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forthwith to jail he had finally bound him over in the (small) sum of $300.00 - his two companions, I presume, giving his securities - I take it for granted, to go before the Grand Jury, which meets in Roanoke Co., the 27th of March, for indictment. And stress, there the matter rests for the present. If, however, (which is often done by the Justices of the Peace here, ignorantly or otherwise), he has merely been recognized to appear before the County Court, which sits on the 18th March; as that Tribunal, I believe, has no jurisdiction in the matter, the whole proceedings will be at once quashed. Of course, the freedman Moods, and the others who witnessed the shooting will have to be present (I don't think their names have at all been sent in as witnessed; and if not coming forward themselves, I seriously doubt if they would ever be summoned; and if not, the charge would necessarily fall through) when the case comes up for hearing; but I have told him to before that time see the Bureau Officer in charge of Roanoke Co--who he says he understands has returned [[strikethough]] a [[/strikethrough]] and put him in possession of the full particulars, so that he may be able to watch the issue and I will likewise communicate with him on the subject myself in full season. There, as I understand it, my duties in the premises end, and his begin; still, feeling a lively interest in the affair, I have requested the freedman to also keep me advised of whatever further, may hereafter transpire in regard to the case; for I have a strong impression that it will, somehow, yet end in nothing. There is one feature, however, which in any event, has been made strikingly, and most indisputably manifest throughout all the circumstances attending this case. Viz that, no attention, whatever, being vouchsafed the freedman, in his claims on the Civil 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-30 22:09:51