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Office of Asst. Supt. B. R. F. & A. L.
Sub-Dist. of Essex, King & Queen & Middlesex Co's.
Tappahannock, Essex Co., Va., Oct 30, 1866.

Bvt. Brig. Gent. O. Brown,
Bureau R.F. & A.L. 

General,
I have the honor to make the following report in compliance with Circular No. 10, of date March 12, 1866.
There has been several Freedman tried in this Sub-Dist. for stealing.  I have been unable to attend all of these trials owing to my being so busy in taking the Census of the colored population.  I was present at the trial of a col'd. man in Middlesex County for burning the jail; he received a very fair trial as far as I could see and was convicted, his sentence has not been passed yet.  I have been present at several trials and could not see but what they were treated with impartiality and fairness and the law respecting their testimony carried out in good faith.
I have not seen in any trial of a Freedman where a lawyer would plead the case of a Freedman as earnest and