Thomas Massie's Second Letter

Transcription:

Monday Jan. 12th. 1818.

Dear Sir,

On Friday last agreeable to your warrant for summoning a court for the tryal of David Garlands Doctor Jim & my Fellow Jim–Robert Mitchell attended with the witnesses you ordered to be summoned on the occasion viz. Ned, Phil. and old Nanny–there were only four magistrates at Lovingston, consequently no Court could be held on that day–Mitchell ordered the witnesses home late in the Evening David Garland and (illegible: “Johnson?”) Nowell came up.  Garland ordered Nowell to pursue Ned take him in custody and bring him back without a warrant, this was done also to arrest and bring back nanny–Garland thence with Solomon Matthews examined Nanny and as he intended, ordered a warrant for Ned’s commitment as a criminal to be written, and Matthews to sign it–this was done and Ned committed to Jail–Mitchell tells me that Garland through the medium of Matthews directed a summons to be issued for calling a Court on Wednesday next for the tryal of Ned–the foregoing is Mitchell’s statement of the affair.  I have sent him to wait on (illegible).  

Mr. Garlands conduct in this case astonishes me.  I did not suppose he would have acted in such an illegal and improper manner–his view must have been to destroy the testimony against his Negro Doctor Jim–as Ned is the only witness against him–however I submit these  considerations to your own knowledge and understanding.  And remain Respectfully,

Your Obed. Servt.,

Thos. Massie