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(claimed to be of age) off, against her own desire, and the strenuous remonstrances of the aforesaid first named parties, with whom she was at the time living. It would appear, Gray himself, - or his Father, wished to hire the girl of her step-Father, who, I believe, says she is not of age: I have never to my knowledge seen him. The girl had been raised by Mrs. Sheton I think, & was working for her, for food & clothes only. I had previously been informed that her Step Father wished her to come home to her mother, & had stated that if she was of age she could choose for herslef. Her mother has never had any charge of her. The commonwealth's attorney who was consulted on this affair, decided that but two courses were admissible; either to sue for Trespass, & Abduction in case of the Girl being of age, or secure an indictment by the Grand Jury, which meets here on the 4th of March. The latter was resolved on. This case will serve to show how exposed the freedmen are to be deluded, and even inducted by the whites the perpetration of wrong by the whites themselves, to attain their own selfish, and it may be nefarious ends.

On the 15th - "Julia T. Wingfield" - Col. - vs. "Pinckney Wingfield" - White. On the night of the 8th, Plaintiff was told by her husband that she must at once leave the place, as Defendant, who had heard that she had slandered his Daughter - a girl nearly grown - was about coming there to "prosecute" her, and he could not stand by quietly and see it done. That night at twelve oclock she fled to a Brother of hers in Henry Co. On the 11th her Brother called on her husband, to see whether it would be safe for her to return; but the latter said no, for that just the day before two men had come there with guns, & on not finding her, said they were to busy then to follow, but as soon as they got time they meant to pursue & kill her wherever