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1157

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office Assistant Superintendent, Warwick County, Va.
Newport News, Va., December 31st 1866

Bvt. Brig. Genl O Brown.
Bureau of R.F & A.L.
Richmond Virginia.

Genl.
In compliance with Cir No 10, Par 7. Hd. Qtrs. Asst Comr State of Va. of date March 12th 1866. I have the honor to report that on the 13th of this month at the session of the County Court Five Colored men were examined who were charged with the murder of a white man named Wotten, & were sent on for trial at next term of the Superior court.  The Citizens magistrates & Lawyers had all decided them guilty & the examination was a mere form.  The Magistrates & Lawyers were for some reason very anxious to waive the examination & send them on for trial without any examination whatever, & urged me to give my opinion in favor of such a course.  Failing in securing an opinion for or against this proposed course from me, they went on with the examination.  Counsel was furnished them & there was no ill treatment of Prisoners or witnesses by any one.  Two women wives of two of the Prisoners were 

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