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VII

ever they found her. She denied [[strikethrough]] ever [[/strikethrough]] having ever traduced Defendant's Daughter, but said that his sister, who had herself spoken to her about the Girl, having since had some misunderstanding with, was resolved, by misrepresenting, to secure satisfaction on her. In fleeing from her home, this woman had been obliged to leave her suckling babe, entirely helpless. I advised her to go that night, quietly, & first see her husband, and if he thought there was still danger, to them, if necessary, call on each of the magistrates in the vicinity, & request that Defendant be bound over to keep the peace, and afterwards notify me of the issue, bringing with her the names of all the magistrates by whom she may have been refused. I have not since heard from her; but it is not unlikely she may have had to again run off. She and & her husband were living on Defendant's land, a part of which they had been allowed the use of for the purpose of clearing it up; & for her husband to abandon it now would involve the loss of all his labour and completely break up his entire plans.

On the 18th "Burwell Woods," for "James Preston," his step son - both colored - vs. "John Hudson" - white - residing on "Powder Mill Creek," about five miles from Rocky Mount. Plaintiff - on suspicion of his having [[strikethrough]] stolen [[/strikethrough]] on the night of the 15th stolen a horse, was, without warrant, pursued by Defendant, entirely on his own authority, as a private individual, and accompanied by four of his neighbors. On the 16th, being overtaken, without having the horse in his possession, and Hudson approaching him, pistol in hand, on attempting to escape he was fired on, & wounded in the side. The confession was afterwards extorted from him that he had taken the horse, merely to