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There is an organization called the "Simon Brown Company" in this County. I do not know what are its objects. Some of the men belonging to it I know to be violent Secessionists, and I think the rioters at the upper part of the County belonged to the "Simon Brown Company".

I know that the present laws of Virginia allow a negro to keep arms but if I were to go to my neighbors and tell them that a negro had a right to keep arms I would be likely to be knocked down. If I had gone to a public place a month ago before the arrival of the Soldiers and said that negro testimony should be taken I would have come home bruised; if I had got home at all.

Now many of the people say that they don't care so much for negro testimony, because white men will be on the Jury and will not believe the "niggers no matter what they swear"

Statement of William C. Dix. J.P.
"On the 10th of July last George Phillips a colored man, late a sergeant in a United States Battery, came to me to make complaint against white men who had taken a gun and sabre from his house. I advised him that he had better let the matter alone as his life might be taken. I had heard such remarks made to me. Then he went away. but on the next day he returned with several other colored men whose names appear in the warrant (Exhibit A). I tried to get out of issuing the warrant because I was afraid I would get into trouble myself. The warrant was served by the Constable, and the parties all came to meet me at  Woodstock on July the 12th. They abused me. I posponed