Viewing page 16 of 225

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

in for further trial before Judge Sheppey at the next April term and he has been bailed for his appearance at the same. [[strikethrough]] Though [[/strikethrough]] I believe he will then be acquitted and why? Because he has employed as his counsel ex. Gov. Letcher and Mr. Dorman the best pleaders at the Lexington bar, and among the best in the State. Capt. Moore, the prosecuting attorney for the county acts in good faith towards the Freedmen, and spoke against McKendry's conduct and in favor of justice before the examining court with a sagacity and discrimination that gave me satisfaction; but then he is quite an old gentleman and a little heavy and Letcher and Dorman skirmish around him, like light horse and flying artillery, seeking every opening and point of vantage. The defense they set up is that Tate a quiet negro of sixty-six years attempted to take improper liberties with Mrs. McKendry; or at least offered her some indignity. The facts of Tate having loitered about the house for several hours, and that he and Mrs. McKendry had a private chat, constitute the basis of their plea-and I think it likely that they will manage to get in the womans evidence, and that it will be regulated to suit their client. If only Capt. Moore had the assistance of some young lawyer of capacity and quick perceptions equal to that of the counsel on the other side I believe McKendry could be convicted-otherwise the result will be as above stated. Public sentiment is against the defendant and [[strikethrough]] the fact of [[/strikethrough]] his going to the expense of engaging such lawyers as Letcher and Dorman indicates that he feels sensible that Freedmen cannot be shot down with impunity in Rockridge county.
The second case was that of William Lumer, a young colored man, who was shot in the abdomen at half past ten

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-12 17:05:35