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Bureau Refugees & A Lands
Office 1st Div 7 Sub District
Lynchburgh Va May 30th 1867

Respectfully returned to Capt R.S. Lacey Agt. in charge. I have heard all the evidence in the case set forth within. Wyatt Wheeler did come into possession of the horse & take it to Mr. Cotheran's as set forth in his petition. He swears positively that the agreement was that Mr. Cotheran was to keep the horse a sufficient time to compensate him for the trouble of recuperating the horse. Mr. Cotheran is not positive on that point but doesn't think he made such a bargain. On the 16th of April 1865 Mr. Cotheran, got an order to: "procure two horses or mules & to have full control over said property unless called for by the U.S. Government from whom they have been turned over to me." Sd. Wm. D Hix, who was at that time distributing agt. of the U.S. Mr. Cotheran claims this horse under that order. Subsequently Mr. Cotheran got an order from Capt [[?]] P.M. to hold the horse till called for by the U.S. This order is dated [[?]] 9th 1865, The horse was very much reducid when Wyatt, came into possession & was of no service till some time in July 1865, when he was used to plough corn. Mr. Cotheran proved that he sent Wyatt word, that the horse was of no account to take him away; this was before receiving the order of Hix. I think Wyatt Wheeler is clearly entitled to possession of the horse unless the agreement was vitiated 1st by the notice which Cotheran proves he sent Wyatt to take the horse way which Wyatt positively denies recovery
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