Viewing page 1 of 239

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Bureau of R.F. &. A.L.
Office of Ass't Supt
Sub Dist of Fauquier & Pr Wm Va
Warrenton Va February 11th 1867

Bvt Maj W.R. Morse
Supt 4th Dist Va

Major

I have the honor to report that this town has been the scene of a very mysterious murder.  From what can be gathered the facts are about as follows

Henry Clay Lee a freedman and formerly cook at the Warren Green Hotel had purchased about the first of the year the building occupied by the Freedmens School with the intention of opening a bakery and cookshop as soon as the school was removed to the new building  He moved into the upper part of the building and commenced baking in a small way January the 27th he was supposed to go away as there was a freedman named John Butler left in charge (or assumed to be) of the room who to the numerous enquiries made after Henry stated that he had gone into the country.  On Monday the 4th of February the body of Henry was found on the outskirts of the town with marks of violence upon it.  An intense excitement was created and several parties were arrested on suspicion.  John Butler among the rest.  A coroners jury was empanaled and commenced thier investigations setting Monday tuesday Wednesday & Saturday

Transcription Notes:
empaneled misspelled in original (empanaled) ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-31 13:12:10 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-31 14:20:38 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-31 14:31:20