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0358

Bureau of R.F & A.L.
Hd. Qts. Asst. Sub. Asst. Comr.
4th Division, Franklin Co.,
7th Sub-Dist. Va.
Rocky-Mount, May 31st 1867

Bvt. Brig. Genl O. Brown.
Asst. Comr. St. of Va

General:
In obedience to Par VI, Circular No. 10, Series 1866 from your Hd Qts., I have the honor to report as follows.

But one case in which a colored person was concerned came up before the County Court of my Sub Dist this month, to wit - that of the Commonwealth vs "J. H. Greer" - white - charged with felony, by shooting at "Robert Tinsley", colored, with intent to kill, &c. This case has been frequently made mention of by me before. The shooting occurred in December 1866, and was entirely unjustifiable.  "Greer" was at the time arrested on warrant and taken before "Elija Wade", J.P. Being drunk, he swore and carried on most disgracefully in the presence of the Magistrate, who, in consequence, instead of committing him for contempt, let him go, saying he could do nothing with him; and this although he then and there acknowledged he had shot at the freedman. By Tinsly going himself before the Grand Jury, he was, however, indicted, as for a felony, in March last, and a bench warrant was issued against him. This warrant was not executed for some time, owing, it is said, to "Greer" being sick abed. In April a hearing was had at this place, before "John T. Saunders" J.P. The case came up twice. The first time it was continued, all the witnesses not being present. On both occasions "Greer" seemed to have come unattended. As a rather unusual thing, counsel for the Defendant was allowed to appear before the

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