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11.

But did not expect to find him there when I returned back. When I got to my yard gate, I saw him coming toward me. When he got within fifteen steps, I told him, I would give him three minutes to get out, and if he did not leave I would shoot. I then stepped about five steps toward him, he still advancing, when I raised my piece and snapped at him. He continued to advance, when I re-cocked the piece, took aim and fired. I did not mean to kill or cripple him, and I pointed the gun so as to avoid doing either- My object was to frighten him out of there. He was only five steps from me and I could have killed him easily, but did not wish to do it. I was physically unable to put him off I had asked him to go, and ordered him off, without any effect; and instead of going off to his own house, he followed me up through the orchard to my own house. I would not have hurt him at all if he had left my premises. The orchard produced three or four hundred bushels, I only secured fifteen or twenty bushels. I know Huggins and his family were engaged in drying my fruit. My impression is that Alfred and his family got more of the fruit than I did. The Physician says he is not permanently disabled. And from what I have seen of his walking about, I think he is not.

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-14 11:37:12