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NARA 540 

Irly Plantation Sept 8th '67

To 1 W'm H. Ross Agt B.R.F.& A.L, Sub Dist Macon Miss,

Sir, 

About 12 or 14 days ago I was reported at your Office by a (Freedman) by the name of Henry Chappell "for an assault on him & otherwise Mistreating him" An Officer of the Law by the Name of Ferris issued a Warrant for My arrest, & In due time I was - arrested by a Constable by the Name of Frank McClullan & turned over by him to a Magistrate of this County. "his Name is Outen" I was bounded until the day set for trial, which was the following Saturday - I appeared at the specified time & place but the Complainant did not, he being duly notified, not - Wishing any one to think the case was smuggled over with. The Trial was put off until Saturday the 7th He & his Wife, and witnesses all being notified - both by Mr Holman & Myself, (Every Negro on this Plantation knew when the Trial was to Come off) but Still they did not appear, & I was forced to put it off again. It seems as if the said Henry Chappell dreads a trial, I do not know as he went by the Name of Henry Chappell to you, as he goes under several Names for purposes only Known to himself. 

I wrote you in Order that you May not judge me hastily, without a hearing, on his Evidence alone. I want you to understand the Civil Authorities are only waiting for his appearance to proceed

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-28 15:16:51