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025

(3)

silver, Johnson was next tried and discharged the Attny for the Commonwealth declaring that the evidence was not of such a character as to convict.

From what I saw in the working of this jury I am fully satisfied that a Freedman arraigned for a criminal offence cannot be fairly dealt with, although I am perfectly satisfied that Butler knows something about the murder of Henry Clay Lee. Still there was not the evidence to convict him aduced before the jury. I told the prisoner that he ought to be satisfied with the sentence for if it should be proved afterward that he was innocent he had any way escaped the penalty of death
There has no other trials occurred in this Dist during the past month

I am Capt Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
W S Chase
2nd Lt V.R.C. & A S A Com'r

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-06 10:05:51 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-06 10:17:00 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-06 10:33:27 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-06 13:54:40