McMinn_Letter_262_48975

State of Tennessee Marion County

This day came Champness Kerser before me David Miller a acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath, that about the 20^th of October 1820 a [illegible] William Martin informed this affiant, that he suspected Samuel Leming for Stealing his corn then Standing in the field, and that he wanted this affiant Charles Elkins, and Major Farris to go and watch and see if they could catch him (Leming Stealing corn). This affiant, Charles Elkins, and Farris went, to the Field of said Martin ^they suspected he would steal corn they found said Lemming, with a basket on his arm gathering the corn of said Martin ^as they suppsed they went to him and informed him that they were sorry to find him said [Samuel Leming|Lemming]] stealing the corn of his neighbor at that hour of the night. Lemming acknowleged he was doing wrong, and without any coercion went With this affiant Elkins and Farris to the house of Martin, when and where they infor med said Martin what they had discovered said Martin and his family being in bead [sic]. said Martin prosecuted said Leming for stealing his corn, and upon the trial said Leming was aquitted on the ground that the corn was not gathered. On the same night this affiant [contracted?] with said Lemming for a waggon and two Horses, and called upon said Major Farris and Charles Elkins to witness the Bill of sale which said Leming executed to this affiant for said waggon and Horses said Farris Refused to witness the bill of sale Stating he did not want ^to have anything to do the afair to do anything with Leming then stated he has as well been a witness to the Bill of sale ^as not said Farris then, Signed the bill of sale as a witness. This affiant states that said Farris had no Interest in said waggon and Horses in any manner whatever, at that time

Champness Kerser

Sworn to and subscribed this 15^th day of October 1821

David Miller Justice of the peace for s^d county

C Kerser [app.?]

State of Tennessee Marion County

This day came Shadrick Elkins before me David Miller an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath that, about the twentieth of October 1820 Major Farris came to the house of this affiant and had with him a broadaxe and other tools for Hewing, Stating that he wanted to git [sic] work on a a bridge that W. Fergusson and others were about to build a cross Sequatchey [sic] River, that said Farris left his tools at the house of this affiant and went on to where the Bridge was building to see if he git [sic] employ &c that said Farris returned the same evening to the house of this affiant and stated he could not git [sic] employ Farris then went to a grosery [sic], that Champness Kerser kept at the house of this affiant and commenced Drinking with others that was there, that after night this affiant heared Champness Kerser tell Farris and Charles Elkins, that he wanted them to go with him and ^watch a fellow for stealing corn; they went off and was gone for some time, they Returned, Farris, went to bed and was there next morning. afterwards there was a fuss made about a waggon [sic] and two horses, that Samuel Leming said Kerser defrauded him out of - that Kerser told this affiant that Farris had no interest in the waggon [sic] and Horses, and that Leming also said that Farris Had nothing to do with the affair only to witness the bill of sale executed from him to Kerser, that Farris used no violence but on the contrary was his the only friend he had

[Jhd Alkins?]

Sworn to and subscribed this 15^th day of Oct 1821 David Miller Justice of the peace for s^d county

Sha^d Elkins aft.

State of Tennessee Marion County

This day came Samuel Lemons before me David Miller an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath, that he was a witness in behalf of the state in cause the state against Major Farris, and that the substance of his evidence was as follows, (to wit), that said Farris, came into the fild [sic] with, Kerser and Elkins, and was in company during the whole transaction

Samuel Leming

sworn to and subscribed this 13^th day of October 1821 David Miller Justice of the peace for s^d county