Viewing page 214 of 268

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

0481

IT. VI. 1868

Bureau R.F.&.A.L.
Office 1st Div. 11th Sub Dist. Va.
Farmville Va. May 31st 1868

Bvt. Brig Genl O. Brown
Assistant Commissioner of Virginia
Richmond Va.

General
In compliance with circular No. 10 Series 1866 from H'd Qrs. Asst Comr. Virginia. I have the honor to make the following report on civil justice. I attended Charlotte County Court and there was no case of Freedpeople before that court. Prince Edward Court had (18) eighteen colored men arraigned for felony and misdemeanor (8) eight of which were sent to the Penitentiary for different periods of time. While the authorities in their administrations of justice are governed by the Code of Virginia, and most of the prisoners were guilty of the charges against them, the greater portion of them admitting their guilt and leaving their cases to the mercy of the jury, Still there was no mercy for them, and in every case, in my opinion the law was more than satisfied, and the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth more than sustained. All the colored men arraigned before that court with two exceptions were indicted for the theft of provisions. 

Respectfully submitted
I am General Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
Thomas Leahey
Asst. Sub Asst. Comr. Bureau R.F.&A.L.

Thro. H'd Qrs. 11th Sub Dist. Va.