The next morning, the police came and charged me with attempted murder. 

        Although I was under arrest, because I was a minor I was not jailed. Reverend Keep, who believed in my innocence, agreed to be my custodian. He explained there would be a hearing, and I would need legal representation. That afternoon, he rented a closed buggy and escorted me to a lawyer’s office. He told me John Mercer Langston did not generally take colored clients, but he thought Mr. Langston would be sympathetic to my cause. 

         When we arrived at the building in the center of town, the Reverend rushed me inside an office where a young colored man was bent over the morning paper. Although the Reverend tried to...

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