence in the South. I need not state my impressions and observations further, but merely refer your attention to the