Tuesday, April 24th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. In my case the witnesses all testified and arguments closed about 9 o'clock P.M. when the court proceeded to charge the jury and who retired to consider their verdict about 10 o'clock P.M. To day Madison Hall Bracken, a young man whom I had raised and educated, departed this life, in the 19 year of his age. at home still at work in the cotton. weather clear but cool.

Monday, April 23rd, 1860

Still in Sumpter and to day The State announced ready in my case and the trial went into. it took all day to empannel the jury and two witnesses to testify on the part of the State. at home the hands commenced to work in the cotton. weather cloudy & cool.

Sunday, April 22nd, 1860

Still in Sumpter. and all the witnesses in my case have arrived. weather clear but cool.

Saturday, April 21st, 1860

Still in Sumpter. at home the hands finished working the corn over. weather cloudy & cool.

Friday, April 20th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. at home, buried the negro woman Angelina. hands still in the corn. weather cloudy with occasional showers & very cool.

Thursday, April 19th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. at home, negro woman Angelina died after a short illness. hands at work in the corn and in the evening set out potato slips. by agreement my case was set for monday next. weather rainy & very cool.

Wednesday, April 18th, 1860

Still in Sumpter. at home, still in the corn. weather cloudy & cool.

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DAILY GAZETTE & COMET [BATON ROUGE, LA], April 18, 1860, p. 2, c. 2. In Crocket, Texas, recently, Mr. T.P. Collins, a merchant of that place, published a scandalous piece of poetry about a Miss Whitwell, a school mistress. She sued him for $6000 damages, and gained the case. The jury returned the verdict at midnight. So strong was public sentiment in favor of the plaintiff, that the verdict was received with shouts of the people, the firing of guns and other demonstrations of gladness.