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Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Virginia
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 1048, Roll 59
"Records Relating to Murders and Outrages "
Register of Outrages Committed on Freedmen Jan. - Dec. 1868
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
No. of case: 46. On whom committed: George Crump. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Civil Authorities. White or colored: --------. Where: ----------. When: 1868. By whom reported: Hector Sears, A. S. A.. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: J. 291 R. F. & A. L. Va., dated August 11, 1868. Reports case of George Crump (colored) convicted of house breaking and sentenced to 18 mos. imprisonment in Penitentiary - gives particulars in case, thinks there was not impartiality shown and recommends his pardon.
Returned to Jas. Johnson, S. A. C. 6th Sub Dist. Aug. 13, 1868 for copy of Court records in case. Forwarded to Gov. H. H. Wells August 20, 1868 with copy of record in case.
No. of case: 47. On whom committed: Virginia White. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: W. H. Brauder. White or colored: white. Where: near Manchester, Va. When: July 15th, 1868. By whom reported: B. C. Cook, A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: H. 292 R. F. & A. L. Va., dated July 22, 1868. B. C. Cook, A. S. A. C. addresses Lt. S. Allen Lay USA Mil. Comr. of Chesterfield Co., Va., and states that the case of White vs. Brauder in his opinion merits Military interference. Reviews the case and encloses affidavits showing that the woman was struck three times with a stick of wood, and shot at twice by Brauder. She was at the time of the assault going to the well on Brauder's lot for water, which she had been accustomed to do. The Magistrate, Jas. M. Moody, discharged the defendant. The plaintiff was put under bonds to keep the peace.
Returned to B. C. Cook, Aug. 3rd, 1868, by Mil. Comr. stating that he did not consider the case warranted Military interference. Forwarded to Asst. Comr. Bureau &c Oct. 16th, 1868 by Cook (thro H. Qrs. 3 Sub Dist.) stating that he is informed that the Mil. Comr. failed to consult the plaintiff, or a single witness for the prosecution. Plaintiff states that she has had to keep her bed for several weeks by reason of injuries received &c.
Returned to Lt. Hambrick S. A. C. 3rd Sub Dist. Oct. 21st, 1868 directing him to take statements of witnesses for the prosecution and forward brief of same.
Returned by Lt. Hambrick October 29/68 with sworn statements of 3 witnesses who corroborate the statements of the plaintiff as to the assault.
Forwarded to Bvt. Col. S. F. Chalfin A. A. Genl. 1st Mil. Dist. Oct. 30/68 with the request that the case be again committed to local Mil. Comr. as it appears not to have been thoroughly examined when before referred.
No. of case: 48. On whom committed: Freed people. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Men. White or colored: white. Where: Southampton Co., Va. When: July 1868. By whom reported: Mortimer Moulden A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for the month ending 31st July 1868. Reports that a band of men some of the richest in the county, a few days ago, went out with guns & pistols & without any authority of law entered the houses of some twenty or more freedmen, pretending to be searching for "stolen property." They treated the freedmen in a rude and vile manner, "punching" them with their guns, threatening "to blow their brains out" or to take them "to the woods and give them 100 lashes." Thinks this is a plan to intimidate and frighten the freedmen from going to the polls. Filed.
No. of case: 49. On whom committed: Scott Coles. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Terry Bobbett & son. White or colored: white. Where: Pittsylvania C. H., Va. When: July 20, 1868. By whom reported: Wm. Leahey, A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: L. 160 R. F. & A. L. Va., dated July 20, 1868. Reports disturbance at Pittsylvania C. H., Va., in which Bobbett commenced a quarrel with Coles and finally struck him with a stick. As Coles stooped to pick up a rock a son of Bobbett's named Wm. C. jumped on him and cut Coles several times with a knife in the back & shoulders. The two Bobbetts were bound over in the sum of $100 and Coles and Albert Wilson (colored) were bound in the sum of fifty dollars to appear at the August term of the Court.
No. of case: 50. On whom committed: Flag Pole. White or colored: --------. By whom committed: Young men. White or colored: white. Where: Edinburg, Va. When: July 25, 1868. By whom reported: W. F. Lynch, Bvt. Lt. Col. A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for month ending July 31, 1868. Reports attempt of several young men to burn a Flag Staff in front of the residence of Mr. Tafley Asst. Assessor US Intl. Rev., from which Mr. T. was accustomed to hang a US Flag. The halyards had been previously cut up into pieces. Mr. T. succeeded, after considerable abuse, in dispersing the crowd. He caused the arrest of one of the crowd (a ringleader) & had him brought before a Magistrate. The matter was settled by the individual making an apology.
