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of the State and in favor of foreign felons[?] against the innocent & poor Settlers I leave all that for your better judgement given the facts of this and my last letter to you neither will I say that their is a strong feeling in this part of the State in favor of trespassers even among those who are bound to support the State and execute the laws.

I do not know how the law stands but always supposed a sehriff was bound to give writs when ordered to do so

Had he wanted assistance he could called upon us to have helped him we[?] are[?] legally bound in every way to do so and he would have in this case most readily have found assistance from those whose immediate duty it is to do such work[?].

Will you let me know immediately what is to be done in this case and whether we can have any legal means[?] at our command to perform the duty we are set here to do – If we are dependant [dependent] alone upon force[?] I shall know[?] what to do – If the laws of the State are to be the guide of our conduct we must have the means of resorting[?] to them when needed – you will I trust excuse me in dwelling so long and often upon the[?] subject but I trust the importance of it will be a sufficient apology

Mr Jonathan Sleeper and Mr Libbey go out today and will deliver this to you immediately on their arrival. Mr Sleeper has been exceedingly diligent[?] since he has been here and has worked constantly as a carpenter and think he has earned forty five dollars per month or one dollar seventy five cents per working day you may think this high but I believe all will agree that it is right

Your Obt. Servt.

William P Parrott

P. S.

Mr Libbey cooked while here and the other cooks had one dollar per day counting Sundays. I should think that would be right for him.

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I Stephen B Potter do hereby say and declare that on the evening of the 19th Thursday last, I was directed by Mr Wm P. Parrott the Deputy Land Agent at Fort Fairfield to take a writ which had just been handed him by Mr Powers[?] the messenger from Houlton and go that evening to Mr Packard at Fairbanks if he could be overtaken there, and request him to serve it. As the writ might require[?] bail and there was neither bond nor form here and I was uncertain about the manner of doing the business even[?] the reason why it was thought best to get Mr Packard to serve the writ if possible

I started from the [?] Block House at fifteen minutes past nine and arrived at Fairbanks at half past one

I inquired of Mr Fairbanks if Mr Packard was there, and told him I had special business with him. He answered that he was not there but gone up river. He seemed from his conversation[?] to be somewhat imbitered[embittered?] against Packrd, He was not up when we got there he went out a few minutes before I went to bed He went to bed about 2 O Clock. It was late when I got up I should think after seven when I went out – Fairbanks said someone had stolen [?] horses[?] and immediately some of the men there said they saw them in the field and that there tails were shaved. I went up and satisfied myself that that was the case

Fairbanks told me that he had looked for the waggon [wagon] and now where a track of a waggon [wagon] had passed through the barnyard[?] I asked a Mr Moore one of the gunmen[?] who was hauling provision out on the road to go to Hoopers with me as I did not know the way he declined going[?] and I[?] started[?] off[?] with Mr Fox[?] who was withme, on our way I met Mr Packard Mr Gauch[?] and the [?] boy who was with them here about [?] [?] from Fairbanks on meeting Mr Packard I told him that some one had served[?] his horses in the way mentioned above and that the waggon [wagon] was missing I then told him I had some business with him took him to one side I told him what I came over for and that in case Hooper did not comply with the terms[?] of the Land Agent that he must be arrested and taken out. I ordered[?] him to go to Hoopers in company with me.