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0392

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Head-Quarters First Division, Seventh Sub-District of Virginia.
Lynchburg, Va., August 23d 1868.

Major R.S. Lacey
S.A. Commissioner

Major
In compliance with your instructions I have this day visited Concord Depot Campbell County Va. and investigated the case of Wm. Reed (freedman) shot by George M. Staples. 

The following facts were elicited. Wm. Reed entered into an agreement with George W. Staples on or about Jany 1st 1868 by which the said Reed hired his wife Lucinda to Staples as a house servant for the consideration of $3.00 per month and board; no provision being made for the residence of the said Reed upon the premises. Staples considered that Reeds frequent visits to his wife prevented her from attending properly to her duties and forbade his coming upon the premises at all. On the 20th instant Reed started to go to Mr Staples' house and endeavor to affect a reconciliation; on arriving within a few yards of the house (Mr Staples') he was halted by Mr. S who was standing in his door with a gun in his hands. Mr. Staples said "don't come any nearer to my lot or I'll shoot you." Reed then turned to go back when Staples fired

Transcription Notes:
rod: In British imperial and US customary units it is defined as 16+1⁄2 feet, equal to exactly 1⁄320 of a mile, or 5+1⁄2 yards (a quarter of a surveyor's chain), and is exactly 5.0292 meters. The rod is useful as a unit of length because integer multiples of it can form one acre of square measure (area). ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-16 16:49:00 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-18 11:46:31