No. of case: 51. On whom committed: Colored man. White or colored: ------------. By whom committed: Patrol. White or colored: white. Where: Essex Co., Va. When: July 25, 1868. By whom reported: W. R. Wentworth A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for month ending July 31/68. Reports arrest of a colored man in the Public Road by a patrol of white men because he had 1 1/2 bushels of corn, that they took the corn from him without a warrant for arrest.
Reported by W. R. Wentworth, A. S. A. C. Report under Cir. 6 for month ending 31st August/68. The patrol which I mentioned in my last report are still traveling through this Division - a colored man was brought in today by a party of them. After they arrived there they procured a warrant and placed him in jail for stealing two bushels of corn.
W. A. Coulter, Lt. & A. A. A. Gl. LS. 549 R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868, dated Sept. 5/68. Addresses W. R. Wentworth A. S. A. C. and directs him to report names of colored man arrested by patrol and names of the white men in patrol.
W. R. Wentworth, A. S. A. C. Received back Oct. 18th, 1868 and entered. See J. 253 R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868. Returns letter 549 with the information that the name of the colored man was John Fortune. The names of the patrol are James Connelly, Nathl. Crow, Aubrey Banks, Peachy Banks, and two brothers named Vaughn. Filed.
W. R. Wentworth, A. S. A . C. Reports under Cir. 6 for month ending Oct. 31st/68. Reports that nothing has been done in the Patrol Case and that the same thing has been repeated since then, the colored people have been disturbed in the dead of night by the patrol to search their houses.
O. Brown. Asst. Commr. L. S. 711 R. F. & A. L. Va., dated November 9th, 1868. Addresses Bvt. Col. S. F. Chalfin A. A. Genl. 1st Mil. Dist. Va. and forwards extracts from reports of W. R. Wentworth A. S. A. C. on the subject of the Acts of Illegal Patrols, dated July 31, August 31, and Oct. 31st, 1868, with names of parties forming patrols &c.
No. of case: 52. On whom committed: James Johnson, S. A. C. White or colored: white. By whom committed: Fredericksburg News. White or colored: --------. Where: Fredericksburg, Va. When: July 1868. By whom reported: Jas. Johnson S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: J. 190 R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868, dated Aug. 1/68. Editorial in Fredericksburg News containing vile abuse of Jas. Johnson S. A. C. Filed.
No. of case: 53. On whom committed: Patron Jones and others. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Citizens. White or colored: white. Where: Richmond, Va. When: Aug. 11, 1868. By whom reported: P. R. Hambrick, Lt. & S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: H. 210 R. F. & A. L., Va. 1868, dated Aug. 13th, 1868. Reports shooting of Jones and assault on colored people with pistols &c during a conservative speech making on account of a rock or rocks being thrown into the crowd. Filed. Instructions given orally.
P. R. Hambrick, Lt. & S. A. C. H. 327 R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868, dated Nov. 6th, 1868. Reports fully in above case and also trial of men before Hustings Court of Richmond and acquittal of Wren by Jury. Thinks the shooting was clearly proved. Wren was arrested by a police officer, when coming from the direction where the murdered man was lying, with a pistol in his hand, one barrel of which had been discharged. Witnesses also testified to seeing Wren shoot Jones. Filed.
No. of case: 54. On whom committed: John Lewis. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Robert Doswell. White or colored: white. Where: Hanover Co., Va. When: Aug. 10, 1868. By whom reported: Ira Ayer Jr., A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: H. 220 R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868, dated Aug. 19th, 1868. Reports murder of Lewis by Doswell. Lewis was an old family servant of the Doswell family and aged 65 or 70 years. It appears that Lewis gave some directions to some of hands working in the garden which young Doswell considered an assumption of authority and resented. After some words Doswell struck Lewis on back of head with a hoe from which he died almost instantly. A coroners inquest was called and brought a verdict that the deceased came to his death substantially as above stated, but that the deed was committed "without malice or premeditation." A preliminary trial was held before Justice J. A. Smith, who committed the accused to bail in the sum of $2000. Forwarded to Hd. Qrs. 1st Mil. Dist. Aug. 22nd, 1868 requesting arrest of Robert Doswell by the Military
Authorities.
