Malik related to me from Rabia ibn Abi Abd ar-Rahman that a man
in the time of Aban ibn Uthman's amirate freed all of his slaves and
did not have other property than them. Aban ibn Uthman took charge of
the slaves and they were divided into three groups. Then he drew lots
on the basis that which ever group drew the dead man's arrow would be
free. The arrow fell to one of the thirds, and that third was freed.
Muwatta Malik Book 38, Hadith 5