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The next day the body of a pig, about the size of the one lost, was found in the house of the accused; the head he said he had eaten the day before. He stated that he bought the animal of a certain other freed man. Another man testified that he had the previous day met the one last referred to, who at the time had a pig about the size of the one found, which he wished to levy of him, but was told that it had been promised to the accused, to whose house it was then being taken. Despite of all this; accused was held to answer; but was subsequently bailed by his employer, Mr Hale, who although one of the bitterest men in the Country against the Negroes declares his conviction of the innocence of the freedman & says that according to his idea, this theory was done maliciously, in order to get accused out of the way, so as to provide a chance for dishonesty on the part of those who had him arrested, as he was too watchful to admit of anything of that kind which he was there. But it appears his son - "Brooks Saunders" - has also been arraigned, on the same count & been likewise bailed; although he could really have had nothing to do with the felony, if committed. This it is presumed was done to guard against his being brought forward as a witness by his father, in his defense. 

Second - "James Preston," on a charge of stealing a horse. This freedman on mere suspicion was pursued by the brother of the owner of the horse to wit "John Hudson" - without warrant or proper authority and when discovered without having the animal in his possession, and a pistol presented at him, on attempting to escape he was fired at, and wounded in the side. Believing this to be a case which will call for some further notice and perhas action. I shall append a detailed special Report

Transcription Notes:
4.30.2024 - Resolved all remaining [[?]]s, made corrections and marking for review. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-30 14:13:04 - Please do NOT mark for review if there are multiple unresolved [[?]]s in the transcription.