The Petition & Remonstrance of Job Howes Humbly Sheweth that your Petitioner had a Certain Negro Man called Josey, who ran away & was out, for the Space of three Months or upwards, All which time he daily comitted thefts and Robery's on his Majesty's Subjects, but having run away but a small time, before the setting of the County Court, of the Precinct where your Petitioner dwelt, he could not According to the Course of the law take out a warrt. to the Sherrif, to take the body of the County to Apprehend the said Slave, and before the succeeding Court, the said Slave was shott in the Apprehending of him and killed, After having been run away a longer time than the law prescribed for taking out a warrant directed to the Sherriff as aforesaid for apprehending the said Slave (which was Occationed by the Courts not Intervening)

Wee therefore hopes you'l take the same into Consideration & allow your Petitioner the value of the said Slave, which was Adjudged by the County Court of New Hanover, to the sum of four Hundred Pounds Currency, in as Much as the said Negroe had been run away, the time Prescribed by the Law of this Province, giving power in such Case, to kill any Slave in Apprehending; And your Petitioner As in Duty bound, shall ever pray—