The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-26

THE CASE OF Dr. WATSON, OF VIRGINIA.
A month or two sine DR.. Watson, of Vir-
ginia, killed negrdman under the follow
ing circumstances DIR. Watson's family
were on their way tdchurch, in carriage
driven by negro MIN The family of one
of his nelghbors weH also on their way to
church, in carriagddriven by another ne
gro man, who forced his horses by the car
riaeeof DIR. WatsoI eas*Si1ss tho h.,rsns Of 49,
latter to runaway, 5reaking the carriage and
placing the lives ofthose who were in it in
great peril. As son as the facts came to
the knowledge of pr. W. he went over to
his neighbours house for the purpose of chas-
Using the negro man The latter resisted,
and at last ran, when Dr. w. shot and killed
him. He was arrested by the civil anthor-
ity, the case examined, and he was dischsrg-
ed. He was then arrested by order Of Gen.
Schofeld, and military commission APP
pointed to try him, when, as we learn by a
recent dispatch in the papers, the military
commission was dissolved and DR.. Watson
was discharged by order of the President
The following is the reply of Gen. Schofeld
to the writ of ha5eas corpus, sued out for DR..
Watson while he was in military custody =
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT Potomac,
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, 7
AND ABANDONED LANDS.
RICHMOND, VA, Dec. 10, 1866.
To the Honorable Circuit Court Of the City
of Richmond, in Session, Va.
I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt, through the hands of James Lyons,
ESQ. of the writ of your honorable court,
dated at the City Of Richmond this 18th of
Dec, 1860, commanding me to have the
body &c - mes L. Watson, now under my
custody, before the Judge of your honorable
court on to-day at 3 o'clock, P. NJ, together
with the cause of being taken and detained
To which have the honor to respectfully
answer as follows, to-wit:
James l.. Watson was arrested by my or
der on the-day of December, instant, and
is now held forsfial by military commission
under authority lof the act Of Congress of
July 16, 1864 which act directs and requires
the President, Though the commissioners and
officers of the Frledmens Bureau. to exercise
military jurisdiction over all cases and ques-
lions concerning The free enjoyment of the
right to have full and equal benefit of all
laws and proceedings concerning personal
liberty, personal security, &C., by all citizens,
without res,ect ~ sssas ag color -or previous
condition Of slavery, s5f the States whose
constitutional relations to the Government
of the United States have been discontinued
by the rebellion, and have not been restored.
The above-named act of Congress has been
officially published to the army by the Pres
ident, through the War Department, for the
information and government of all concerned.
As an officer Of the United States army,
commanding themilitary department which
includes the STATE of Virginia, and as assis-
tant commissioner of the Freednen's Bureau
for the same department, my duty requires
me to decline compliance with the writ Of
your honorable court and do therefore re-
specially decline to produce the body Of
the said James T. Watson.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
]. N sCHOFIELD,
Breve. Major General United States Army
and Assistant Commissioner.