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to his house on that morning bringing Nat with him and told him that Nat had been shot by Mr. Basden said he examined the wound but saw no blood and if his attention had not been called to it as a gun shot wound would not have considered it as such.

Steph Parham (col'd) was then called and testified to Mr Basden's general kindness toward all colored people during and since slavery.  L W Macon commonwealths atty prosecuted the case rigidly and with as much zeal as anyone could wish for and after a long argument by the atty for the defence the case was given to the jury and after being out about thirty (30) minutes they returned with a verdict of not guilty and Mr Basden was discharged.  

It is impossible to impannel a jury of white men that will convict or even sencure [[censure?]] a white man for shooting a negro providing the white man belongs to what they call the respectable class of whites.  I consider the jury in this case as much to blame as Mr Basden and would therefore respectfully request that they be tried before a military commission for a violation of their oaths.  I enclose copies of presentment of grand jury and commitment of the Justice  also a list of the jurors.

Very respectfully
Your obedient servt
J.F. Wilcox
Capt V.R.C. & A.S.A.C.

S.B. 64}
1.V. 1867}

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