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Aside from the Civil Authorities, the majority of the Citizens of the County as a class are ignorant and prejudiced and have but little respect for any law. Prior to the "War", the County was known as the "Free" "County", and has been always considered by the people in the adjoining counties, as possessing a more rough and lawless class of men, than any other County in the State, and I think it is safe to presume that the condition of Society has not improved any since the War. Two Freedmen have been murdered in the County since Aug 1865, and no party has been found guilty or punished for the crime. On Court Days, the vicinity of the C. House is always enlivened by a fisticuff encounter between the citizens which frequently results in shooting and stabbing affrays. I do not consider the dignity of the bench elevated or improved by allowing the prisoner or offender to sit with the Magistrates, which I have seen permitted. Or a personal difficulty with themselves on the bench, and which happened at February County Court. I would respectfully refer to Report of a Special Detective sent to the County in July 1866 by Genl O. Brown to investigate a Murder. Also to my previous monthly Reports, to corroborate the assertions I made, with

Transcription Notes:
11.10.2023 - "fisticuff" = "fighting with the fists"; Transcribed per guidelines and marking for review ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-10 14:47:48