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Peru June 4<sup>th</sup> 1847

Mr. A Coquillard

Dear Sir

As it has been rumored that some of the traders were engaged in fetching back to Indiana 35 or 40 of the Miamis and as I may be included as one of those engaged in returning said Indians to the Wabash Country I deem it my duty to write you a few lines respecting it. A man is apt to tell a good story on his own side if it is left to him to tell it. If I am guilty it is for me to know and You to find out. So all you have to do is to hear what I have to say & if that don't satisfy you must indulge for the balance or pursue any course you see proper for other information. All I can do in self defense is to state the circumstances as they are & let peopel judge for themselves. I started from this place the 23<sup>d</sup> Feb last for the west & was then one day too late for the payment. I got at Clymers 10 o'clock at night, went to the ground the next morning the Indians were those with Mr. Berthelet & Lafontain a bundling up for to start home to Indiana. I was not on the ground to send one half home I got the little [illeg] of money that was reserved for