Freedmen's Bureau Records: James Bumgardner to [?].
F. Hill, January 13, 1868
Summary:
Bumgardner updates the Military Commissioner about the status of several court
cases.
Copy of letter of James Bumgardner Atty for the
County of Augusta Rel to OToole & other
cases.
Cap.
I.. F. Hill
Mil
Comr
Jan 13th 1868
Staunton
Sir
Your communication of the 22nd inst only reached me today. The O'Toole case
occured in the Corporation of Staunton and has I believe been taken up by the
town authorities with whom I have no official connection. In the spencer case I
had the witnesses summoned and they appeared before the Grand Jury who after
hearing the case declined to make a presentment. In the Ford case I saw the
complainant and after examining him closely was satisfied that an indictment
could not be sustained in the case. I however informed him of the time of the
sittings of the Grand Jury and directed him to appear and make his complaint.
This he did not do. It is always my course when informed from any respectable
source of a violation of law to send the parties and witnesses to the first
Grand Jury. If an indictment does
[page 2]
not result of course I have no
further power in the matter.
Respectfully
Your Obt.
Svt.
(sgd) James Bumgardner
Atty for the
Court