Letter dated 106 CE, written by a county officer about attempts on his life by by family members after two murder and robbery suspects were killed for resisting arrest, unearthed from a Han dynasty official document deposit, found in Changsha, China. Full translation in comments. [614×881]

待事掾王純叩頭死罪白：男子黃胡前賊殺男子左建亡，與殺人宿命賊郭幽等俱強盜女子王綏牛，發覺。純逐捕胡、幽，胡，幽不就捕，各拔刀戟⽭与純相刺擊。純格殺胡、幽。到今年二月不處日，純使之醴陵追逐故市亭⻑慶睦，不在。胡同產兄宗，宗弟禹將二男子不處姓名，各操兵，之純門司候純。三月不處日，宗、禹復之純門。今月十三日，禹於純對門李平舍欲徽殺純，平於道中告語純。純使弟子便歸家取刀矛自據。禹度平後落去。 禹仇怨奉公，純孤單，妻子贏弱，恐為宗、禹所賊害。唯明廷財省，嚴部吏考實宗、禹與二男子，謀議形劫。純愚憨惶恐，叩頭死罪死罪
今為言，今開。
四月廿二日白
County general officer (a type of Han-era office which is in charge of miscellaneous matters when other officials assigned to a specific role such as taxation, investigation and arrest are busy) Wang Chun’s Report to the Magistrate

Your subordinate Wang Chun kowtows in reverence, risking the offense of presumptuousness, to make this report:

Previously, a man named Huang Hu, who had murdered a man named Zuo Jian and was a fugitive, joined forces with Guo You—a known murderer and condemned criminal—and others to forcibly steal cattle belonging to a woman named Wang Sui. The crime was discovered. I pursued and attempted to apprehend Huang Hu and Guo You, but they resisted arrest, drawing knives and halberds to attack me. In the ensuing struggle, I fought and killed Huang Hu and Guo You.

Sometime in February of this year, I sent someone to Liling to pursue the former market precinct chief Qing Mu, and was not present. Huang Hu’s brother Huang Zong (born of the same mother) and his clan younger brother Huang Yu, along with two other men whose names are unknown, armed themselves and came to my gate to watch for me. On an unspecified day in March, Zong and Yu again came to my gate.

On the 13th of this month, Yu attempted to ambush and kill me at the residence of Li Ping, across from my own. Li Ping informed me of this on the road home. I then sent a disciple to return home and fetch knives and spears for my defense. Yu fled after noticing Li Ping informed.

Yu bears a grudge for my execution of public duties. I am isolated and alone, with a wife and children who are frail and weak. I fear that Zong, Yu, and their accomplices intend to harm or kill us. I implore Your Honor to thoroughly investigate and strictly order officials to examine the facts: Zong, Yu, and the two unidentified men are conspiring and planning a violent attack.

I, foolish and timid, am deeply apprehensive. I kowtow in reverence, acknowledging the gravity of my offense.

This statement is hereby submitted.

Respectfully reported on the 22nd day of the fourth month.