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brought against the latter, and in many cases I believe it to be trumped up for the occasion.

And yet with all I have said, my opinion is that the great majority of the white citizens are, in their hearts, inclined to have justice done to the Freedpeople, but the latter, at least in the town of Lexington, do not think so and I have been surprised to hear some of them talk as if Maj. [[Gorman? Corman? Dorman?]] the counsel of the defendents, had not plead in good faith in the case of the two men convicted of stealing the bacon and sentenced to the penitentiary though he used every quip and crank of the law and exhibited remarkable legal acumen, had a son of one of the men released on the ground of his being a minor as he was only sixteen years of age, and is now endeavoring to have an appeal taken to the punishment instigated as regards the men themselves.

Their guilt was so clearly established that the Offenders had acknowledged it themselves.

Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
J. W. Sharp
Capt. & Asst Sub-Asst. Com.
Rockbridge. Bath & Alleghany Cos Va

Through Capt Lacy
Agent 7 Dist Va

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