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[S224]

Charlotte. N.C.
July 31st 1866.

Colonel Stephen Moore
Supt West Dist. N.C.

Colonel—

In the matter of the complaint of Justice Shippe of the Superior Court of North Carolina, in the rescue of Freedman Carpenter from the custody of the Sheriff of Mecklenburg Co on a warrant issued by Judge Shippe for his arrest I have the honor to report—

Freedman Jacob Carpenter came to me from Gaston Co with a letter from the agent of the Bureau at Lincolnton stating that he had been hunted thro that town with guns and pistols, fired at repeatedly and that his life was not safe at any time or place near his residence—

I examined the case-and acted upon his statement which was as follows.

He stated that he was working for Mr Christin Carpenter for a part of the crop— That the cattle of Mooney Carpenter got into his corn and destroyed a large portion- That he put them out and Mooney Carpenter accused him of killing an crippling his stock- which he denied- When he came again he accused him again and Jacob denied it- He then ordered him to leave- saying if he did not he would have him in prison where he could not attend his crop- Jacob said he could not do it, & that he had not crippled or kill his stock

Carpenter replied he was a damned liar- that he did do it. Words of a high character passed on both sides= Two days after Carpenter met him