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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Office 4th Division, 9th Sub-District, Virginia
Staunton, Va, Feb 29 1868

Brg Genl O. Brown
Asst. Com. Dist. of Va.
Richmond (Thro Hd Qrs 9th Sub Dist Va)
General
In compliance with Cir. Ord. No. 10 Bureau of RF&AL, S 1866 I have the honor to report that during the month at both County Hustings Courts several cases involving the rights of Freedmen have been tried  Only one case of importance on the list; a charge of attempted rape on the person of a colored girl, by Thomas Harris, colored and this was removed to the Circuit Court.  On the other cases the bench acted with strict impartiality, but it was painfully apparent that many freedmen had been held in confinement for want of bail, on charges which were totally unsupported by evidence, and in one case Comm v John Hughes for grand larceny, the jury actually brought in a verdict of guilty, when the Corp Attorney had charged them there was no testimony against him.  Hughes counsell promptly moved for a new trial, which the court granted, and the Corp Atty, at once entered a prosequi

Transcription Notes:
prosequi: legal term