gave as excuse for failing to attend the May term "that he had forgotten the time of holding the called term" The Judge thinking this an insufficient excuse rendered judgment against him for onehundred dollars & cost Mr Carpenter came back on the 9th day of the term to ask the Court to set aside the judgment against- but the court had then adjorned He says that upon reflection that he did not know or hear of the special term in May ^til the evening of the adjornment^ which I believe is true for he lives remotely from the Court house & there were very few persons in his part of the County attending that term til thursday I believe the day the court was adjorned many of those coming in saying they had just learned there was a court There were many not only in that portion of the County -- but in other portions men hostile to the appointed Judge as they called Judge Drane -- who in my opinion did not to say the least -- wish to give much countenance to his Court & would readily frame such excuses as want of knowledge of the time of holding the Court But Mr Carpenter does not belong to or sympathise with any such class or party I have known Mr Carpenter long & intimately & from my knowledge of the man do not believe he would make a false statement intentionally to be relieved of such a fine & when he now says that he did not know of the setting of the Court til the evening of its adjornment I believe him & so believing, do not hesitate to ask you to believe him He certainly meant no contempt- He is a law abiding Union man who suffered no little by Kirby Smith army while in our County. He has already paid J L Scott atty for the Commwlth the amount going to him & asks your excellency to relieve him from the ballance Before you determine please have a conversation with Mr Scott who will I am confident endorse my statement -- I ask this because I may be said to be a stranger -- never meeting you til you came to our county during your late canvass

Vy obntly J W Calvert