Referred from Hd. Qrs. 1st Mil. Dist. Aug. 22/68 to Attorney Genl. Ste. of Va. to know if the offence is bailable. Returned to Mil. Head Qrs. by Atty. General stating that the offence in his opinion was bailable. Returned to Asst. Comr. Aug. 30, 1868 inviting attention to endorsement of Attorney General Ste. of Va. Filed.
Ira Ayer Jr., A. S. A. C. Reports under Cir. 6 for month ending Aug. 31, 1868. Reports further on Doswell case and encloses certified copy of verdict of coroner's jury by clerk of County Ct.
Ira Ayer Jr. A. S. A. C. H. 345 R. F. & A. L. Va., dated Dec. 11, 1868. Submits report in case of Robert Doswell giving evidence to show that Doswell was insane and upon which plea he was acquitted. Filed.
W. A. Coulter, A. A. A. Genl. LS 813, R. F. & A. L. Va., dated Dec. 17, 1868. Addresses Ira Ayer Jr. A. S. A. C. and calls for report of full names of Justices trying this case, and their disqualification, if any, under the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the U. S.
No. of case: 55. On whom committed: Union men. White or colored: white. By whom committed: Disguised men. White or colored: -----. Where: Southampton Co., Va. When: August 1868. By whom reported: M. Moulden A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for month ending Aug. 31/68. Reports that a white man (name not given) was taken from his house a few nights since, and dragged all over the neighborhood by persons to him unknown, he was admonished by his captors that his life hung upon his silence.
No. of case: 56. On whom committed: Lewis Turner. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Civil Authorities. White or colored: white. Where: near Manchester, Va. When: Aug. 1868. By whom reported: Maddox, S. T., A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: H. 249, R. F. & A. L. Va., 1868, dated Sept. 11th, 1868. Reports that Turner was arrested on charge of stealing Truss hoops from Henry Boyd of Manchester. The constable making arrest showed no warrant, but ordered Turner to go with him, refusing at first to give an explanation. Turner being suspicious of the man armed himself with a pistol. Spencer E. Hancock, a Justice of the Peace in Manchester, confiscated his pistol, assessed a fine upon Turner for carrying concealed weapons and bound him over to answer charge of theft before the County Court, at which he appeared and proved a satisfactory alibi. The case was dismissed with costs upon
Turner.
In same report:
No. of case: 57. On whom committed: Peter Giles. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Civil Authorities. White or colored: white. Where: Chesterfield Co., Va. When: ----------. By whom reported: Maddox, S. T., A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Reports that Martin shot & killed a hog belonging to Peter Giles valued at $20. Giles procured a warrant and the parties were summoned to appear before Morgan, J. P. of Manchester who without going into any investigation dismissed the case with costs upon Giles.
In same report:
No. of case: 58. On whom committed: Woman. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Morgan, Jus. Peace. White or colored: white. Where: Manchester, Va. When: ----------. By whom reported: S. T. Maddox, A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Reports that Morgan violently assaulted a colored woman (name not given) tried the case himself, put the woman in jail and released her next morning. Notified her husband to pay costs. Is endeavoring to collect evidence in this case and will submit it to Military Commissioner. Filed.
No. of case: 59. On whom committed: Party of men and women. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Unknown person. White or colored: ------------. Where: Montrose, Westmoreland Co., Va. When: August 1868. By whom reported: E. W. Busby, A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for month ending Aug. 31/68. Reports that while a party of colored men & women were returning from Church & while passing peaceably along the public road two pistol shots were fired at them from an upper window in the County Clerks office. No one was struck. Has been unable, so far, to find out the parties that fired the shot.
No. of case: 60. On whom committed: Daughter of Wesley Edwards. White or colored: colored. By whom committed: Unknown persons. White or colored: white. Where: Pittsylvania Co., Va. When: August 1868. By whom reported: William Leahey, A. S. A. C. Character of the outrage and action in the case: Report under Cir. 6 for month ending Aug. 31/68. Reports that a party of men at night, threatened the life of Edward's wife who was sick in bed, and then ravished his daughter.
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